(FAQ) Frequently asked questions

General

On the website, there is mention of a medical certificate. For which jump do I need one and where can I get it? Where can I find the appropriate document?

A medical certificate is not required for tandem skydive, but it is mandatory for AFF training. For those over 50 years old, a cardiologist's approval is required every 2 years. Click here to download the mandatory template. The medical exam should be done by your general practitioner. The document must be brought on the day of the jump, and it will be requested at the beginning of the day.

I booked a tandem skydive online. At what time should I be at Paraclub Namur ?

For tandem passengers, your appointment time is the time you need to arrive our drozpone. For the theoretical course of the skydiving training, you are expected at 8:30 AM.

What are the opening hours of Paraclub Namur? When can I call the club?

Depending on the weather, PCN is open on weekends and public holidays from 8:30 AM until sunset, from March to mid-December. It is also open on Fridays from 4:00 PM, from May to September. All necessary information can be found on our website. We rarely answer the phone during opening days as we are busy with the operations. Moreover, we strongly recommend you send us an e-mail if you have further questions; as we do not have a PERMAMNENCE TÉLÉPHONIQUE, this is easier for us.

What is the minimum age to skydive?

For a tandem skydive, there is no minimum age but you must be at least 1.20 meters tall. However, PCN reserves the right to refuse candidates who are too young or do not show a personal willingness to jump. For minors, mandatory written parental consent with a copy of the ID card of at least one parent and of the jumper is required. We advise you to use our template, available HERE.

For AFF training, you must turn 16 during the year.  

You can send us the parental consent form using our template and ID cards in advance by email. Alternatively, you can sign the parental consent form on site on the day of the jump or on the day the AFF training begins. Don't forget to bring ID cards for both parents and the jumper.

Crucial question, is it dangerous? What safety systems are used?

No! Skydiving is classified as an extreme sport, but not a dangerous one. Multiple safety systems are in place to ensure the jump goes smoothly. The equipment you use for your jump is regularly inspected by a certified technician. The complete rig consists of a main parachute and a reserve parachute, in case the main parachute malfunctions, which is very rare. If no action is taken to deploy the parachute (main or reserve) during the jump, the reserve parachute will automatically open at a predefined altitude, thanks to a electronical « Automatic Activation Device » system. The only "small" risks are at landing (sprains, etc.). Generally speaking, if you follow the instructions given by the PCN instructors, you are not at risk.

We are a small group and want to skydive together. Can we all be in the same plane?

Our plane can carry 14 skydivers and maximum 4 tandem skydives in a load. Many enthusiasts come to PCN every weekend to practice their sport. The manifest organizes everyone's jumps as efficiently as possible. Please indicate during registration that you wish to stay together as a group. The manifest will try to accommodate you, but WITHOUT ANY GUARANTEES.

I would like to surprise someone with a gift. Is it possible to buy a gift voucher?

Yes, you can purchase a gift voucher on our website by clicking on “buy a gift voucher” or by clicking here. The gift voucher can be paid for in several ways: by Bancontact, Mastercard/Visa, or bank transfer. If you choose one of the first two options, you immediately receive the voucher in PDF format at the email address you provided. If you choose the “pay by bank transfer” option, we will validate your voucher upon receipt of the payment, and you then receive it in PDF format at the email address you provided. After that, the recipient just needs to go to our website to schedule their appointment. The gift voucher is valid for 1 year.

When should I schedule an appointment to use my gift voucher on time?

To use your gift voucher, we take into account the date of the jump, not the date at which you make the reservation.

When do I need to pay for my reservation?

Payment is made upon your arrival at the club, on the day of the jump. You do not have to pay in avance !

I’m organizing a bachelorette/bachelor party. When should I schedule the appointment during the day?

For bachelorette/bachelor parties or similar events, we recommend scheduling the appointment at 8:30 AM. The appointment time is the time you need to arrive at Paraclub Namur, not the time of the jump. We cannot give you the exact time of your jump as it depends on several unpredictable factors (weather, aerial authorizations, etc.). By choosing the earliest time, you ensure that you will finish as early as possible.

My gift voucher is expiring/has expired. Can I extend it?

If your voucher expired less than 6 months ago, it is possible to extend it for an additional 6 months by paying a 50€ fee. All you need to do is make a transfer to account number BE26 0689 3803 8729 in the name of CERPS Namur, stating the number of your gift voucher in the communication field. Once we have received the payment, we will send a voucher with a new expiry date to the email address that ordered the voucher.. The 6 additional months start from the original expiration date of the voucher, not from the payment of the 50€ fee. If your voucher expired more than 6 months ago, it is no longer possible to extend it; the voucher is no longer valid. In case of 3 postponed appointments due to bad weather during the validity of your voucher, Paraclub will waive the 50€ extension fee and offer the 6-month extension. 

Do you offer a group discount if several people are jumping?

We offer the tandem jump at €230 per person instead of €250 for groups of 10 or more. For more information and to organize your group activity, feel free to send an email to info@paraclubnamur.be.

Can you pay for a parachute jump with a Bongo?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to pay for your jump with a Bongo, as we are not partners.

I've received a gift voucher but I'd like to give it to someone else. Is this possible?

Paraclub de Namur gift vouchers are not truly nominative. So it is possible that you may give your voucher to someone else if you do not want to use it.

I received a gift voucher for a tandem jump. I'd like to add the video/video and photos/premium pack. Is this possible?

You can add options to your gift certificate for a tandem jump. When booking, select the jump you want to take. On the day of your jump, bring your gift certificate with you. When you pay, you only have to pay for the options you selected: €90 for the video, €110 for the video and photos and €170 for the premium package (video, photos, handycam and free cup of bubbles).

Do we feel dizzy?

No. Dizziness is a reaction related to contact with the ground and fixed visual reference points. When skydiving, you are at a great height and constantly in motion, which prevents this feeling. Most people experience a feeling of freedom and adrenaline rather than dizziness.

AFF training

I booked the AFF training and it’s raining on the morning of my jump. What do we do?

You still come. The theoretical course will take place nevertheless. Also, it is entirely possible for it to rain in the morning and be sunny in the afternoon. However, if this is not the case, once the jump day is over, the manifest will schedule a new appointment for your jump with you. Only the manifest and the session supervisor decide when the jump session is over. If we ask you to wait, it’s because we believe the conditions might improve. Skydiving is a sport of patience, don’t forget that :)

I want to do the AFF training. Can I pay in installments?

Yes. However, we recommend having the necessary funds for the jumps before starting the training. The way the training works requires jumps to be done quickly in succession, otherwise, you may have to repeat them several times. The instructors decide if a jump needs to be repeated or not, and any jumps you need to repeat are not included in the total price of the training. We also recommend having enough availability on the weekends following your theoretical training so that you can complete the jumps without too much time between each level. From experience, this greatly boosts your confidence and therefore increases the likelihood of success!

What happens after I finish my AFF progression?

You can skydive solo, in freefall, from 4000 meters. You are now a member of the club and can come jump at your convenience (annual membership fee: 205 euros, including license and insurance; solo jump: 24 euros (+ equipment rental)). Further exercises and tests (formation flying, CSC certification, etc.) must be completed to be able to jump with others. After that, you can choose the discipline you enjoy (formation skydiving, freefly, or a mix of everything). Other exercises and tests (associated figures, CSC patent, etc.) are to be passed before you can jump with others. Then you choose the discipline you like (VR, Free Fly,..., or a bit of everything).

How long does the AFF training take?

There is no precise timeline for how long the AFF training takes. You register online for a one-day theoretical course. After that, you come to jump during our opening hours. The duration of the AFF training depends on several factors such as weather conditions, your availability, your personal learning ability, etc. It is possible to complete the AFF training over a few weekends or over several months.

How does it work to come and jump as an AFF after the theory course?

The operation is explained in detail in the section "Organization of the time periods for the next jumps" on the page https://paraclubnamur.be/en/skydiving/aff-course

Why is there a weight limit?

For tandem jumps, the instructor must be able to carry the passenger's weight and brake during landing. For safety reasons, weight is therefore limited. 

To obtain their AFF certification, instructors must be able to fall at the same speed as the student so that they can catch them during free fall if necessary. If the student weighs more than 95 kilograms, they will fall much faster than their instructors.

Tandem

I signed up online for a tandem skydive. What happens next?

You received a confirmation of your appointment by email, sent to the email address you provided during registration. The payment for the jump will be made on-site, on the day of the jump, when you arrive. We accept payments in cash, or by Bancontact, Visa, and Eurocard. No Proton, no Amex, no Diners Club.

What does the video report of my jump include? And what if I want photos?

It’s a video report done by an experienced skydiver who accompanies you throughout the jump. They film the briefing with your instructor, board the plane with you, jump at the same time as you, and even come to hold your hand during freefall. Upon landing, they are there to capture your immediate impressions. Afterward, they edit the footage and provide it to download online. PCN doesn’t automatically offer freefall photos. If you want them, let the manifest know. The price of €100 DOES NOT INCLUDE photos. 

What equipment, what clothes should I wear for my jump?

Wear comfortable sportswear like tracksuits or jeans, and tennis-style sneakers. No high-top shoes or shoes with lace hooks. The landing is not hard or rough. In terms of temperature, in summer, you can jump with just a t-shirt under the jumpsuit provided by PCN. In colder seasons, you can wear a windbreaker or thermal underlayer but no bulky ski jackets! No big sweaters that restrict your movements. Thin gloves may also be useful.

Is insurance included in the price of my tandem jump?

Of course. You are insured for your jump.

Can I jump with my own GoPro?

No, for safety reasons it is forbidden to jump with your own GoPro. It actually requires more than 200 jumps to be able to jump with a camera, as well as a specific formation. 


Can I keep my glasses on for the jump? And my contact lenses?

You can keep your glasses or contact lenses for the jump. We will provide you with over-glasses or plastic goggles to wear during the jump. Since there is a very small risk of loosing the goggles and therefore your glasses, we advice you to wear contact lenses if you have some. However, some of our instructors jump with glasses and this is not a problem !

Is it possible to choose a single video option and be filmed with several people?

No. During free fall, the videographer is positioned opposite the jumper to capture this unique moment. This means they cannot be opposite multiple people at the same time. However, on the ground it is possible to film/photograph multiple people at the same time.

Accompanying Guests

Can my family and friends come to watch me jump?

Yes, absolutely. There is a cafeteria available for them, as well as a terrace. You will land in front of our facilities. However, we ask accompanying guests to stay behind the safety barriers.

What time should my family and friends arrive to see me jump?

The exact time of your jump cannot be known in advance. You may jump 20 minutes or a few hours after your arrival. Therefore, we advise you to have your guests arrive at the same time as your appointment. If you're worried about making them wait too long, we can give you an approximate time of your jump once you're on-site. However, we can never guarantee that they will make it in time to see the jump!


Weather

I’m scheduled to jump, but the weather doesn't look good. How do I know if my jump will still take place?

There are a few scenarios:

  • If you are taking the AFF training, you must come to the club at 8:30 AM, regardless of the weather. The theoretical course will take place regardless.
  • If you booked a tandem jump, and the weather looks uncertain, you can check the jump status on our homepage before heading out. We display a red banner indicating the weather conditions on the morning (as of 7.10 am and not the day before) of full operational days, and starting at 2:30 PM on Fridays.  If the weather doesn’t allow for the jump, either we’ll wait for the weather to improve during the day (standby) and reschedule the jump later that day or we will cancel your jump for the day and send you an e-mail to reschedule. Poor weather conditions do not justify a refund under any circumstances.

My jump was canceled due to the weather, but I have a gift certificate. What should I do?

We are dependent on weather conditions to be able to jump. Despite our best efforts, it is possible that your appointment may be postponed several times due to bad weather. If your voucher is postponed three times due to bad weather during its period of validity, the Namur Paraclub will offer you a free six-month extension.

On-site

I’ve booked a jump. How will my day at Paraclub Namur be organized?

There are several possibilities. First, PCN does not commit to an exact jump time. Activities are organized in a way to minimize everyone waiting time. Since you’re here for an exceptional experience, plan for 5 hours on-site. A tip: don’t schedule any appointments elsewhere after the jump.

  • For a tandem skydive, the time mentioned is the time you should arrive for the pre-jump briefing. After that, PCN organizes the jump sessions, and your instructor will give you an estimated jump time. Some waiting is possible, but we do our best to minimize it. Upon arrival, head to the manifest to confirm your registration and pay for your jump. This is also your last chance to indicate if you want your jump to be filmed. The manifest then organize your briefing, with everything you need to know to have a safe experience. Meanwhile, the manifest assign you a tandem master for your jump and put you in a « load ». From that point, your instructor manages your jump. Listen to him! After your jump, your video footage is shown in the cafeteria within 30 minutes. You receive it immediately after that! 
  • For AFF training, upon arrival at 8:30 AM, the instructor will be waiting for you in the cafeteria. The instructor then direct you to the manifest to complete the registration forms, collect medical forms and pay for the jump. The theoretical course begin afterward. For the rest of that day and your formation, read carefully our dedicated web page and watch the video, which follows the formation of the AFF student ! 
  • In general, jump sessions at PCN start at 9:00 AM and end at sunset. In summer, this means you could be jumping as late as 9:30 PM, so plan accordingly ! 

Facilities

What facilities are available at Paraclub Namur?

PCN has a hall for its activities and a cafeteria where food is available (sandwiches, snacks, etc.). If you plan to spend the weekend at the club, it's possible, but bring your tent (showers are available).

Is there a cafeteria at Paraclub Namur? A terrace?

Yes, both are available for jumpers and their guests. Picnics are not allowed as we have sandwiches and snacks. 


Can I bring my dog?

Dogs are not strictly prohibited on the Paraclub grounds, but they must be kept on a leash. They are not allowed in the manifest, on the square, or in the hangar.