When Does Skydiving Season Open?

If you've been cooped up indoors during the coronavirus quarantine, it's likely you've been daydreaming about all the things you'd like to do once the quarantine is over - we're no different! We've built our lives around skydiving and this has been a challenging period for us all. We're ready to get back in the sky! So, what have we been doing in the meantime? Writing about skydiving! We've been using this time to write about everything we know about jumping from airplanes just for you (and ourselves to beat some quarantine boredom). This week, we're talking about skydiving season - when it starts, when it ends and the best time of year to jump.

If you've been cooped up indoors during the coronavirus quarantine, it's likely you've been daydreaming about all the things you'd like to do once the quarantine is over - we're no different! We've built our lives around skydiving and this has been a challenging period for us all. We're ready to get back in the sky! So, what have we been doing in the meantime? Writing about skydiving! We've been using this time to write about everything we know about jumping from airplanes just for you (and ourselves to beat some quarantine boredom). This week, we're talking about skydiving season - when it starts, when it ends and the best time of year to jump.

When Does Skydiving Season Open?

Throughout the United States and the Northern Hemisphere, the unofficial opening to skydiving season is the second Saturday in March. Each year, dropzones begin their season with an event called USPA Safety Day. Safety Day is a full day of workshops that brings staff and licensed skydivers together to review emergency procedures and have in-depth discussions about best practices.

Because of longer winters in Long Island, Skydive Long Island usually begins its season a month later in mid-April.

When Does Skydiving Season End?

In the northeastern and pacific northwestern states, skydiving season usually ends during the second week in November leading into Thanksgiving.

At Skydive Long Island, our season usually ends in mid to late October.

The busiest months for skydiving are always during the months of June, July and August as this is when most families are vacationing and traveling. Summer is considered to be the best time of year to jump because the weather is most consistent.

There are pros and cons for choosing to jump during each season and we'll break it down!

Skydiving in Spring - The Pros

For many, skydiving during the spring months of March, April and May serve as the best time of year to skydive for the following reasons:

• Crisp, cool, air temperatures
• Clear visibility Beautiful green landscape
• Skydiving center is usually less busy
• Wait times to board aircraft are less
• Faster climb rates in the aircraft

Usually, late April and May are the best spring months to skydive.

Skydiving in Spring - The Cons

The spring months are usually everyone's favorite season to skydive, but inconsistent weather during the early spring months bring about challenges. The cons of skydiving in the spring:

• Inconsistent weather patterns
• Rainy and windy days can force delays throwing off reservation times
• The need for rescheduling
• Some days can be very chilly during free fall

Skydiving in the Summer - The Pros

The summer skydiving season runs from late June through late September and is when all skydiving centers in the northern hemisphere are busiest! The pros outweigh the cons, but there are still a few cons! The pros for skydiving in the summer are:

• Consistently good weather conditions
• Winds are generally lighter than spring and fall
• Conditions are warmer and more pleasant at jump altitude
• Ideal conditions for jumping during the morning
• Early summer (June) and late summer (September) are best

Skydiving in the Summer - The Cons

Summer is the most popular season to go skydiving but there are some cons.

• July and August and can be uncomfortably hot
• Afternoon thunderstorms are commonplace causing delays
• Aircraft climb rates are slower
• Skydiving centers are generally busier which affect wait times
• Atmosphere / views are more hazy

Skydiving During the Fall / Autumn - The Pros

The fall brings about a relief from the heat which is a welcomed change for many full time skydivers, but not unlike the spring season, cooler temperatures giveaway to more erratic weather. Here are the pros for skydiving during the fall;

• Cooler temperatures
• Peak season is over. Dropzones become less crowded
• Aircraft climb rates become faster
• Jumping in the morning result in less wait times

Skydiving During the Fall / Autumn - The Cons

The fall is also known for winds which aren't a skydivers best friend. Here are the cons of skydiving during the fall months:

• Elevated winds - best to jump in the morning before winds pick up
• Inconsistent weather patterns can lead to delays
• Late fall months become cold (November) and unpleasant for jumping

We hope this article has served as a good resource! At Skydive Long Island we are patiently awaiting for the governor to lift restrictions - we hope to be back in the air sooner than later!