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sport
resulted in the
growth of parachuting as a hob-
by. Competitions began to develop
and gain acceptance among the
international air sports. People first
heard the term “skydiver,” coined by
Raymond Young in the mid-1950s, as
the first commercial skydiving centers
opened. By 1957, the first commercial
skydiving schools be-
gan to appear, and
the National Para-
chute Riggers-Jumpers,
Inc., started in the 1930s,
became the Parachute Club
of America. PCA renamed
itself the United States Para-
chute Association in 1967.
USPA - United States Parachute As-
sociation
The United States Parachute Associa-
tion (USPA) is a voluntary membership
organization of individuals who enjoy
and support the sport of skydiving.
The association is incorporated in
New York and follows the constitution
and by-laws contained in the USPA
Governance Manual. The purpose of
USPA is three-fold: to promote safe
skydiving through training, licensing,
and instructor qualification programs;
to ensure skydiving’s rightful place on
airports and in the airspace system,
and to promote competition and
record-setting programs.
USPA wouldn’t be possible without its
nearly 32,000 members who sup-
port the organization. More members
mean a bigger voice when dealing
with issues that have threatened the
existence of skydiving. It also helps to
ensure the longevity of skydiving for
people to enjoy for years to come.
More than 250 skydiving schools,
centers and clubs affiliate with USPA
as Group Member “drop zones”
which pledge to follow USPA’s Basic
Safety Requirements. These skydiving
schools offer USPA-developed first-
jump
training
methods, use only
current USPA-rated
skydiving instructors
and provide USPA-required
safe-
ty equipment.
USPA represents the interests of skydiv-
ers before all levels of government—
local, state, and federal. USPA is
constantly battling for skydivers’ best
interests, from helping members start
DZs at reluctant airports, to persuad-
ing security officials to allow rigs as
both carry-on and checked items on
the airlines.
BPA - British Parachute Association
The British Parachute Association was
founded in 1962 to organise, govern
and further the advancement of Sport
Parachuting within the UK and North-
ern Island. The Association’s aim
today is to encourage participation
and promote excellence at all levels
of skydiving from novice to world
class competitor. Its success is such
that today there are around 35 affili-
ated parachute clubs throughout the
country and a membership of more
than 30,000. The Association is
funded by membership subscriptions,
shop
sales
and
Sports
Council
grants and has
an annually
elected council of 15 full members
which controls all aspects of skydiving
on behalf of the Civil Aviation Author-
ity.
Unlike many other sports which suffer
from fragmented and divided govern-
ing bodies, the British Parachute As-
sociation represents most UK skydivers
and the majority of skydivers within
the UK are members of the Associa-
tion. The control of the sport including
safety, training, competitions, finance
and development is administered by
the full-time officers of the Association
who include a National Coach and
Safety Officer, a Technical Officer,
Secretary-General and administrative
staff.
The British Parachute Association is
represented on the Council of the
Royal Aero Club, the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale and the
Commission Internationale de Para-
chutisme.
So, what’s it to be and where’s good
OCTOBER 2012 -
SEXY X2
MAGAZINE -
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