Landing Area: All successful jumps end with a landing somewhere. You could find a 5000 feet overhanging cliff that is begging to be jumped, but if the base of the cliff is covered with boiling magma, you’re not going to be able to do a jump there. To jump, you need a landing area…

Jumping


The jumping aspect of your site analysis should study all available landing areas and give them a priority order.

Use the word ‘available’ in the broadest sense possible. Consider what happens when you are forced to land in the trees, on the rooftop, or between some wires. Those are landing areas too, and while they probably won’t be getting a high priority, they deserve considerations because a combination's of factors (low-pull, off heading, winds, brake-fire, etc.) might force you to put a canopy down in an area that was low on your list.
The landing area with the highest priority will not always be the biggest and easiest landing area. It is great if this is the case, but the quality of a landing area is based on more than just how big and easy it is. Approach and get-away considerations affect your landing decision, as well as wind, surface (grass or concrete), time of day and many other factors.

Even more so, consider landing in less forgiving landing areas even when you don’t have to, especially if you have jumped this object before and are comfortable with the other aspects of the jump and the primary landing area. Using familiar objects to advance your skills to the next level is a great way to get ready for new objects. Those new objects might have a primary landing area that is as poor as the tertiary landing area of your easy object.

Water


If there is water near the object, be extra wary. There have been several BASE fatalities because of drownings. Especially if there are strong currents, you need to make sure you have a rig with cut-away capabilities. Do not underestimate the force of a canopy dragged along the stream. Not even the best swimmers will be able to counter it. Water temperature is another thing to think about. Hypothermia can really ruin your day.

See the section on water jumps for more information on water landings.

Power Lines and Poles


If your landing area is close to power lines or light poles, be very careful of them. Especially power lines can become very hard to see in the dark. Poles have a tendency to grab your canopy and hold on. Many jumpers have dropped from the sky violently because their canopy caught on to an object only a few feet above the ground. An otherwise successful jump then ends in significant injury.

Remember that your canopy is a lot wider than you are, and that turbulence can easily blow you towards an obstacle. Make sure you build buffer zones into your landing approach to accommodate these factors.

Approaching


Approach consideration of the landing area are usually not that important since you plan on getting there by air, and that is part of your jump analysis. However, in three cases it is something you do want to think about.

  1. Your ground crew may want to be in the landing area.
  2. You may want to check out the landing area before you jump.
  3. If you get hurt, you may need more help there. Can you get a car or an ambulance near the landing area?

Getting Away


Your get-away plan is one factor that may force you to land in a more difficult landing area. If the primary landing area is a grass field surrounded by a barb-wired fence, you might be better of aiming for the road next to it. When all goes well, the grass field is great. However, if you end up breaking your femur, that barb-wired fence is going to be the difference between having to call in an ambulance for extraction, or being able to have your buddies drag you into the car and drive you to the hospital. Perhaps the road is a better idea?

Site Analysis