At 4,000 feet the parachute is opened. The winds of freefall will depart leaving a calm breeze and the relaxing four minute ride back to earth. After training, students make jump with automatic parachute opening. A total of five jumps required before progressing to freefall. Although some students start with a static-line jump, most students start with a tandem jump.
Some companies require at least one tandem jump before freefall jumps.
After a short training course on the ground, the instructor and the student board the aircraft, climb to 10,000 feet, leave the aircraft to stand on a step over the wheel, then enter the freefall of a tandem jump. The instructor wears the parachute assembly and the student is attached to the parachute in 4 spots by a harness. The student's back is against the instructor's chest. After a 40 second freefall, the instructor opens the over-sized, square parachute and the student starts maneuvering the parachute back to earth. All students participate in the dive as much or as little as they wish.