Skydiving...for a living??

[afdave 0]

I think i just found my calling. I've been in the military for almost 4 years now, i love it, but at the same time, i dont know if i could do it for the rest of my life. But on the other hand, i had no clue WHAT i would do if i were to get out. Well, i went skydiving once, a few years back, and it was honestly the best money i ever spent. I vowed if i could somehow find a job that would let me jump out of a plane, i'd do it in a heartbeat. The total amount of sheer freedom you get, falling thru the sky, it's amazing.

Anywho, someone sent me this link. 10K for the enrollment, plus i'd have to pay for my own gear, get a NZ visa, and a few other things. But damnit, it's pulling me into it's world of wonderfullness. Only real question is, can this be a actual career? I mean, its jumping out of a plane. can i realistically be doing this at 40? 45? 55?

http://www.skydiving.co.nz/skydiving-career.php

[wildcard451 0]

another pipe dream comes to life.

[afdave 0]

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another pipe dream comes to life.

sorry, its 3am here, but what does that pipe dream thing mean *cries as he goes back to sleep*

[JohnMitchell 16]

You can do all that in this country, without enrolling in a special school. You can begin working as a packer as soon as you learn to pack well. I have a 13 y/o daughter and a 15 y/o son who work part time as packers. You'd want to be more like full time. With 200 jumps and a rating you can start working with S/L students, at 500 jumps you can do tandems and AFF. With even fewer jumps you can work as a coach. You can always work as a gopher, plane washer, manifester, or line man. The real necessity is just to get the required # of jumps and freefall time, then get the ratings. You don't have to go to NZ for all that.

It's hard to make fortune as a skydiver. It can be a meager career. The real money is in owning the business, the planes, etc., and any DZ owner will tell you that's a hard way to get rich, too. That's why many skydivers look for a lucrative day job, and feed their habit that way. I've been a part time instructor for about 3 decades now, and it's been a lot of fun, with no burnout, an occupational hazard. I'd say follow your dreams, but have a good backup career.

[afdave 0]

well, NZ rocks ;)

[timber 4]

My advice to you is to do your 20 years in the military so you can retire at a fairly young age. get as much experience as you can and be as versitle as you can.

Get your Tandem, AFF and Senior Rigger Ratings. If you also like to fly also get you Commercial Pilot Single and Multi-engine ratings. You just might be able to earn a megar living. You will probably have to get your own health insurance and retirement program.

Not to be a negative person but understand that in the next few years the business of skydiving might be in a bit of a financial crisis. I believe that the FAA will go to the practice of "User Fees" and in fact has already started subcontracting for services. With the price of fuel and insurance (if there is any) I expect to someday be paying $30 a jump. I really admire the DZO 's that keep our sport alive. I don't think any of them had delusions of making a fortune.

Just something to think about. Good Luck

[Beerlight 0]

Dave, ya got the GI Bill? Go to college, jump for fun. Or cross over to the Officer side, do your 20 and ya prolly won't have to work much after that.....some.. but not much. Or follow your dreams

[Gawain 0]

Put in your next assignment at Fort Bragg, get your USPA license, and try out for the Golden Knights. Then, you'll be paid, earn towards your Army retirement.

Or, join one of the other Army teams at Benning or Campbell. You'll advance your USPA ratings and you can do the gig sometime after you retire, or whatever.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[Guru312 0]

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Only real question is, can this be a actual career?

As they write on Slashdot.org, "You must be new around here."

I spent the best 25 years of my life trying to make a living in parachuting and I loved every second.

Do not forget what most DZOs know all too well: "The best way to make a small fortune in parachuting is to start out with a large one."

Guru312

I am not DB Cooper

[peanut4040 0]

Or, join one of the other Army teams at Benning or Campbell. You'll advance your USPA ratings and you can do the gig sometime after you retire, or whatever.

Chuckles, AND in between your skydive burnout, AND your assignment changes--you can carry a nice brand new black weapon to very exotic places around the world and kill people to protect us pussies.

I was jumping this year with a group from the 101 screaming chickens. Yall know about the rivarly between Alchol Anoymous and them. On the way to altitude, I screamed out to taunt them " Whats the screaming Chickens been doing lately"?

One of them screamed back. "mostly SCREAMING".

i Shut de puck up...........

and felt damn Proud of them....

Its a good day to LIVE, why puck up a good thing.

There is no reply in aad section for. " hell no i would not put an AAD on my back"

[GrabGrass 0]

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Only real question is, can this be a actual career?

As they write on Slashdot.org, "You must be new around here."

I spent the best 25 years of my life trying to make a living in parachuting and I loved every second.

Do not forget what most DZOs know all too well: "The best way to make a small fortune in parachuting is to start out with a large one."

Yup, you burn through money ALMOST as fast as you do WIVES!

~ "Pack Fast, Pull Low... and Date Your Riggers WIFE!" ~

[turtlespeed 226]

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Only real question is, can this be a actual career?

As they write on Slashdot.org, "You must be new around here."

I spent the best 25 years of my life trying to make a living in parachuting and I loved every second.

Do not forget what most DZOs know all too well: "The best way to make a small fortune in parachuting is to start out with a large one."

Yup, you burn through money ALMOST as fast as you do WIVES!

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[jasonRose 0]

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Only real question is, can this be a actual career?

As they write on Slashdot.org, "You must be new around here."

I spent the best 25 years of my life trying to make a living in parachuting and I loved every second.

Do not forget what most DZOs know all too well: "The best way to make a small fortune in parachuting is to start out with a large one."

Yup, you burn through money ALMOST as fast as you do WIVES!

Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!!

[turtlespeed 226]

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Only real question is, can this be a actual career?

As they write on Slashdot.org, "You must be new around here."

I spent the best 25 years of my life trying to make a living in parachuting and I loved every second.

Do not forget what most DZOs know all too well: "The best way to make a small fortune in parachuting is to start out with a large one."

Yup, you burn through money ALMOST as fast as you do WIVES!

When we get to LP . . We SO have to toast to this.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[airtwardo 7]

Yup, you burn through money ALMOST as fast as you do WIVES!

[GrabGrass 0]

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When we get to LP . . We SO have to toast to this.

***

When the last one left, I came home from the DZ to an ALMOST empty apartment...she left me a garlic press, ONE shoe and a New York Yankees hat, the empty hangars were still swinging in the closet!

For two weeks until I got paid, I had to hop around on one foot, with horrible breath....and I STILL hate those fucking YANKEES!!

~ "Pack Fast, Pull Low... and Date Your Riggers WIFE!" ~

[diablopilot 2]

They guy that hits me up for spare change outside the local MCDonald's everyday makes more than I do.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[watchdog2 0]

go to Hawaii and be a tandem intructor..a friend of mine made 60K a year out there...

[afdave 0]

Well, as far as assignments go, im locked in Italy till March of 2008, then i'm moving to korea for a year. Not much in the way of jumping here that's affordable. Someone sent me a PM about possibility of being a jump instructor in colorado, i'm looking into it.

I guess i could get a high paying job and jump on the side.. *sigh* if only happyness paid rent, i'd be golden