Skydiving Altimeter

digital wrist-mounted skydiving altimeter in logbook mode, displaying last recorded jump profile.



skydiver in free fall, making use of hand-mounted altimeter. analogue face visible, showing colour-coded decision altitudes. depicted altimeter electronic, despite using analogue display.

an altimeter important piece of skydiving equipment, after parachute itself. altitude awareness crucial @ times during jump, , determines appropriate response maintain safety.

since altitude awareness important in skydiving, there wide variety of altimeter designs made use in sport, , non-student skydiver typically use 2 or more altimeters in single jump:

hand, wrist or chest-mounted mechanical analogue visual altimeters. basic , common type, , used (and commonly mandated for) virtually student skydivers. common design has face marked 0 4000m (or 0 12000 ft, mimicking clock face), on arrow points current altitude. face plate sports sections prominently marked yellow , red respectively, signifying recommended deployment altitude, emergency procedure decision altitude (commonly known hard deck ). mechanical altimeter has knob needs manually adjusted make point 0 on ground before jump, , if landing spot not @ same altitude takeoff spot, user needs adjust appropriately. advanced electronic altimeters available make use of familiar analogue display, despite internally operating digitally.
digital visual altimeters, mounted on wrist or hand. type operates electronically, , conveys altitude number, rather pointer on dial. since these altimeters contain electronic circuitry necessary altitude calculation, commonly equipped auxiliary functions such electronic logbook, real-time jump profile replay, speed indication, simulator mode use in ground training, etc. electronic altimeter activated on ground before jump, , calibrates automatically point 0. essential user not turn on earlier necessary avoid, example, drive dropzone located @ different altitude 1 s home cause potentially fatal false reading. if intended landing zone @ different elevation takeoff point, user needs input appropriate offset using designated function.
audible altimeters (also known dytters , genericised trademark of first such product on market). these inserted 1 s helmet, , emit warning tone @ predefined altitude. contemporary audibles have evolved crude beginnings, , sport vast array of functions, such multiple tones @ different altitudes, multiple saved profiles can switched quickly, electronic logbook data transfer pc later analysis, distinct free fall , canopy modes different warning altitudes, swoop approach guiding tones, etc. audibles strictly auxiliary devices, , not replace, complement visual altimeter remains primary tool maintaining altitude awareness. advent of modern skydiving disciplines such freeflying, in ground might not in 1 s field of view long periods of time, has made use of audibles universal, , virtually skydiving helmets come 1 or more built-in ports in audible might placed. audibles not recommended , banned use student skydivers, need build proper altitude awareness regime themselves.
auxiliary visual altimeters. these not show precise altitude, rather maintain general indicator in 1 s peripheral vision. might either operate in tandem audible equipped appropriate port, in case emit warning flashes complementing audible tones, or standalone , use display mode, such showing either green or red light depending on altitude.

the exact choice of altimeters depends heavily on individual skydiver s preferences, experience level, primary disciplines, type of jump. on 1 end of spectrum, low-altitude demonstration jump water landing , no free fall might waive mandated use of altimeters , use none @ all. in contrast, jumper doing freeflying jumps , flying high performance canopy might use mechanical analogue altimeter easy reference in free fall, in-helmet audible breakaway altitude warning, additionally programmed swoop guide tones canopy flying, digital altimeter on armband glancing precise altitude on approach. skydiver doing similar types of jumps might wear digital altimeter primary visual one, preferring direct altitude readout of numeric display.