The airborne timeline: hurry up and wait
The process to get paratroopers out the door
The path to get paratroopers out the door starts early in the morning. Manifest, rehearsals and pre-jump refresher training must be conducted prior to loading the aircraft.
Pre-jump refresher training
Before paratroopers can jump out of an aircraft, they need to refresh themselves on the proper landing procedures. Parachute landing fall (PLF) is a way to land that aims to minimize injuries with five points of contact. The five points of contact are the balls of feet, calf, thigh, buttocks and pull up muscle.
Inside the aircraft
After successfully conducting a PLF, paratroopers move to a simulated aircraft where they once again refresh themselves on in-flight procedures. These procedures consist of hooking up their static line, last-minute equipment checks and safety procedures like a jump refusal or towed jumper.
Equipment check
Once all equipment is issued, each paratrooper checks his harness, including both the main and reserve parachute. In two-man teams they help each other put on the parachute and adjust for proper fitting prior to their final inspection, the jump master personnel inspection (JMPI).
Getting out of the plane.
The Flight
After about ten minutes in the air, paratroopers stand up and conduct final in-flight checks. The jumpmaster conducts a last- minute check of the door to ensure the platform. He also ensures the aircraft is on the correct route by identifying check points. Lastly, he begins issuing in-flight commands to all jumpers preparing to exit the aircraft.
Green light
Green light: go. At this point, there is no turning back. Paratroopers hand off their static line and jump out of the door.
1000 ft AGL
The only thing left to do is to hold on and let gravity do the rest. The canopy will deploy, and it's a shot ride to the ground.
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