Skydiving in Britain grew out of a small group of enthusiasts who wanted a proper club structure. That group became the governing body that still sets the standards today.
The early years
Sport parachuting was taking off in Britain in the late 1950s. Bernard Green, a joint founder and the first secretary of the British Parachute Association, recalls travelling to Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire in the autumn of 1959 to jump.
The British Parachute Association
The association was formed in 1961, according to its own history, from a small group of members. Mike Reilly served as its first chair. It became a company limited by guarantee in 1966. Some sources give 1960 for the start, so the exact year depends on what you count, but 1961 is the date the association itself uses.
From BPA to British Skydiving
In November 2019 the association changed its public name to British Skydiving. It says it did this to raise awareness of the sport with a wider audience. It is the national governing body for skydiving, also known as sport parachuting, and is run by an elected council chosen by its members.
Drop zones today
British Skydiving works with a network of training organisations, which are the centres you book a jump with. Around two dozen are affiliated across the UK. Many offer tandem jumps for first timers and training courses for people who want to jump on their own.
What this means for you
The association’s standards are one reason to ask a centre if it is affiliated. Our skydiving safety guide lists what else to ask, and our skydiving page lists centres.
Sources
- British Parachute Association, Wikipedia
- British Skydiving, about the governing body
- Living Dangerously, British Skydiving
This covers the governing body only. It does not cover the history of tandem jumping or individual clubs, which would need further research.