Every sport carries a greater or lesser risk of injury. With indoor skydiving, there are actually only a few known accidents, and these are only minor injuries or bruises. They are usually caused by carelessness or clumsy behavior. Indoor skydiving facilities are generally very safe, as the industry applies strict safety standards and protocols to minimize the risk of accidents.

 

We carry out our own annual accident analysis. In 2022, the proportion of injuries in our offers amounted to 0.052% overall.
This figure includes both the adventure and sports areas. It is pleasing – but not really surprising due to our numerous proactive measures – that there were no serious injuries (hospital stays of several days, emergency operations or life-sustaining measures with prolonged recovery processes) and most injuries were minor in nature (no treatment to maximum outpatient medical care).

 

So if you dream of experiencing the feeling of free fall, but find the idea of jumping out of an airplane frightening, you can gain important experience with indoor skydiving as a first step. Thanks to good preparation and personal instruction, you can enjoy an unforgettable experience in a safe environment.

 

One of the most important aspects of safety in indoor skydiving is careful instruction and training by experienced and certified instructors. We comprehensively train our instructors according to the Tunnelinstructor.com training program. This non-profit organization was founded to make wind tunnel flying a safe sport and set standards for the industry. The training includes extensive safety training on correct behavior in the wind tunnel to proactively prevent critical situations and ensure optimal behavior in all possible situations. Our instructors instruct all participants in detail on the correct posture and behavior in the wind tunnel before they are allowed to enter it. The instructors are also always present during the flight to monitor the participants, give them feedback and intervene in an emergency.

 

The use of protective clothing and safety equipment such as helmets, goggles and flight suits is mandatory to minimize injuries. Before entering the wind tunnel, all items such as watches and jewelry (yes, even cell phones) must be removed, as lost items can injure people in the airstream. For footwear, we recommend lace-up shoes with abrasion-resistant soles that are tied tightly before the flight.

 

Indoor skydiving is sport! Balancing your body on a column of air and using your arms and legs to maneuver can be exhausting. It requires stamina, agility, concentration and coordination. The muscle groups, especially the core, that are activated when flying are generally rarely used and therefore tire quickly. However, it is not necessary to be an athlete to fly in a wind tunnel. Flying in the tunnel is particularly attractive because there are (almost) no barriers in terms of age, disability, gender or weight and there is hardly any risk of injury. However, we advise people with pre-existing shoulder injuries and pregnant women against indoor skydiving. In cases of doubt, a doctor should be consulted beforehand.

 

For Proflyer, there are additional safety aspects:

  • For regular training and sporty flying maneuvers, a full-face helmet offers optimum protection and we recommend wearing gloves.
  • Flight altitudes, speeds and maneuvers must be adapted to your personal level. Hands off the safety net! During fast maneuvers, reflex-like grips can lead to injuries.
  • If several people are flying together in the airflow, proactive and forward-looking attention to all flight partners is elementary. Visual communication with each other is extremely important.
  • Everyone must know and use the hand signals for the speed requirements. You can find an explanation from our Chief Instructor Sandro here.
  • Particular care must be taken in the door area and when entering and exiting the vehicle.
  • New flight maneuvers must be planned and discussed in advance in order to identify possible risks. Our coaches are always available for this purpose.

 

Overall, we can say that indoor skydiving is very safe compared to other sports. Provided that it is carried out under professional guidance and in compliance with safety measures. Most injuries that occur in the wind tunnel tend to be of a minor nature, caused by incorrect movements or collisions. Nevertheless, every sporting activity involves a certain risk of danger. That is why compliance with safety regulations is always our top priority. If you have any doubts or health concerns, you can contact us at any time. In cases of doubt, we will advise you to consult a doctor.

 

We hope we can allay your fears and anxieties with this article. Take the plunge into the wind tunnel and experience the unique feeling of indoor skydiving in a safe environment.