Check Out Tandem HALO Jumping

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to skydive from an altitude higher than that of Mt. Everest?  On this insane adventure, you’ll exit a perfectly good plane at a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, followed by an unparalleled experience of approximately 2 minutes of freefall, after which the chute (ideally) opens, and you and your tandem partner (a professional jumper and in most cases ex-military special forces) coast safely into the landing zone.


The HALO jump (which stands for High Altitude, Low Opening) has only recently ventured into the civilian foray, and certainly does not come cheaply.  Nonetheless, for a fee ranging in excess of $3,500, you can have the experience of the lifetime that was once reserved for the paramilitary elite.  The cost generally doesn’t include airfare to or accommodations near the jump site, but all packages currently being offered come with a slew of mementos, from digital picture and video, to in some cases the flight suit you made the jump in.


Now for the pseudo-dangerous note; all passengers must sign a medical history form that includes a series of questions pertaining to certain medical conditions.  If you have any of the indicated conditions, such as heart, lung, or back problems, you have to obtain a sign-off from your doctor.  It should be obvious that this type of parachuting technique can be dangerous, even more so than regular skydiving. At high altitudes of the Earth’s atmosphere greater than 22,000 feet, the oxygen required for human respiration is scarce.  A typical HALO exercise will require a pre-breathing period (30-45 minutes) prior to jump where the jumper breathes 100% oxygen in order to flush nitrogen from their blood stream.  An oxygen bottle is employed during the jump as well, because without it you would only have about 20 seconds of useful consciousness at 30,000 feet.


If you’ve yet to be scared away, additional information can be found at the Incredible Adventures and Superior Jump website(s).