Rental of parachute equipment is usually included in the price of the instructional courses. You can always continue to rent equipment if you have no interest in buying, but you might want to eventually purchase your own equipment— like after you qualify for a Class A parachute license.
Be aware this stuff doesn't come cheap, and purchasing used equipment is only recommended if it is thoroughly checked out and certified by someone you trust with your life, like your jump master. If a deal on a used parachute looks too good to be true, it probably is. Don't buy it. Buy the best stuff you can.
First, you will need a primary parachute, which will run about $1,000 new. A reserve chute will cost about $500 or more, and the harness set-up comes in around $500 as well. Throw in the necessary helmet, goggles, altimeter, and the cool jumpsuit, and you can add another $300 to $400 to the total. As an estimate, the complete parachute set-up, including new top-of-the-line equipment will run you $2,000 to $2,500. A complete used set-up, if available, can be purchased from your local jump center for about $1,500.
This may seem like a lot of money to start, but after the initial cash outlay, the only costs associated with this great sport will be the actual price per jump of about $16 to $20 each. Over the long term, this sport is not that expensive. The jump cost is a pittance to pay for the immeasurable thrills each jump in this sport brings.
It is strongly recommended that you get the advice of your jump master before purchasing any equipment. Jump masters have a wealth of information on the best equipment, and they will be more than happy to share this information with you. Just ask them. Most schools can sell you l the right equipment from their jump center retail shop. The shop will usually offer discounts for those who took the basic instruction at their site.
Licences
After you obtain your Class A license, you can jump all over the world. A complete list of jump centers in the U.S. is available from the USPA (703) 836-3495; or write 1440 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314. The USPA has also developed the parachutist rating system that is adhered to by all jump schools in the industry. The rating system is broken down into four different classes, with the basic requirements listed below:
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|  | Class A - Novice: Completion at least 20 free fall jumps, with three of them 40 seconds or longer. Passage of a written exam given by a certified jump instructor, and the ability to pack your own main parachute. |
| Class B - Intermediate: Completion at least 50 free fall jumps, with three of them more than 45 seconds long and all 50 jumps totaling more than ten minutes of free fall time. Passage of a written exam that is not easy. |
| Class C - Advanced: Completion at least 300 free fall jumps, with at least ten of them 45 seconds or longer, and totaling at least 20 minutes of free fall time. Passage of an even harder written exam and a few more fun, secret goodies to make sure you know what you doing up there. |
| Class D - Master: Completion at least 200 additional free fall jumps (the jumps from Class C don't count), with at least 10 of them longer than 60 seconds. At this level, each applicant is judged individually. Not many Class D ratings are given. You are essentially a grand master of parachuting if you qualify for this rating. |
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As you see, moving up in ratings will take a commitment of time and money on your part. It's worthwhile if your schedule and budget permits; if not, stick with your Class A license. Make sure to keep it current by jumping at least once every six months, or you'll have to repeat some of the classes. By keeping your license current, you can jump whenever you need an 'air fix.'
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