Operation Freefall! The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault

I missed the registration deadline. Can I still participate?
We hope so! Each drop zone can only accommodate a certain number of tandem jumpers in one day, and, of course, those who have registered by April 1st will have priority -- but if we still have room, you are welcome to join us! Contact us as soon as you know you want to participate and we will try to assist you with finding a slot so you can jump.

How much does it cost to participate?
To participate in Operation Freefall you must raise a minimum of $600 in pledges.

I’m a licensed skydiver and would like to participate. What is the fee or minimum amount of pledges I need to raise?
We love it when licensed skydivers want to participate. As a licensed skydiver we ask that you raise a minimum of $100 in pledges. If you are an AFF student the minimum is $300.

What does the participation fee include?
Pretty much everything: instruction and/or training; use of a student jumpsuit, the airplane ride to jumping altitude, the tandem skydive, a video of your jump, and an official Operation Freefall t-shirt.

Where does my money go and what will it help do?
A portion of the participation fee covers the cost of your tandem skydive and event expenses. If your local rape crisis center is an official host, and they recruited you, they will receive $100. If you raise more than $600 in pledges, which we hope you do, your local rape crisis center (if they are a host) will receive 50% of the amount collected in excess of $600. The money will also:

Extend efforts to provide prevention, recovery, and prosecution information to tens of millions of people, including your community, each year.
Expand SOAR’s programs to educate lawmakers, police officers, students and the media about sexual assault.
Enhance SOAR’s programs to empower survivors of sexual violence.
Enhance local services for survivors of sexual violence.

Is the registration fee tax-deductible?
All donations raised are tax-deductible as allowed by law. If you have concerns or questions you should ask your tax advisor.

I'm collecting pledges and want to continue past the registration deadline. Where do I send the additional pledges?
First, thank you for continuing to collect past the registration deadline! We ask that you send all pledges to the SOAR office by May 16, 2007.

I've never skydived before. Can I still participate?
Of course. You need not be an experienced skydiver to participate -- in fact, many Operation Freefall participants have been first-time skydivers.

Do I HAVE to jump in order to participate in Operation Freefall?
No. Operation Freefall and the beneficiaries of the donations you collect will be very grateful for your efforts regardless of whether or not you jump. Please indicate your intention NOT to jump on the application form, and the full amount of your pledges will then go to the beneficiary organizations, including your local host organization, if any. However, remember, Operation Freefall is an event to create awareness as well as raise funds, so the more people Taking The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault^®, the greater impact the event has!

What exactly is a tandem jump? What will I experience?
On a tandem jump you can experience the excitement of freefall without a lengthy and expensive training course. The jump is performed with an experienced instructor, called a tandem master. A special harness connects you to the tandem master throughout the jump. A third jumper will videotape the jump, so you can relive the jump with your friends as many times as you want. Before you jump, you will go through an instruction period.

Then you will put on your jumpsuit and harness and take a short plane ride to at least 10,500 feet. Once you've reached jumping altitude your tandem master will secure his harness to yours, do a final parachute check, and prepare for the jump.

Before you jump, a video camera operator will step out onto the strut of the plane so he can capture you in the moments before you jump. On the tandem master's instruction you will roll out of the plane.

Next comes what may be the most adrenaline-pumping, exciting 60 seconds of your life: THE FREEFALL. It's an experience that can hardly be described, except to say that most people who try it find it totally exhilarating.

Once you've free fallen about a mile, it will be time to open your parachute. Your tandem master will have an altimeter so he/she can tell when it's time to deploy the chute. The parachute is actually a giant tandem canopy, extra large and sturdy enough to support 500 pounds.

Opening the chute is simple: just a short tug on a rope or handle. Then you'll have one of the calmest experiences of your life: floating in the sky while looking out over miles of countryside. After the rush of the freefall it's an amazing sight.

Is it safe?
Skydiving is an ultra-hazardous sport. As with all extreme sports, there are risks to skydiving and you should inform yourself of all the risks involved prior to jumping. Injuries, including death, can and sometimes do happen. For more details on the risks of skydiving, please visit www.uspa.org.

Who is responsible for my safety?
THE OPERATOR OF THE DROP ZONE, AND YOU, ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY. The individuals and organizations volunteering to help put Operation Freefall together have no expertise in skydiving. SOAR is simply a beneficiary of your charitable giving. Members of SOAR assist with certain administrative aspects of the event and cannot accept any responsibility in connection with your skydive.

What if I get there and then change my mind and decide I don't want to jump?
No problem. You are under no obligation to jump. You can change your mind at any time, right up until the moment before you jump. If you're uncomfortable for any reason, just say so and the plane will take you back down the traditional way. Please understand that although you are not obligated to go through with the jump, your participation fee cannot be refunded.

Can my friends come and watch?
Absolutely! Friends, family, all are welcome -- bring as many as you like (and tell them to bring binoculars and a camera). There's no fee for anyone who isn't jumping. But it can be more fun if your friends jump too.

Can kids take part?
You must be 18 or older to jump, and be able to prove it to the satisfaction of the drop zone operator. But kids are welcome to watch and cheer you on.

How do I find a drop zone location near me?
You will be given details of the closest participating drop zone. If you would prefer to jump at another participating drop zone (e.g., to be with friends), just let us know. To find out in advance where your drop zone location will be, ask your local event host or email your city, state and zip code to jump@operationfreefall.com and ask for the information.

Why is the drop zone so far away?
Most of the drop zones are about 45 minutes to an hour outside of the city and some are as far as 3 hours away. The drop zones are operated out of small, privately owned airports and must be away from larger airports. Please don’t let the distance discourage you from participating.

Who can participate?
Participants must be 18 years old or older, weigh less than 200 pounds, and not have any disabilities or health issues, which may, in the sole judgment of the drop zone operator, create any safety concerns. We understand that some locations may have less restrictive weight limits and other restrictions; if you have concerns, check directly with the drop zone operator.

What should I wear?
You should wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in, and sturdy footwear (no flip-flops, sandals, or anything else not permitted by the drop zone operator). The drop zone operator will provide a jumpsuit to wear over your clothes during the jump.

Do I need to bring anything with me?
You'll need to bring a valid picture ID (driver's license, passport or state-issued ID card) with you to the drop zone.

What happens if the weather is bad?
If the weather is bad, call the drop zone that morning. If the weather is expected to clear, they may advise you to come out, go through your instruction/training, and wait for blue skies. If the weather precludes jumping on the day, you may return the next day and jump, or you can schedule another time to jump by making arrangements directly with the drop zone. All participating drop zones have agreed to honor your prepaid tandem jump with a rain check valid for up to six months. All rain checks must be booked directly with the drop zone, are non-transferable, and are valid only at the drop zone issuing the rain check.

I have a question that isn't answered here. Who do I contact?
Please call SOAR at (407) 898-0693 or email jump@operationfreefall.com.

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Speaking Out About Rape, Inc.," "SOAR," "SOAR SPA," "Operation Freefall," "The Two-Mile High Stand Against Sexual Assault," the SOAR wavy line design, the SOAR SPA bubble design, and the Operation Freefall parachutist design are Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All rights reserved. All content on this and related websites are protected by copyright. Copy or reuse of anything contained on these websites without express written permission of SOAR is not allowed. Use of this website constitutes agreement of the terms of use which can be read here.