Dropzones in Sweden

Skydiving in Sweden: An In-Depth Guide to Regulations, Safety, and the Scandinavian Skydive Experience

Skydiving in Sweden offers a uniquely stunning experience, combining the heart-pounding rush of freefall with breathtaking views of the vast Scandinavian landscape—from dense forests and pristine lakes to the rugged coastline. As a highly organized sport in Sweden, overseen by the Svenska Fallskärmsförbundet (SFF) or the Swedish Parachute Association, jumpers are guaranteed a high standard of safety and professionalism across the country’s roughly 23 established locations.

Whether you are seeking your first tandem experience or are an experienced jumper looking to tour Europe, understanding the specific national regulations is essential for a smooth and safe experience.

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Navigating Swedish Skydiving Regulations

While Sweden operates under a sporting code that aligns with international standards, the SFF has specific mandatory requirements, particularly regarding safety equipment and equipment maintenance that all foreign visitors and domestic jumpers must adhere to. These requirements are comparable in strictness to regulations found in countries like France or Germany.

Mandatory Equipment and Maintenance Standards

The Swedish Parachute Association is unambiguous about the mandatory use of safety gear, placing a strong emphasis on emergency systems for all jumps, regardless of license level.

• Automatic Activation Device (AAD): An approved and activated AAD is mandatory for all skydivers on all jumps in Sweden. This requirement is strictly enforced to ensure the highest level of safety. Limited exceptions may apply only in specialized operations like extreme canopy piloting, which require approval from the Chief Instructor (CI) and the National Safety Officer.
• Reserve Repack Cycle: A critical regulation for all skydivers, including foreign license holders, is the reserve parachute packing interval. The maximum length of a reserve pack is 12 months in Sweden. If your reserve was packed more than 12 months ago, it must be repacked by a certified rigger before you are permitted to jump.
• Altimeter and Hook-knife: A visual altimeter and a sturdy hook-knife are mandatory equipment to be worn on all skydives.
• Audible Altimeter: This is required for specific disciplines, including wingsuiting, camera flying, and freeflying.

Canopy and Wing Loading Requirements

Similar to other European national bodies, the SFF has defined limits on wing loading (the ratio of jumper weight to canopy size) to ensure safety, especially for less experienced skydivers.

• Jumps Under 1000: Skydivers with less than 1000 logged jumps are required to follow the specific wing loading chart outlined in SBF 18.4 (Swedish Parachute Association Regulation). This chart dictates the maximum square footage of canopy a jumper can safely use based on their experience level and jump weight.
• C-License for Advanced Disciplines: Pursuing advanced disciplines is regulated by jump numbers and license level.
  • Wingsuiting: Requires a minimum of 300 logged jumps and holding a C-license or equivalent, along with specific training and qualification for the suit class.
  • Camera Flying: Generally requires a C-license or equivalent and an appropriate number of jumps in the target discipline. Helmets