Canadian Sport Parachuting Association
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA), through affiliation with the Aero Club of Canada (ACC), is Canada's representative to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
(FAI), and the International Parachute Commission (IPC), and is thereby the official sport organization for sport parachuting
in Canada.
This means skydivers and skydiving companies that wish to be members of the CSPA have to adhere to established Basic Safety Rules throughout their parachuting career. Such Rules include minimum opening altitudes for certain levels of experience; mandatory equipment; clear weather conditions for jumping, reserve repack due dates, general operational requirements and so on. These Basic Safety Rules greatly reduce the risk of accidents for individual skydivers, skydiving companies, and the sport as a whole. A Canadian Drop Zone must adhere to all of these safety rules if it wants to be a member of the CSPA.
The CSPA has other initiatives to promote overall safety such as recommended procedures and instructor qualification requirements. A Canadian skydiver starts off with a solo license, then progresses onward to their A, B, C, and D license. The CSPA requires that each skydiver keep a log of every jump signed by another jumper and submit that log book to acquire these qualifications. For example to get a B License you have to be able to perform certain maneuvers and have 50 skydives which are all documented in the submitted logbook. Without this sort of basic proof skydivers would have no idea how many jumps they have done and could embellish experience levels. This was a very big risk before but through the proper establishment of documentation procedures, proof of a skydivers experience is easily attainable preventing inexperienced instructors to take the lead.
The CSPA continually updates all programs and initiatives to adapt to increasing incidents and changes in technology. Each skydiver and skydiving company who are members must implement all changes to remain members.
Not all Canadian Drop Zones are members of the CSPA and therefore do not adhere to safety procedures set out by the CSPA.
There are several committees and officers that assist the Board in governing the association.
Committees:
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
(FAI), and the International Parachute Commission (IPC), and is thereby the official sport organization for sport parachuting
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
in Canada.
Objectives
The primary objective of the CSPA is to promote safe, enjoyable sport parachuting through cooperation and adherence to self-imposed rules and recommendations.This means skydivers and skydiving companies that wish to be members of the CSPA have to adhere to established Basic Safety Rules throughout their parachuting career. Such Rules include minimum opening altitudes for certain levels of experience; mandatory equipment; clear weather conditions for jumping, reserve repack due dates, general operational requirements and so on. These Basic Safety Rules greatly reduce the risk of accidents for individual skydivers, skydiving companies, and the sport as a whole. A Canadian Drop Zone must adhere to all of these safety rules if it wants to be a member of the CSPA.
The CSPA has other initiatives to promote overall safety such as recommended procedures and instructor qualification requirements. A Canadian skydiver starts off with a solo license, then progresses onward to their A, B, C, and D license. The CSPA requires that each skydiver keep a log of every jump signed by another jumper and submit that log book to acquire these qualifications. For example to get a B License you have to be able to perform certain maneuvers and have 50 skydives which are all documented in the submitted logbook. Without this sort of basic proof skydivers would have no idea how many jumps they have done and could embellish experience levels. This was a very big risk before but through the proper establishment of documentation procedures, proof of a skydivers experience is easily attainable preventing inexperienced instructors to take the lead.
The CSPA continually updates all programs and initiatives to adapt to increasing incidents and changes in technology. Each skydiver and skydiving company who are members must implement all changes to remain members.
Not all Canadian Drop Zones are members of the CSPA and therefore do not adhere to safety procedures set out by the CSPA.
Organization
CSPA is made up of individual and group members. There are six National Directors that are elected to govern the affairs of the CSPA; they compose the Board of Directors.- Western: Sean Anderson - Vice President
- Mid-Western: Jodie LaRose
- Mid-Canada: Jay Vanstone
- Ontario: Christopher Charlesworth
- Quebec: Nicolas Huard
- Eastern: David Hodge - President
There are several committees and officers that assist the Board in governing the association.
- Treasurer
- Public Relations Officer
- FAI/IPC Delegate and Alternate Delegate
- Aero Club of Canada Delegate
- Editor CanPara Magazine
- Managing Editor CanPara Magazine
Committees:
- Technical & Safety Committee
- Coaching Working Committee
- Competition & National Teams Committee
- Transport Canada Committee
- Information Technology
See also
- ParachutingParachutingParachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
- Parachute riggerParachute riggerA parachute rigger is a person who is trained or licensed to pack, maintain or repair parachutes. A rigger is required to understand fabrics, hardware, webbing, regulations, sewing, packing, and other aspects related to the building, packing, repair, and maintenance of parachutes.- Military...
- Canadian Airborne Forces AssociationCanadian Airborne Forces AssociationThe Canadian Airborne Forces Association is the umbrella organization for all military airborne associations within Canada. CAFA membership is open to all qualified Canadian military parachutists, as well as military parachutists from Allied countries...
- SkyHawks Parachute TeamSkyHawks Parachute TeamThe SkyHawks are the Canadian Forces Parachute Demonstration Team based at CFB Trenton in Trenton, Ontario. They are a sub-unit of the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre....
- United States Parachute AssociationUnited States Parachute Associationthumb|180px|right|USPA logoThe United States Parachute Association is a self-governing body for the sport of skydiving. Its headquarters are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia parallel to I-95...