Even with the advent of Global Positioning Systems, spotting from the aircraft is an integral skill that must be mastered in order to become a skydiver. Don't blindly jump out when the green light comes on. It's important to get your bearings and know where you are before you exit the plane.
Spotting tips:
- Familiarize yourself with the aerial view of your dropzone so you know where the important landmarks are to use as reference points.
- Know what the planned jump run is before you get on the plane so you will know what to look for when you begin to spot.
- Don't be afraid to stick your head out - you need to look beyond the frame of the door in order to get an accurate view of where the plane really is. If the plane is banking to the left, for example, using the frame of the door as a reference point will skew your visual perception as to where you are over the ground.
- Take your time. If there are experienced jumpers screaming at you to get out of the plane, then step aside and let them exit before you so that you can take the time to spot properly and feel comfortable with your exit point.
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