How Can I Use VR Parachute Training Programs To Help My Students Master Parachute Flight and Navigation Before Their First Jump?
For Skydiving Instructors: Give your students the experience they need to make safe landing decisions without the risk. VR parachute training enables you to verify student readiness before they encounter real-world dangers.
Following the proven success of decades of flight simulators in airline training, VR now brings the same benefits to skydiving instruction.
An overview of the answer can be found in the Instructor Corner from the November 2023 issue of Parachutist, the monthly magazine of the US Parachute Association.
For more background, watch “Virtual Reality as a Training Tool” (15 minutes) at the PIA (Parachute Industry Assoc) Symposium in Reno, NV, in February 2023.
The Landing Problem Every Instructor Faces:
You know this scenario: A student completes the first jump course, answers your questions correctly, but when they’re under canopy, making real decisions, they still struggle with:
- Wind assessment – Not recognizing wind direction changes during descent
- Landing point calculation – Misjudging where they’ll actually touch down
- Obstacle avoidance – Poor decision-making around hazards like water, roads, or buildings
- Flare timing – Landing hard or stalling too high
The USPA data confirms what you already know: Landing problems are by far the largest category of non-fatal incidents and accidents in skydiving.
Right now, when a student doesn’t grasp these concepts after ground school, your only options are asking more questions (more of your time) or letting them learn through real jumps. There’s been no way to let them practice these critical decisions safely.
VR Parachute Training: Practice Critical Decisions Without Risk
Following decades of proven success with airline flight simulators, VR now brings the same benefits to parachute training. Your students can now practice every aspect of canopy control and landing decision-making before they face these situations for real.
What Students Practice in VR
- Wind condition assessment during descent
- Landing point calculation and approach planning
- Obstacle identification and avoidance strategies
- Crosswind landing techniques
- Off-DZ emergency procedures
- Landing flare timing
- Traffic pattern awareness with other canopies
How VR Training Integrates Into Your Existing Program
As an instructor, you control the progression:
- Start with basics: Light winds, standard landing direction, good spot
- Progress when ready: Add crosswinds, challenging spots, traffic
- Repeat when needed: Students who struggle repeat easier scenarios until they demonstrate competency
- Advance the ready: Challenge strong students with off-DZ landings and complex conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
How does VR help students practice parachute flying before jumping?
Students experience realistic parachute flight scenarios where they must assess wind conditions, calculate landing approaches, avoid obstacles, avoid other canopies and time their landing flares. Instructors can coach them through scenarios or test their decision-making skills in a completely safe environment.
What parachute skills can students practice in VR?
Students can practice all the critical decisions that prevent landing incidents: wind assessment, landing point calculation, obstacle and other canopy avoidance, crosswind landings, off-DZ emergency procedures, and proper flare timing. They learn to collect and process information during descent just like they will in real jumps.
When should students use VR in their training progression?
We recommend VR training after students complete the first jump course but before their next real jump. This consolidates and complements existing ground school training with hands-on experience.
Is VR training approved for civilian skydiving instruction?
VR training supplements traditional instruction methods. The French Parachute Federation is currently conducting a formal study on VR training value, with results expected October 2025. Our system has been featured in USPA’s Parachutist magazine.
What if my dropzone has specific hazards like water or highways?
This is exactly where VR training provides the most value. Dropzones with deadly obstacles like rivers, lakes, motorways, railways, or buildings nearby benefit most because students can recognize relevant landmarks and practice hazard avoidance without real-world consequences.
How much instructor time does VR training require?
Each VR session takes about 15 minutes (brief-jump-debrief format), the same structure you already use.
Equipment and Investment
Current System (Available Now):
- VR-ready PC + VR headset: $3,500 total investment
- Space required: 6ft x 3ft
- Software: $1,000/year unlimited jumps
- Individual instructor can set up and operate
Standalone System (Available Q4 2025):
- Standalone VR headset only: ~$500 total cost
- Same training capabilities, no PC required
- Same pricing: $1,000/year unlimited jumps
Two Training Modes for Complete Assessment
1 Coach Mode: Guide your student through scenarios as they see them, providing real-time advice as they make decisions in VR.
2 Test Mode: Stay silent and observe how your student handles situations independently – verify they truly understand before they jump.
As an Instructor or Drop Zone manager, you have more ability than you think to provide students with a realistic, immersive experience.
A simple chair in a corner with bungees attached above provides students with a physical comprension of parachute flight.
A big screen helps other students learn by watching.
Instructors can record in VR their drop zone briefings for standard flight patterns at their DZ, what landmarks to use, what “outs” are available and what areas not to land.