Having trained skydiving students in the 16 to 54 years of age groups, I've seen pretty much the seen the whole range of physical conditions and mind sets. Personally, I’m happy to train anyone for accelerated free fall who has the physical, mental and emotional capacity to participate. 
I’m pretty sure there are many other AFF Instructors who share this perspective and while we have quite a lot of choice in the students we take on, it’s the governing bodies who get the final say about age range. The reality is that we elect them to manage our representative, administrative and legislative bodies and so we’d better be prepared to support them when they make decisions in that capacity.
Too young for sky diving?
Accelerated Free Fall students of 16 years old are the minimum age who can be trained under the BPA and USPA systems without special waiver/dispensation subject to dealing with the necessary CRB vetting for instructors. Of course there’s absolutely nothing to say that minors can’t learn to fly in the wind tunnel so that by the time they reach sixteen their Accelerated Free Fall levels will move through in almost text-book fashion. This is actually happening today and a “whole new breed of champions” are being trained today using this method (quote from Colonel Mike Smith, Commandant JSATC Netheravon, UK). The Young Eagles programme to “develop under 16 skydivers” was developed and piloted by Rob Ames and Rick Boardman in 2003 in UK, since which time the wind tunnels have actively developed the youth market and even if this has not been completely altruistic, it’s certainly contributed a huge amount to the development of the sport.
I don’t really think there will be too much argument with the concept of restricting freefall for under 16s, but just in case its worth noting that the German skydiving federation has carried out studies of inner-ear development in younger people and are moving towards reducing the age requirements for skydiving.
Although sky diving is an expensive sport, there are parents who are willing to support their children to participate and to excel. Even better, there are young people who are willing to find ways to make it happen themselves. After hearing the story of Vicky Gladwell a quiet, intelligent unassuming girl who wanted to get involved in the 2003 Young Eagles programme. She found that at 16 she was ‘too old’ for the Young Eagles and also too qualified, because she had already completed her AFF course. This clever lady had worked in shops and various jobs with the backing of her Mom (who later confirmed her story to me) in order to fund her own development through her accelerated free fall course. With a little coaching from Rick, she stood up in front of a room packed full of Young Eagles and also some amazed adults, who listened and learned from her presentation about ‘funding your own AFF course’. Huge respect Vicky!
Too old for Accelerated Free Fall?
Reality check! It’s really about managing insurance premiums for the national governing bodies and we all know how certain areas of the legal professional make a living from pursuing claims for personal injury.
I hope I don’t need to argue too hard to get the idea across that as we get older we tend to be more prone to injury and take longer to heal. If anyone wants to take this up please feel free to email me direct and/or discuss it on the forum (coming soon). Until that time I’ll revel in my ability to soapbox the point without hecklers.
I just rechecked the USPA site and at the time of writing (late Dec 2008) and found no upper age limit on those who could train in accelerated free fall.
BPA is a little more clear; they confirm that in drop zones affiliated to them, that over the age of 55 new students will not be accepted unless they have previous parachute experience. When I think about this, it seems fair and I hope you’ll agree, even that lady who berated me by telephone what seemed like an hour but was only half that, because she was 56 and had missed her chance to take up skydiving under the accelerated free fall system. Tandem can certainly be different and I’m reminded of the story of the Arnhem Veterans who came along to do a skydive a few years ago. There was a long queue of Tandem Instructors wanting to take these gentlemen into the air again (for no pay). One of them (sensitive to the age and seniority of his 86 year old tandem ‘student’) asked whether he was feeling a bit nervous or worried. The answer was funny and heart-warming “not a bit son! Its much easier this time – the last time I jumped out of an aeroplane it was four hundred feet at night without a reserve parachute and there were German soldiers shooting at us!”. It kinda puts things into perspective when we are filling our our risk assessments don't you think?
Here's a nice little update, a link to flag up the the new record for the current oldest British skydiver - George Moyse 97 years of age! Check out this link (BBC News). I'd also like to add a big thumbs up to the Tandem Instructor Mick Jeng, who doesn't get his name mentioned, but we'll try to put that right here. Apart from being one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, Mick is also a Consultant Physiotherapist and therefore a pretty handy guy to have around when you're dealing with people who are pushing the limits. Kudos Mick!
After graduating from accelerated free fall (in fact after you’ve done just one jump) you will be welcomed by an organisation called POPS - Parachutists Over Phorty Society (formed hundreds of years ago when they used Shakesperian spellings). For these wonderful people the social side takes on an even greater aspect than the necessity to ‘push the limits’ that seems to pre-occupy the younger skydivers. Whichever system you settle on, I recommend you take a look at POPS, whichever country you live in.
There are a number of countries and centers who are actively accept young skydivers under the age of 16, as long as they can fit safely in the Tandem harness. Some skydiving friends took their two boys (both young eagles) along with them on a skydiving vacation to Czech Republic. Jake got to make a skydive aged 12, which did a huge amount for his street cred.... the end of the day, its up to the parents and the children isn't it? (maybe with some input from the insutrance company?).
When it comes to the 'more mature skydiver' and the only thing I’ll say to put you off, is to remind you that you (like me) are mortal, and erm, getting ‘more mortal’ every day. That’s not to say that I don’t support 'older adventurers', simply that they should be as well planned as possible to manage the risks.Stay fit, stay flexible and take care of yourself. If you can still jog or cycle to work, and do some active sports then you can probably skydive (as long as your doctor also agrees with you). Remember, its not about 'jumping out of the aeroplane, its about landing...and then getting up and walking again'.
Anyway, whatever age you are you can always go indoor skydiving in a windtunnel. To find out more about this branch of the sport take a look at this article.
