Page 14 - Volume 15 Number 9

Hall notes that loading and subsequent inflight unloading is an important aspect of the mission. Careful not to load the aircraft aft – a common denominator in some King Air skydiving accidents – he ensures that all skydivers are seated within their noted spots.
Outside the aircraft, above the door, there is a 5-foot- long grab bar that jumpers can hold onto if they desire. Three or four jumpers can use this grab bar (there is also a step they stand on) at one time. If more than a few skydivers are out there holding on, it is even more critical for the pilot to carry more airspeed and pitch slightly downward.
Once all jumpers are out of the plane, verified by looking at the fisheye mirror above the compass, the aircraft begins its aggressive descent. The King Air heads toward terra firma at roughly 4,000-5,000 feet a minute at 180 to 200 knots when in smooth air. Entering the traffic pattern and aware of jumpers, Hall completes another few “GUMPS” checks to ensure the gear is down.
“... loading and subsequent inflight unloading is an important aspect of the mission.”
The interior of the King Air is modified for skydiving use. Notice the red and green lights (upper right) which are used to notify divers when it’s time to open the door and jump.
If there were tandem jumpers on the flight, he typically beats them back to earth. They usually land once he’s already back at the hangar picking up the next load. All in all, the trip takes about 15 minutes from door to door.
As Hall sums up, “The King Air works great for us as it’s fast to altitude, comfortable for the ride up and is relatively low-cost versus other more expensive aircraft used in the industry. Having two big PT6 engines gives me peace of mind compared to single engine planes.”
Formoreinformationgoto:https://skydivekc.com/ KA
Grant Boyd is a private pilot with seven years of experience in general aviation business from marketing to customer service. He has written more than 85 articles for aviation publications and enjoys learning about aircraft/pilots with unique missions. Grant can be reached at grantboyd2015@gmail.com.
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
SEPTEMBER 2021