The ABC’s of Skydiving: C

Call – This is the amount of time you have until you board the airplane.

Canopy – Parachute. More commonly used to specifically refer to the rectangular-shaped chutes made from small pockets of air.

Cascade – This is where two lines meet and form one line. You can cascade the suspension lines to decrease the amount of drag in your chute.

Cell – This is the complex ‘pocket of air’ that canopies are made of.

Center point – The actual center point in movement. With group formations it refers to the center of the formation and with an individual, it usually refers to the torso.

Cessna – Aircraft manufacturer.

Chute assis – A French term which refers to sit flying.

Closing loop – After the container has been closed and the pin has been guided through the loops, the closing loop holds the container closed.

Coach – An experienced skydiver that can assist and instruct during freefall.

Container – The part of the parachute that holds the canopy.

Crabbing – This can be done by flying the canopy across the ground sideways as well as forward.

Creep – A technique used when practicing formation skydiving.

Creeper – This is the board that skydivers use when creeping. It has wheels and is used as a stimulator for freefalling.

Cross ports – Small holes at the sides of the cells in a canopy that allow air to be passed from one cell to another.

Current – This is the status of a skydiver. They are ‘current’ if they have recently jumped.

Cut away – This is an emergency procedure that relies on breaking free from your parachute and relying on the reserve.

CRW – Canopy Relative Work. Essentially, it’s the formation of canopies.

Cypres – A type of AAD.