The ABC’s of Skydiving: D

DC-3: A type of aircraft that can hold 40 skydivers.

De-arch: This is accomplished by placing the body in the opposite position of the standard arched box man. The result is a decrease in falling speed.

Dacron: This is the material that suspension lines are made from. They are stronger than microlines.

Data card: This can be found within any parachute and it contains information regarding the reserve chute such as when it was last packed, the type, and serial number.

Dead spider: Another name for a de-arch.

Decision altitude: This is the altitude at which the skydiver must determine that it is time to begin emergency procedures.

Deployment system: This is the system that deploys the parachute and it includes the pilot chute, bridle, and bag.

Dirt dive: This is a skydiving trick or position that is practiced on the ground.

Dive floater: This position is only in large formations and it’s the diver in the airplane who is in the exit lineup but is jumping before the base.

Dive loops: These are loops (sometimes called ‘blocks’) that are located on the front risers to make it easier to grab the risers and steer. Generally only advanced skydivers use these.

Diver: A skydiver that is leaving the plane for a large formation.

Door jam: This is practicing leaving the airplane door before it’s actually done.

Down plane: This is when two canopies are in the air and are both pointed down. Although this is usually reserved for group formations, a single jumper can also do this with both their main chute and the reserve chute.

Drop zone: This is what a skydiving center is called in skydiving lingo.

Dytter: A type of audible altimeter.