//Wing Load & Canopy Chart
WING LOAD = 1.00
Total
Weight
lbs
Canopy
Size
ft²
What About Wing Load?
Roughly put, its a multiplier of your canopy's performance and risk. With more performance, there is also more risk and less margin for errors and distractions, requiring more experience, skills and awareness to prevent accidents. ​ Technically, its how much weight is loaded onto the canopy during flight, which basically (but not only) helps create higher air pressure inside the canopy, allowing for improved performance, resulting in faster descent speed, more aggressive canopy response, less in-flight time, hence less margin for error, distractions and also higher risks. There are still several other factors that also affects a canopy's flight and performance, and any given canopy has its flight envelope specifics and limits according to its manufacturer, and with proper knowledge, experience and training those can be managed towards safety.
Is your Experience up to par with your Situation?
3 STEPS CHECK ( 1 ) Check were you fall onto each axis, the closer-to-center assessment is your current experience safer zone, the closer-to-edge assessment is your current situation. ( 2 ) The gap between those means how far from your current experience safer zone you are. ( 3 ) The color category your assessments falls the most is an overall indicator of the situation you are in, and what kind of experience you should have (see details below the chart). ( * ) Also consider jump frequency/currency as a risk multiplier factor, the longer down-time, the more chances for errors and distractions.
> DOCILE: Its a forgiving environment, with plenty of room for errors, best for learning skills and awareness. Do your best, pay attention and learn.
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> CONSERVATIVE: Its a mostly under control environment, great for beginner, non-frequent and recurrency jumpers, or simply for taking it easy. Stay sharp and keep working on the fundamental skills.
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> INTERMEDIATE: Situation requires solid fundamental skills, not much room for error nor distractions. There's still a lot to learn and plenty of new skills to develop, look for proper training.
> ADVANCED: Your situation requires SERIOUS CONSISTENCY, there is very little margin for error and distractions, those will likely get you or others seriously hurt or killed.
> EXPERT: Your situation requires TOTAL CONTROL and awareness, extremely consistency and skills, no room for error or distractions, those will get you and others killed.
Remember skydiving is a very risky activity and can be very dangerous if not approached correctly. There are SAFER zones, but no SAFE zones, there is always risk of serious injury or death, no matter your situation.