COVID19 UPDATES
AND OPERATING DATES & HOURS
Open seven days a week
BELOW ARE THE IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION FOR OUR OPERATING SCHEDULE
Make sure you have read the SOP's below the dates of operation BEFORE you come to the DZ.
Licensed Jumpers and Cleared for solo AFF Graduates
Open 7 days a week
On weekdays the first load will be after 9. AT LEAST ONE LOAD/HOUR, no matter many people are on it!
NEW! High Altitude loads on Saturday mornings (7:30 and 8:30 am), $40/slot for our licensed jumpers
Perris Valley Skydiving School (Tandems and AFF)
Open 7 days a week
Our school is now back in full swing seven days a week! If you've been waiting to make your first tandem jump or first solo jump and learn to skydive, now is the time! Slots will book FAST, so contact the school at 951-657-1664 to schedule.
Hours of Operation
7:30 AM - 4 PM Monday to Thursday
7:30 AM-5 PM Friday to Sunday
Please call 951-657-1664 for reservations, or book online here.
The Bombshelter Sports Bar and Grill (7 days a week)
Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday 8 AM to close
Sat-Sun 7 AM -close
1st Sunday of every month Car and Airplane Show 4 PM-7 PM
June 15th, 2021 UPDATE - MASK RULES AT SKYDIVE PERRIS
As COVID cases lessen and restrictions ease, the light of what our pre-pandemic lives were is starting to shine brightly.
With this, Skydive Perris supports every individual’s level of comfort on the transition back to normal.
The State of California has communicated effective today, June 15th,
that those who are vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask indoors,
and that those who are not vaccinated should continue mask wearing.
At Skydive Perris, we support everyone’s right to exercise their choice of wearing or not wearing a mask,
outdoor, indoor and on the airplane, based on vaccination status and comfortability level.
We will no longer enforce mask wearing on the dropzone,
and highly encourage those that still want to wear a mask to continue to do so.
Regardless of how different each person’s views, experiences and unique traits are,
we are united in one common goal – SKYDIVING.
We remain committed to being accessible to everyone and welcoming to anyone.
Thank you for being a part of the Skydive Perris Family and for all of the support over the past year!
May 17th, 2021 UPDATE - MASK RULES AT SKYDIVE PERRIS
PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED
Masks will be required on the airplane and when indoors only.
Of course, we trust you won't come to Skydive Perris if you experience any COVID symptoms.
Thank you!
MASK RULES AT SKYDIVE PERRIS
PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED
Masks will be REQUIRED at the Skydive Perris Facility at all times when:
-Dirt Diving
-In the airplane and the loading area
-Walking through the dz past other people
-On the packing mats unless there are so few people that you are able to maintain social distancing at all times
-Anywhere indoors other than while eating or drinking in the Bombshelter while maintining social distancing
Masks are not required at other times when you are spread out, not in crowded areas and can also guarantee a minimum of 6' of social distancing.
***
Since reopening at the end of May, Skydive Perris has been leading the way for the international skydiving industry in establishing and following strict Covid-19 Protocols. Our current procedures exceed what is required by the CDC and California State Government for outdoor activities. We have several Doctors and medical professionals who regularly jump with us and have praised our efforts.
Taking everyone’s temperature, sanitizing the planes and facilities, practicing frequent hand washing, and wearing masks has proven to be a small yet acceptable burden as it allows us to safely enjoy the sport we love with our amazing community.
With that in mind, Skydive Perris will stay open Wednesday – Sunday through the end of October.
The November schedule to be announced shortly.
Thank you Professor Steven Briggs for this great post:
"Dan - Thanks for all the work that you and Skydive Perris have put into safely opening, and for doing it with scientifically based viral defense protocols that ensured our jumps - including those from 18,000 ft above sea level - were all we had to worry about. You and Skydive Perris have always been champions of safety for our sport and incorporating best practices to prevent viral infections into your drop zone operations has set the standard for the skydiving world."
SKYDIVE PERRIS' COVID-19 SOP'S BELOW
November 12, 2020
So Maybe We Won't be That Strict...
If there is one thing we like to do at Skydive Perris is to have fun. So we decided to have a little fun with our announcement of re-opening. The video above is comical satire and we won't really be running you through the gauntlet that badly but we will have some rules and S.O.P.'s that need to be followed. Please read them all below BEFORE coming to the dropzone.
SEE YOU SOON!
(Published May 22nd, 2020)
SKYDIVE PERRIS COVID-19 SOPs
Safety is always our top priority at Skydive Perris. For this reason we were one of the first Skydiving Centers in the country to shut down operations because of COVID-19. Since then more data has been gathered and new mandates released by our local and state governments. We have been carefully examining the new information and consulting with trusted medical professionals in our effort to develop a plan for how best to responsibly reopen while also maintaining the safest environment possible for all our jumpers. With a little time we are optimistically expecting to relax these procedures, hopefully returning to near normal in the not too distant future.
One of the things we love most about our skydiving family is that we are an incredibly diverse group. This includes people who are immune compromised for a variety of reasons. We want everyone to feel as comfortable as possible coming to Skydive Perris and loading up in an Otter together and making a jump.
As tired as some of us are of the phrase, “we’re in this together”, at the drop zone it’s always been true. We would never want another jumper to pay the price for our bad decisions. It’s one thing if we hurt ourselves but an entirely different thing if we hurt someone else. We wear seatbelts in the plane to protect ourselves and everyone else. We will be wearing face coverings and washing our hands more often for the same reason.
Please help us to continue to make Skydive Perris the safest drop zone and facility it can be. The following are the COVID-19 standard operating procedures we will be implementing.
PRIOR TO COMING TO SKYDIVE PERRIS, PERRIS INDOOR SKYDIVING OR THE BOMBSHELTER
Our first line of defense against COVID-19 is minimizing the likelihood that someone who has it comes to the airport. Prior to coming to Skydive Perris please ask yourself:
- Have you been in contact with someone who has COVID-19?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19?
- Do you now or have you in the last 14 days had any of the following symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache, or loss of taste or smell?
- Have you traveled out of the country in the last 14 days?
- While at home, are you in frequent direct contact with individuals whose health is at high risk if they are exposed to COVID-19? (This isn’t only about those of us at the DZ.)
- Have you been disregarding basic social distancing practices in your daily life, e.g. not wearing a mask in public and not staying at least 6’ away from other individuals when possible? If you haven’t been protecting yourself on a daily basis, you are more likely to have been exposed to the virus even if not showing any symptoms.
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions please do not come to Skydive Perris at this time.
Medical Professionals who work with COVID-19 patients but are strictly protected while at work will be allowed on the premises even though they answered “yes” to the first question.
DUE TO CURRENT STATE MANDATES AND OUR DOD COMMITMENTS DURING THIS TIME OUR FACILITY WILL ONLY BE OPEN TO:
- Skydivers doing ongoing and essential re-currency training
- Patrons of the Perris Valley Skydiving School
- Patrons of Perris Indoor Skydiving
- Patrons of the BombShelter Sports Bar and Grill
- USUA Ultralight Pilots
- Transient Pilots
- The only spectators allowed on the premises are patrons of the above mentioned or those who accompany tandem skydivers and Indoor Skydiving customers.
WHEN ARRIVING AT SKYDIVE PERRIS
Everyone coming to Skydive Perris will need to enter in the main parking lot by the wind tunnel. As you walk out of the parking lot and through the airport entrance, you will be met by a staff member at a pre-screening check in station. The staff member will ask the questions mentioned earlier and will take your temperature. A “yes” answer to any of questions or a temperature above 100 will be reason for not being allowed entry.
Each person who answers “no” to all the questions and who has a temperature of 100 or less will be allowed to enter Skydive Perris. At that time, they will be given a wrist band allowing them entry for that day only.
In the event you arrive and there is no one at the prescreening station, the manifest staff will do the temperature test, ask the questions and provide a wrist band if applicable.
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PERSONAL SANITIZING MEASURES
Everyone will be required to wear a face covering while on the premises at all times.* The only time face coverings can be removed is when you are secluded and not speaking with others.
*WE DO NOT WANT TO BECOME MASK POLICE BUT WE ARE GOING TO ENFORCE THE RULES. PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS
- If you have to cough or sneeze do so tightly into your arm. If you are frequently coughing or sneezing you will be asked to leave the premises.
- Please maintain a minimum distance of at least six feet from other individuals whenever possible. This includes while you are packing.
- While dirt diving please use common sense social distancing measures that everyone in your group is comfortable with.
- Don’t do practice counts with hand contact, handshakes, high fives or fist bumps.
- Debrief skydives outside, not in small enclosed rooms.
- No more than four people other than staff will be allowed in the manifest office at one time. Please put money on your account prior to coming to the drop zone.
- Please resist taking part in the loving, affectionate physical gestures we normally enjoy including hugs, kisses, high fives, fist bumps, etc. (Sorry about this one )
- Wash your hands with soap and water before and after every jump, prior to making any transactions at manifest, restaurant and wind tunnel and frequently throughout the day.
- We will be spraying your gloves/hands with an alcohol based spray before boarding the airplane.
- When possible use a barrier such as a clean paper towel to prevent direct contact with shared surfaces including sinks, toilets, water fountains, door knobs, etc.
In addition please be sure to provide your own supply of protective equipment and sanitation items including facial coverings, hand sanitizer, sanitizing spray, disinfectant wipes and drinking water. This is the only way to be absolutely certain you always have what you need when you need it.
AIRCRAFT PROTOCOL
Time spent together in tight quarters in the aircraft is the riskiest part of spreading the virus while skydiving. Facial coverings will help but will not completely eliminate the risk. The higher quality the face covering and the longer it is worn the more protection it provides. In addition we need to pay extra attention to how we conduct ourselves in the airplane.
- Be completely geared up and in the loading area on a 5 minute call.
- Wash your hands as shortly before boarding the aircraft as possible.
- If you wear gloves they need to be sprayed down with a sanitizing agent prior to boarding.
- Wearing a face covering is required in the plane and loading area at all times.
- Full face helmets with the lenses closed are STRONGLY recommended.
- If you are wearing a full face helmet with the lens down during the ride to altitude you must also have a face covering. You can lower or remove your face covering after the red light is on just before exiting the plane.
- If you are wearing a face covering which will not fit under your full face helmet (like the N95) it is ok to secure your helmet to your seatbelt for takeoff. When the red light comes on you can remove your face covering and put on your full face helmet with the lens down.
- If you are wearing an open faced helmet you must keep the face covering on until the red light comes on.
- Make sure your chosen face covering is not at risk of migrating in freefall and obstructing your vision, especially with a closed full face helmet.
- To encourage air circulation the aircraft door will be opened at 1500’ and left open as long as possible. Be extra aware that your pilot chutes are secure. The door will stay open until the jumpers in the front of the plane closest to the pilot ask for it to be closed.
- Only speak in the airplane if absolutely necessary. Speaking increases the transmission of COVID-19 particles. Speaking loudly exponentially increases the transmission of COVID-19 particles.
- Do not do practice counts, handshakes, high fives, fist bumps, etc. in the plane.
SANITIZING PROCEDURES
In addition to the personal safety measures and aircraft protocols, we are also increasing our sanitizing procedures throughout the day as follows:
- At the start of the day and during shut downs, each aircraft operating will be sprayed with FAA and EPA approved disinfectant.
- At the start of each day the manifest office, Bombshelter, Perris Valley Skydiving School, video rooms, Perris Indoor Skydiving and other facilities will be cleaned and sanitized.
- Counter tops, bathrooms, door handles, aircraft handles, seat belts, door frames, aircraft mock ups and all commonly touched surfaces throughout the facility will be cleaned each morning and frequently throughout the day.
- Hand washing stations have been installed in the loading areas.
- Hand sanitizing stations have been installed in many places across the dz.
- Plastic separators have been installed in the rear of the aircraft cockpits as well as in the Manifest, School, Bomb Shelter and Perris Indoor Skydiving customer service counters.
- No touch faucets have been installed in the sinks in the bathrooms.
- Use common sense social distancing when using the bathrooms.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Nothing is more important to us at Skydive Perris than knowing our jumpers, our family, trust that their safety is always our top priority. We have worked for years to earn that trust and we want to earn it again now. But there is nothing Skydive Perris can do to replace the behavioral measures each of us as individuals must take. In the best interest of protecting yourself, your friends, families and communities please abide by all these procedures. Please help us to hold ourselves and each other accountable.
Due to the increased safety protocols and staff needed to do all we can to fight the transmission of COVID-19, we are increasing the jump tickets to $30.
CONTACT TRACING
If you discover that you have contracted COVID-19 and have been to Skydive Perris in the prior 14 days please contact us immediately at manifest@skydiveperris.com, 951-657-3904. We will follow up with contact tracing efforts by notifying other jumpers you were on the plane with that day. You’re name will not be released by Skydive Perris.
COVID-19 AND SKYDIVING
Skydiving is a contact sport. Please understand that with all the precautions and safety measures we have taken it is not possible for us to guarantee you that you won’t be exposed to COVID-19. By participating in skydiving you accept the risk and assume all responsibility to the exposure and risk of contracting COVID-19.
Skydive Perris and all associated entities and individuals cannot guarantee your protection. If you cannot accept the risk despite all the safety measures we have taken then you should not participate in skydiving activities.
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(Published May 7th, 2020)
In this video General Manager of Skydive Perris, Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld gives a little bit of skydiving history about how we as a community have made safety decisions in the past. In this time of COVID-19 there is much debate on when and how to reopen society in general, and among skydivers, Drop Zones in particular. As BC states in this video, “It’s not a one size fits all solution.” Different drop zones in different locations with different jumpers will often make different decisions regarding what the best safety procedures at their facility are. COVID-19 safety plans are no different.
All of us at Skydive Perris miss our family terribly and are anxious to open up as soon as we can. While we’re not entirely comfortable doing that yet you can be sure in the meantime we are also not sitting in wait to see what happens. Ours is a “safeish” sport. As with all our safety plans we are taking the time to be sure we understand the threat and have done all we can to mitigate it. We are preparing to re-open with well thought out actionable plans as we speak.
We will be back in the air soon and can’t wait to see and be flying again with all of you.
Much love,
The Skydive Perris Team
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(Published April 30th, 2020)
Dear Skydive Perris Family,
There are few things we love more than looking at this incredible view after a fabulous, high energy day at Skydive Perris. We haven’t done that for a while.
What a bizarre time this has been. Fortunately most of us are in perfectly good health. That being the case, the idea of being quarantined at home when the sun is shining feels wrong in so many ways.
May is one of our busiest months of the year. Our school is cranking and we’re making new skydivers every day. Teams are training, groups are jumping, and skydivers of every discipline are screaming across the sky. We miss each other and all of you terribly. The first weeks of May are also when we host three back to back P3 (Perris Performance Plus) events where we welcome hundreds of our skydiving family from around the world to our playground. It truly is a rocking month.
All of us at Skydive Perris have been hoping and planning to hear the planes crank up and see canopies filling the sky starting May 1. Nobody wants to get back in the air more than we do. But the tidal wave of daily information from cities in California and around the world cannot be ignored.
Safety is our top priority. And when in doubt we will always choose safety first. There are many different opinions on the severity of the COVID-19 crisis and what is the smartest course of action to take at this time. But there is enough doubt that we have chosen safety first and decided to keep Skydive Perris closed for sport jumping until June 1. Should there be a new Government mandate with more optimistic information we reserve the right to change our minds, and really fast.
Please everyone take care of yourselves, your loved ones, neighbors and family. This won’t last forever and the skies over Southern California have never been bluer (no kidding, they really are).
In the meantime we will continue to create informative and entertaining videos for you to enjoy. Keep an eye on the Skydive Perris web site, Facebook page and IG for links to quality content.
Thinking of you all and hope to see you soon.
Skydive Perris, the Conatser Family and Dan BC
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(Published April 6th, 2020)
Hello Everyone,
We hope you're all doing well, staying healthy, staying home, social distancing, and weathering this storm as best as possible.
With the current situation as it is and taking into consideration updates from the federal, state and local governments we have decided there is no reason to wait until April 15th to decide if we will reopen on April 17th as hoped. We have extended the closure of our skydiving school, the Bombshelter, Perris Indoor Skydiving and all sport jumping through April 30th.
There are a few US Military units whose training is essential. They have asked Skydive Perris to possibly provide the necessary support they need to conduct that training. If you hear planes flying at Skydive Perris it is in support of our soldiers
Quarantined Skydiver Comic Relief Area Click HERE
Let's have some fun! This is an area where our Skydive Perris Family can go for a little boredom therapy and reprieve from missing each other. Share a video of your day in quarantine with the rest of us. A hilarious video is preferred but not required. (Much preferred!) Please submit videos by either sending us the Youtube or Vimeo URL (we prefer Vimeo), or a link to the file itself on Dropbox, or by any other means to Ward@skydiveperris.com. Include who should get credit for the submission and any links to your channels you want us to link back to and we'll get them up on this page so we can all feel a little closer to each other in these trying times. There are several hysterical videos up already. Check them out for a good laugh HERE.
DISCOUNTED BULK TICKETS
For the month of April we are offering a discount on our bulk tickets! From now through April 30th you can buy 45 jump tickets for $1000 or 22 jump tickets for $500. There is a cap of 45 tickets per person so act quickly. Tickets can not be shared but they will never expire. Contact manifest at 951-657-3904, any day from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
You can also get a loved one a gift certificate for a tandem skydive HERE as well for when we're back to full speed. Contact manifest at 951-657-3904, any day from 9:00AM to 2:00PM PST.
Thank you for your support during this shutdown.
In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other. The Skydive Perris family is truly a family as all skydivers across the world are. It's been amazing to see the support, love, and comfort between everyone. Please do reach out and stay connected during this time.
Love to all,
Skydive Perris, the Conatser Family and Dan BC
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(Published March 25th, 2020)
To our Skydive Perris Family,
Wow, we've never seen anything quite like this before. Shortly after we posted the previous notice letting everyone know Skydive Perris was shutting down sport jumping, our school, the Bombshelter and Perris Indoor Skydiving until April 3rd the County of Riverside issued a mandate stating that through April 30th "No groups of 10 or more should assemble in any one place without at least 6 feet of separation between each individual." Thats going to make dirt diving, plane rides, debriefs and post jumping drinks at the bar very difficult. The next day the Governor of California issued a "stay at home" order which directed the public not to leave their homes except for essential services. To our surprise "essential services" didn't include sport skydiving! Really???
Many of us think of Skydive Perris as our safe place, our sanctuary which is essential to our mental and emotional health. We cherish and are all so strengthened by our community. This has never been more apparent than now while we've been separated. It's been said that we never fully appreciate what we have until it's lost. This experience has made us appreciate you, our Skydive Perris family and our incredible staff more than ever. For lack of a better way of putting it, and at the risk of being politically incorrect (something we risk quite often), we feel truly blessed to have you in our lives and we thank each one of you for being a part of our family.
In the hope that the measures currently being taken have a positive effect on the spread of the Coronavirus we have decided, for now, to take this two weeks at a time. We fully understand that it is very unlikely the April 30th mandate is lifted before then but we refuse to lose our optimism and just in case it does we want to be ready to reopen. For now sport jumping, the skydiving school, the Bombshelter and Perris Indoor Skydiving will stay closed to the public until April 17th. We will update you and confirm or extend this closure date by April 15th.
Skydive Perris has been in operation for 44 years. So many incredible people have been a part of the dz during these years. But never, ever, have we had a staff or community as amazing as we do right now. It is truly an awesome team and family. It is the efforts of our team and family that are at the core, the foundation and the soul of what makes Skydive Perris the place we're so proud of. We're sometimes so busy that we probably don't say it often enough. But we have time to say it now. We love our staff and Skydive Perris Family!!!
For now please stay home. Practice this social distancing thing which is so opposite of a normal day at the DZ, and keep checking back with us on our website and social media platforms for updated information. We ARE going to come through this and we'll be better, smarter and more grateful than we've ever been before. We miss you guys but refuse to lose our optimism!!!
Talk to you soon,
Skydive Perris, the Conatser Family and Dan BC
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(Published March 17th, 2020)
To our Skydive Perris Family,
What a crazy few weeks it's been. Amazing how things can change so quickly. We hope you are all taking the best care you can of yourselves, each other, your families and the community.
With the all the reports and numbers coming in from around the world it has been difficult over the last weeks for us to decide what would be the best thing to do moving forward. But the answer has become clear. There are huge health concerns, enormous economic worries and no way to completely avoid them. Damage has been done in both and it will probably get worse before it gets better.
A few things about skydivers come to mind.
1) We as a group are not risk adverse. We make a calculated risk every time we make a jump. A risk we completely understand and can mitigate.
2) We are a very friendly and very social community. We love hanging out together and hardly let another jumper pass without giving them a hug.
3) As a group we're relatively healthy and optimistic.
Normally…for these reasons, regardless of what else is going on in the world, if the sun is out and the planes are flying we'll be at the drop zone.
However, based on the advice regarding the Coronavirus from both the Conservative White House, the Liberal California State Government as well as the scientific data from the USA and around the world, one thing is for sure. By being at the drop zone together right now we will only stand to make the situation worse. It will make things worse in terms of the health of society and of the long term economy.
For these reasons Skydive Perris will be shutting down our sport and student operations, the Bombshelter Restaurant and Perris Indoor Skydiving until April 3. At that time we will evaluate the situation and decide if a longer shut down is warranted.
Take care of yourselves. Stay home, watch a movie, read a book, go for walk, head to the mountains, enjoy some quiet time, but please practice social distancing. This too shall pass and we will be sharing our love for the skies and each other again soon.
Skydive Perris