Announcement:
I am sorry to announce that as of 7-5-12, wingsuiting will be suspended indefinitely at Skydive Snohomish.
Following months of research, review and collaboration with many members of the greater skydiving community, this decision has been made in the interest of maintaining high safety standards at Skydive Snohomish. Much progress was made in coming up with an acceptable procedure to accommodate existing operations and DZ specific variables. Some of the major issues that Snohomish faces which can't be easily changed right now are the two LZ set-up, up to 3 planes routinely operating at the same time, wingsuit flight paths over densely populated areas, the lack of comprehensive training and qualification, and the increased logistical workload it would take for DZ staff and the wingsuiting community to manage qualification, in-air separation and communication. I spend a great deal of time considering the skydivers and their ambitions, and the last thing I want to do is unnecessarily bridle anyone's passion for the sport or the discipline they choose to pursue. Individually, the above issues could probably be addressed, but as a whole they represent a safety risk that in good conscience, I can not support.
I'd like to thank Bob Folline for leading the effort in developing a plan and the rest of the wingsuiters that provided council, experience and ideas. The work that has been done will not be wasted and will contribute greatly to the work that USPA is doing to establish comprehensive training and valid experience qualifications. I know this news will be very disappointing for many people. I, too, am disappointed not to be able to see that work come to a positive result for all.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Tyson Harvey
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