Halo Jump

Factual Questions
1

In the last week I have heard mention of a ‘Halo Jump’ twice, both in a J.A.G. episode, as well as in a Bond movie.
Other than jumpin from high altitude w/ an oxygen and then deploying chute close to water, is there anything else to this jump??

-Mith

2

Mithgard,

H.A.L.O. or High Altitude Low Opening jumps are simply that. Jump from real high (30,000 feet and higher) and then open the parachute as close to the ground as is safely possible. However civilians are now doing this for fun, although I don’t think they practice the low opening part. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

Jim

3

great, thanks for the info =)

4

This was in a recent West Wing as well. One of the special ops guys died doing it.

5

The advantage to HALO, and the reason it was developed in the first place, is horizontal tracking. You can jump from a plane 10-15 miles offshore, and freefall at an angle until you are close to your target. The enemy never suspects that there has been an insertion because no plane overflew the target. Very handy for SEAL teams and the like.

6

Skydiver here (sport, not military).

I used to help run a big club in college and talked to a fellow who did HALO jumps in the military and he mentioned jumping from 50k (!) and opening under 1500 feet.

Sport jumpers don’t do much of this for a few reasons:

  1. No need for stealthy entrance or avoiding enemy fire.
  2. High altitude jumps require special gear - onboard oxygen for a 20k exit, and you have to actually carry an oxygen mask and bailout bottle with you if you’re leaving at 30k (maybe even lower). Probably more stuff needed at 50k. Sport jumps are generally under 15,000 feet.
  3. Special gear costs a lot and needs training.
  4. Opening low kills people. If the alternative is getting shot that’s one thing but that’s not an issue outside the military. Depending on experience sport jumpers will open around 2,000-3,000 feet.

There are drop zones that do high-altitude jumps (I think Skydance out here still does jumps at 30k) but it costs a lot, you have to rent the oxygen gear, do altitude chamber training, I think that there’s even a doctor’s certificate needed.

So yes you can do it but it’s not a normal jump.