5 minutes with our Instructor and Safety Officer Andy

Thursday, February 7, 2019

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name’s Andy and I’m from the south east of England, just above Kent, East of London…

When did you start working for the Swallow group?

I started working for the Swallows in May 2013 as a bartender in ‘the old bar’ at Skydive Hibaldstow. I had about 80 jumps and lived in a tent at the time. Good times!

When did you come to Skydive Algarve?

I first came to Skydive Algarve when the Swallows took over in December 2014. By that time, I had progressed from bartender to DZ controller and really enjoyed helping run the first Christmas Boogie under the Swallows’ management. After that boogie I resumed work at Skydive Hibaldstow and have only just come back in September of last year to start full-time in the Algarve.

How and when did you get into skydiving?

I completed a Tandem with Bryn Chaffe at Skydive Chatteris in the UK, raising some money for Great Ormand Street Children’s Hospital and was instantly bitten by the bug. I completed TAFF and then AFF in the months that followed and was instantly hooked.

What’s a typical day like at SA for you?

A really nice mix of AFF, Tandems, Coaching and ground instruction. Since arriving at this beautiful, friendly dropzone, I’m finding myself going for more and more fun jumps again. Something that had unfortunately taken a backseat during my busy years at Hibaldstow.

How many jumps do you have?

Just over 3000 since that fateful tandem in 2010. The first 2 or 3 years were pretty slow while skydiving was a hobby. My busiest year was 2015 when I completed all my instructor courses and made just shy of 800 descents.

What’s one of your most memorable skydives?

Last year I made a canopy flocking jump with Pete Allum, John McIver, Pete Mather (all of British team Satori XL), Liam Goddard (a friend from Hib) and Chris Brook of NZ Aerosports. Mine was the lightest wingloading at 2.4. It took ALMOST the entire jump for me to arrive at the flock but once I got there those last few seconds before break-off were awesome.

What do you like about being an instructor?

The smile. It sounds corny, but that’s the reason. After all the terror leaves, and the level 4 student nails a turn, and they realise that they can actually skydive. It’s that ecstatic beam in freefall as they understand that they’ve become a part of this amazing sport.

What do you do outside of skydiving?

Most recently, trying not to drown after falling off a surf board. So far, so good.

I’ve also been playing the guitar for pretty much as long as I can remember. To be honest, I should probably be better by now.

What makes SA such a special dropzone for tandems and students?

The team of instructors that I’m lucky enough to count myself among. The guys here are such an unbelievably experienced team from multiple disciplines, training systems and federations. Each of them has an infectious enthusiasm and passion for progression; both for themselves and their students.

Try to describe skydiving to a non-skydiver.

It’d be easier to show them. ?

Leave us with a life lesson from Andy…

Be safe. Turn high.

What’s something you’re proud of in your skydiving career?

Obtaining all three instructor ratings in one calendar year and going on to be awarded BPA Instructor of the Year 2015!

More recently, BPA Advanced Instructor was a tough nut to crack, but a feeling of accomplishment unlike anything else.