United States Parachute Association
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The United States Parachute Association (USPA) is a self-governing body for the sport of skydiving. Its headquarters are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia parallel to I-95. The USPA's roots go back to the National Parachute Riggers-Jumpers, Inc., which formed in the 1930s.
In the 20 years between World War I and World War II, barnstormers performed parachute jumps at airshows. In World War II, the first troop insertions with parachutes are credited with turning the tide of the war against the Axis powers. After the war, an abundance of surplus parachutes and courageous former soldiers resulted in the growth of parachuting as a hobby. Competitions began and gained acceptance among the international air sports. The term skydiver was coined by Raymond Young in the mid-1950s, as the first commercial skydiving centers opened. By 1957, the first commercial skydiving schools began to appear and National Parachute Riggers-Jumpers became the Parachute Club of America. PCA adopted the new name, United States Parachute Association in 1967 and now has over 31,000 members.
[edit] Functions
The USPA issues sport skydiving licenses, publishes skydiving training manuals and course guidelines, serves as a legal advocate for skydivers, and provides third-party insurance for skydivers. The USPA publishes Basic Safety Requirements as sets of voluntarily followed skydiving safety rules; it also publishes Parachusist monthly magazine. Also, the USPA arranges and holds competitive skydiving meets.
