British Parachute Association

British Parachute Association (BPA) is the National Governing Body for Sport Parachuting in the United Kingdom.

Overview

The BPA was founded in 1961 to organise, govern and further the advancement of sport parachuting within the UK ^[1].

The BPA aim is to encourage participation in skydiving within the UK. Today there are currently 26 affiliated dropzones throughout the country and a membership of more than 30,000.

The association is funded by membership subscriptions and has an annually elected council of 15 full members which controls all aspects of skydiving on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority. Unlike many other sports which suffer from fragmented and divided governing bodies, the British Parachute Association represents most UK skydivers and most skydivers within the UK are members of the Association ^[1].

The BPA is constituted as a company limited by guarantee.

BPA Council

The BPA council consists of 15 elected members and the current chairman is Martin Soulsby ^[2].

BPA Drop Zones

There are currently 26 Affiliated drop zones in the British Parachute Association. These are:

• Black Knights Parachute Centre - Cockerham, Lancashire
• British Parachute Schools - RAF Langar, Nottinghamshire
• Cornish Parachute Centre - Peranporth, Cornwall
• Headcorn Parachute Club - Headcorn, Kent
• Hinton Skydiving Centre - Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Northamptonshire
• Joint Services Parachute Centre (Army Parachute Association) - Netheravon, Wiltshire
• London Parachute School - Lewknor, Oxfordshire
• North London Skydiving Centre - Chatteris, Cambridgeshire
• North West Parachute Centre - Cark, Cumbria
• Paragon Skydiving Club - Errol, Perth and Kinross
• Services Parachute Centre, Ballykelly, County Londonderry
• Silver Stars Parachute Team (The Royal Logistic Corps) - South Cerney, Gloucestershire
• Skydive Academy (formerly: Peterlee Parachute Centre) - Peterlee, Co. Durham
• UK Parachuting at Sibson Airfield (Peterborough Parachute Centre) - Wansford, Cambridgeshire
• Skydive Brid - Grindale, East Riding of Yorkshire
• Skydive Jersey - St. Peter, Jersey
• Skydive London - Wanborough, Wiltshire
• Skydive St Andrews - Glenrothes, Fife
• Skydive Strathallan - Strathallan, Perth and Kinross
• Skydive Swansea - Fairwood, Swansea
• Skydive UK - Dunkeswell, E. Devon
• Skydive Weston (Royal Air Force Sport Parachute Association) - Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire
• Target Skysports - Hibaldstow, North Lincolnshire
• The Parachute Centre - Tilstock, Shropshire
• UK Parachuting - Old Buckenham, Norfolk
• Wild Geese Parachute Centre - Movenis & Killykergan, County Londonderry

References

1. ^ ^{a b} The British Parachute Association
2. ^ The British Parachute Association

External links

• The BPA official site
• Interactive map of the skydiving centres