Corona Virus Updates

UPDATE May 21, 2021 at 5:30 PM:
The 2021 skydiving season has officially begun: our lockdown restrictions no longer apply and we are back to jumping with full aircraft!

TRAINING:
Great news for all our students learning to jump solo: training courses can proceed as planned.

FUNJUMPERS:
Funjumpers are also welcome with the only special requirement being that you must first make an appointment via manifest@paracentrumtexel.nl. The number of visitors allowed on the Dropzone at the same time is limited, so your visit needs to be scheduled.

UPDATE May 11, 2021 at 1:30 PM:

We expect our lockdown restrictions to be eased in the coming week. Something we have been looking forward to immensely! If this indeed happens, we will be ready to restart tandem skydiving from Friday, May 21!

TRAINING AND SPORT JUMPS
We are still waiting to see if we can fill our aircraft to 100% capacity or if we need to keep jumpers 1.5 meters apart in the aircraft. If the latter is the case, as it was during the reopening in 2020, then we can only perform tandem jumps while this restriction is in effect.

If the aircraft can be filled to capacity again, we can also restart training courses and take sport skydivers up as well.

So we’re still waiting to see which of these two scenarios it will be and of course whether the planned reopening becomes official. As soon as more is known, we will post the update on this page.

UPDATE May 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM:

The current lockdown period has just been extended for us until May 17. However, all reports seem to indicate that it really won’t be long now before we can resume… but not just yet.

UPDATE April 27, 2021 at 9:00 AM:

The current lockdown period has been extended until May 12. Fortunately, we expect that on May 13 (Ascension Day) we will really be able to take to the skies again! Not absolute certainty yet… but it looks extremely good for that reopening date. Fingers crossed!

UPDATE April 14, 2021 at 9:00 AM:

The current lockdown period has been extended until April 30. Fortunately, we expect that this summer, just like last year, we will be able to make all jumps again. With the necessary adapted hygiene measures of course. Booked jumps and gift vouchers purchased from us are valid for 3 years. So just hold on a bit longer before we can take to the skies again!

UPDATE March 24, 2021 at 9:00 AM:

The current lockdown period has been extended until April 18.

UPDATE March 3, 2021 at 3:40 PM:

Jumping is still not allowed, this government decision is valid until March 31. If the rules are relaxed after this period, we can resume skydiving from April 1.

UPDATE February 25, 2021 at 2:15 PM:

At this moment we don’t know yet when we can jump again. It’s not yet clear to what extent the first relaxations announced this week will affect skydiving.

We expect clarity from the ministry soon. As soon as we know more, you’ll read it on this page.

UPDATE February 11, 2021 at 2:00 PM:

Due to the extension of the enhanced Corona measures, all jumps are suspended until March 3.

UPDATE January 18, 2021 at 10:15 AM:

Due to the extension of the enhanced Corona measures, all jumps are suspended until February 9.

UPDATE December 15, 2020 at 6:15 PM:

Due to the enhanced Corona measures, all jumps are suspended until January 19.

UPDATE October 13, 2020 at 7:45 PM:

Due to the very strict protective measures we have been working with since the first reopening (which are much stricter than in shops, for example), we can continue tandem skydiving as a flow-through location.

The only adjustment will be that from Thursday onwards, our customers and staff will wear face masks at all times.

Read the blog article we recently wrote about our health measures here. Then you’ll know exactly how we work and how we operate safely and responsibly: https://www.paracentrumtexel.nl/springen-na-verscherping-van-de-corona-maatregelen

UPDATE October 1, 2020 at 12:37 PM:

Despite the recent tightening of Covid-19 measures, we can still safely and responsibly continue skydiving.

For clarity, here’s an overview of how our procedures have been adapted and how we prevent infection:

Arrival and check-in:

• All visitors to our center must have an appointment. This helps us spread out crowds and ensure there aren’t too many people present at the same time.
• Outside the door, there are special “stand here” stickers on the ground when it’s busy. This helps visitors maintain sufficient distance outside.
• Only jumpers with an appointment may enter the building. Spectators can stay outside on the (spacious) grounds and watch the jump and landing.
• Hands must be washed upon entry
• Upon entry, a health and contact details form must be completed (you may only proceed inside if you are completely healthy)
• Inside the building, at check-in, walking routes and standing positions are marked. The standing positions are placed at ample distance from each other (> 1.5 meters).
• Where necessary, our staff help remind everyone who might forget to maintain 1.5 meters distance from other jumpers.

materials used inside:

• Extra disinfection sprays are available on the writing desks
• Pens are used once and after use placed in a “used pens” box. At the end of the day, all used pens are disinfected and (provided with a date sticker) set aside for at least 5 days.
• The card payment terminal is disinfected multiple times per day
• Everyone may disinfect the payment terminal again with the available disinfection spray
• Plexiglass panels have been installed at the counter between the customer and staff member

after check-in/jumping:

• Everyone must maintain 1.5 meters distance on the grounds
• Our staff continuously remind visitors who forget about the 1.5 meters ;-)
• Our staff wear a buff or face mask if they might come within 1.5 meters of a jumper

during jumping and landing

• Before the jump, all jumpers wash their hands again with disinfectant
• Before the jump, all jumpers receive a face mask to wear
• Before the jump, all jumpers receive a buff (a fabric neck gaiter/scarf) that keeps the face mask in place during freefall
• Before the jump, all jumpers receive disinfected plastic goggles to wear during freefall
• After each flight, frequently touched surfaces in the aircraft are disinfected
• The tandem masters also wear mouth protection and a closed helmet
• The catchers (staff who stand ready and assist with landing) also wear mouth protection
• After the jump, jumpers are no longer guided through the building (where the new shift of jumpers is separated by 1.5 meters) to collect a certificate. Therefore, we are temporarily not issuing certificates.
• The images of the jump are sent by email (not via USB stick)

UPDATE June 5, 2020 at 2:54 PM:

From Saturday, June 6, fun jumpers are welcome again at Paracentrum Texel!

However, we must implement some adjustments and follow new rules.

Click here to read all information for sport jumpers.

UPDATE May 31, 2020 at 11:43 AM:

We are starting to jump again, but slightly differently than we’re used to. Our jumpers now receive email notification in advance about all ‘1.5-meter procedures’. Below is the text from this email:

Sport Jumpers

On the first Monday that we’re allowed to jump again, we will only do a (limited) number of tandems. This way we can learn what is and isn’t possible according to the guidelines and restrictions mandated by the ministry.

As soon as more is known about sport jumping (number of jumpers per flight, how appointment scheduling will work, cost per jump, etc.) we will post it here.

UPDATE May 30, 2020 at 11:35 AM:

We can jump again from June 1! This of course with the necessary hygiene adjustments and in compliance with RIVM guidelines.

Static line training:
We will restart Static line training from July 1.

AFF training:
We will restart AFF training from July 1.

UPDATE May 12, 2020 at 4:25 PM:

We have (very) good hope that we can and may resume tandem parachute jumps from June 1. This of course with the necessary hygiene adjustments and in compliance with RIVM guidelines.

Static line training:
We expect to be able to offer the first Static line training again on July 1.

AFF training:
We expect to be able to offer the first AFF training again from July 1.

UPDATE May 12, 2020 at 4:00 PM:

We have heard from voucher supplier WF-deals that they have extended the validity of all outstanding vouchers by 1 year.

UPDATE April 22, 2020 at 9:27 AM:

The period during which we will be closed has been extended until May 19, in line with the guidelines for the Hospitality industry.

UPDATE April 2, 2020 at 12:10 PM:

Voucher supplier Vliegles.nl has also created a Corona information page with information about vouchers purchased from Vliegles.nl: www.vliegles.nl/corona.

Here is a screenshot of a portion of that page with information about extending the validity of Vliegles.nl vouchers:

UPDATE April 2, 2020 at 11:40 AM:

This information is intended for trainees who have already started their training during the 2019 season but have not yet completed it.

For trainees who haven’t completed all jumps included in their training, the special Para-WA insurance will not automatically expire 1 year after starting the training but on the last day of this calendar year (31-12-2020).

This gives everyone the chance to complete their training without having to extend the Para WA insurance.

UPDATE April 1, 2020 at 11:20 AM:

The period during which we will be closed has been extended until April 28, in line with the guidelines for the Hospitality industry.

UPDATE March 25, 2020 at 9:57 AM:

Groupon has indicated that they will extend the validity of all their vouchers by 1 year. This is instead of the two-month extension that was initially issued.

UPDATE March 25, 2020 at 9:50 AM:

The following events for licensed/sport jumpers have been postponed for this year:

• Easter Boogie (new date: April 2-5, 2021)
• Kingsday Boogie / WS Noobfest (new date: April 23-27, 2021)
• Kickstart Camp nr. 4.0 (new date: May 22-24, 2021)

For questions: contact administratie@paracentrumtexel.nl.

UPDATE March 24, 2020 at 2:37 PM:

On 03/16/2020, the expiry date of all gift vouchers and tandem parachute jumps issued by us that are ‘in limbo’ (postponed jumps without a jump date) was already extended by 6 months.

It has just been decided to extend this additional validity period by another 6 extra months (so 1 year extra in total). This has changed the standard validity period from 2 years to 3 years to give everyone the chance to make their jump.

UPDATE March 24, 2020 at 2:32 PM:

Voucher supplier Vakantie Veilingen has informed us that the expiry date of all previously issued vouchers for Paracentrum Texel will be extended by 1 year.

UPDATE March 19, 2020 at 9:30 AM:

Groupon has indicated that they will extend the validity of all their vouchers by two months.

UPDATE March 17, 2020 at 10:20 AM:

Normally you have 2 years from purchase to make your jump. We are initially extending this period by 6 months.

With this, we want to prevent anyone from being unable to make their jump due to the Coronavirus.

UPDATE March 16, 2020 at 4:24 PM:

Voucher supplier Surprise Factory has informed us that the expiry date of all previously issued vouchers will be extended by 3 months.

UPDATE March 16, 2020 at 4:15 PM:

Given the government measures announced on Sunday, March 15 (closing schools, hospitality industry, etc. until April 6), our management has decided to suspend all parachuting activities during this period.

All our guests who have reserved a tandem parachute jump or a parachuting course during this period were sent the following email on Monday, March 16: