Pamiers (CEPS de l'Ariège)

Location
The Skydive Pamiers dropzone is located on the Pamiers-les-Pujols airfield in Ariège, France. Its proximity to the Pyrenees Mountains offers a beautiful panoramic view from the floor as well as from the sky.

Presentation


The skydiving activity on the dropzone is lead by the "C.E.P.S de l’Ariège" association. It is an assocation (said as "1901 act"). It remained for a long time one of the few clubs which leading board was completely volunteers. Today, along with the important development of its activity, the members decided to hire employees in order to reduce the charge of the still numerous volunteers.

The "Paraclub" was funded in 1984 and became the C.E.P.S in 1988. Since then it is licensed by F.F.P for teaching sydiving and all its domains. In 1989 a plane was bought and allowed the club becoming independent. In 1991 Jacques MARTY became technical director and its nomination allowed a fast growth of the dropzone activity. Since then it has never stopped increasing and in 1998 made it possible to buy the first Pilatus (F-GLEU). This plane and its zebra patterns become the mascot of the club. In 1999, the actvity exceeds 20000 jumps. In 2002, a second Pilatus becomes necessary and the club buys the F-GOME. As the first employee was hired in 2001, the second is hired in january 2003. Since 2005 the club hired 4 to 5 employees in order to deal with the continuously growing activity (26000 jumps in 2003). In 2008 the association completes the construction of its own premises including accomodations (20 beds), class rooms, a kitchen and a camping area. In the same time the club buys a new plane : a Cessna Caravan with a capacity of 18 skydivers which replaces the F-GOME. In 2012 the turbine of this aircraft is replaced with a higher performance one : the F-GXMP can bring 20 jumpers at 4000m faster than ever (10min).

Planes

 * Pilatus Porter PC6
 * Cessna 208 Caravan

Facilities

 * Packing room
 * 3 class/debriefing rooms
 * 1 gears rooms
 * 1 lounge room
 * 5 bedrooms (28 beds)
 * 1 equiped kitchen
 * Lavatories (hot water)

All beds are free for the members.

Equipement

 * 60 canopies from 150 to 280 sqft (PD260, PRIMA, Navigator, SCOOL, SPARK, Electra, ONYX, Cayennes, PROFIL, Safires)
 * ATOM/ATOM Legend student, ADVANCE student, ATOM/ATOM Legend harnesses
 * CYPRES, VIGIL and FXC 12000 AADs
 * Automatic Opening canopies / Hand deployed canopies
 * Radio devices for remote students canopy piloting
 * PILATUS and CARAVAN training mock-ups
 * A 1000m² gravel target
 * Training boards

Trainings
PAC (French AFF)

Events
Yearly :
 * Woman Zebra Paradise : A skydiving meeting dedicated to women jumpers and started in 2011.
 * Woman Zebra Paradise - episode 1 : 17-18 september 2011
 * Woman Zebra Paradise - episode 2 : 25-26 october 2012
 * Woman Zebra Paradise - episode 3 : 29-30 june 2013
 * Pamiers Skydiving Boogie : The annual skydiving meeting in Pamiers.

Regularly :
 * Freefly camps
 * VR4 trainings
 * VR4 local league contests
 * VR3 speed contests
 * Canopy piloting trainings
 * Skydiving french cup rounds

Contact
Website : | www.parachutisme-pamiers.fr