Wingsuit
A wingsuit (a winged suit, or flying squirrel suit) lets you fly after exiting an aircraft (plane, helicopter, balloon) or a cliff.
Flying it requires strong training and mastery. A wingsuit greatly reduces vertical speed and converts it into horizontal speed: in freefall you descend at ~200 km/h; with a well‑flown wingsuit you can go down to ~50 km/h and fly over 170 km/h forward!
In Belgium, you must have at least 200 jumps and coaching from a qualified instructor to start wingsuiting. As you don’t learn to drive in a Lamborghini, you start with beginner wingsuits. An appropriate parachute for wingsuit is essential from the start.
General recommendations
- Progress step‑by‑step: begin with coached or solo jumps, then small groups before scaling up.
- Start with Category I suits (beginners) before moving to Cat. II and III.
- No drills below 1,800 m.
- Any move to a larger suit must be validated by a WS instructor.
General gear requirements
- Visible altimeter + audible required.
- Helmet required.
- Main canopy ≤ Category 3, 7‑cell recommended.
- No ellipticals, wingload <1.3, min size 135 ft².
- RSL / Skyhook recommended.
- Hook knife required.
- BOC hand‑deploy pilot chute (spring PC forbidden).
Wingsuit categories
- Cat. I (Beginners): 0-50 WS jumps (arm wings to hips max, leg wings to feet).
- Cat. II (Intermediate): 51-200 WS jumps (arm wings to knees, leg wings to feet).
- Cat. III (Advanced): 200+ WS jumps (all models).
→ Move up a category only after WS instructor validation.
Wingsuit Licenses
Beginner Wingsuit (FFC passed)
Requirements
- Minimum FAI C license.
- First Flight Course (FFC) briefing.
- 2 initiation jumps with instructor + video review.
Authorizations
- Solo belly flight.
- Category I wingsuits only.
- Wingload <1.3.
- No tandem/AFF on board.
Beginner BOSS (group flight)
Requirements
- WS-A validated.
- > 10 WS solo jumps.
- Formation flight briefing.
- BOSS test with instructor.
Authorizations
- Up to 3‑way belly (no leader).
- Category I wingsuits.
- Wingload <1.3.
- No tandem/AFF unless leader ≥ WS‑C.
Intermediate Wingsuit
Requirements
- WS-B validated.
- > 75 WS jumps.
- Video test (transitions, backfly, rolls).
Authorizations
- Up to 7‑way belly.
- Up to 3‑way back.
- Category II wingsuits.
- Wingload <1.3.
Advanced Wingsuit
Requirements
- WS-C validated.
- > 200 WS jumps.
- Video test (Big Ways & dynamic briefing).
Authorizations
- Participation in WS Big Ways.
- Small dynamic groups with WS‑E leaders.
- Category III wingsuits.
Dynamic Wingsuit
Requirements
- WS-D validated.
- Video test.
- Dynamic briefing (tight turns, flares, carving, etc.).
Authorizations
- Dynamic group jumps (2‑way, 3‑way).
- Access to larger dynamic formations (coach‑dependent).
- 2‑way head‑down with WS‑F instructor/leader.
- Large suits possible (learn with smaller first recommended).
Wingsuit Head Down
Requirements
- WS-E validated.
- > 5 WS head‑down jumps with instructor.
- Video test + F‑level coach approval.
Authorizations
- Head‑down wingsuit flight.
- Access to advanced disciplines (acro, XRW under conditions).
Refresh & skill maintenance
- If WS‑A or WS‑B → break >6 months = mandatory refresh + WS instructor briefing.
- If ≥WS‑C → break >2 years = mandatory refresh + 1 Cat. I wingsuit jump with instructor.
Safety notes
Wingsuiters last to exit (except validated HD exceptions).
Do not fly along jump run / above other groups.
Opening altitude: max 1500 m - min 1000 m (exceptions possible with TD approval).
