Drop zone

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This article is about the parachuting dropzone. For the 1994 film, see Drop Zone (film).

Drop zone in Empuriabrava, Catalonia

Drop zone in Pepperell, MA (USA) seen from the air

Paratroopers preparing to land on an ice-covered dropzone

In parachuting, a drop zone or DZ is the area above and around a location where a parachutist freefalls and expects to land.

In skydiving a drop zone is generally the area where skydivers operate their aircraft, freefall, deploy and land their parachutes, it can mean the business which owns the planes and arranges jumps. It is usually situated beside a small airport often sharing the facility with other general aviation activities. A skydiving operation may have one or more aircraft. There is generally a landing area designated specifically for parachute landings. Drop zone staff include the DZO (drop zone operator or owner), Manifestors, Pilots, Instructors, Coaches, Cameramen, Packers, Riggers and other general staff.

[edit] Trivia

During the Battle of Normandy (1944) and later the battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954), a significant number of paratroopers did not land in their predicted drop zones.

In the last days of the Dien Bien Phu siege, 652 French Union troopers dropped for the first and last time during the ongoing battle, they were volunteers that did not have licenses and were coming from all kind of units including cavalry, infantry or artillery.