Parachute Ottawa

What Parachute Ottawa does

Parachute Ottawa is a Canadian skydiving dropzone and training center operating seasonally (May through October) from Arnprior Airport in Ontario, approximately 40 minutes west of Ottawa. Founded in its current form in 2018 when second-generation owners Jake and Shannon Mason acquired the operations from Jake's father Barry (who had run Mile High Parachuting from the same airport since ~1995-1996), the business serves first-time tandem skydivers, Progressive Freefall (PFF) students seeking solo certification, licensed skydivers, and the Canadian Armed Forces. The company operates from a 350-acre historic WWII airport featuring a 4,000-foot runway capable of accommodating C-130 Hercules aircraft, with separate landing areas for novices and experienced jumpers.

The core service portfolio follows a structured progression pathway: tandem skydiving at 9,000 feet ($299) or 12,500 feet ($334) for first-time jumpers, a weeklong PFF training camp ($3,113.96) leading to a Solo Certificate of Proficiency, an eight-level A Certificate of Proficiency Program ($1,120) for advanced certification, and instructor rating courses (C1, C2, PFFI). Supporting offerings include media/video packages ($170-$245), gift certificates, proposal packages, fun jump ticket blocks for licensed skydivers, packing classes, and canopy clinics. The company employs a small team of 8 including FAA Master and Senior Riggers, certified tandem and military instructors, pilots, and packers, with the team collectively logging nearly 185,000 jumps.

Revenue mechanics center on a direct-to-consumer model with online booking through a proprietary Burblesoft reservation system, $50-$1,000 deposits, and phone reservations. A dedicated military parachute training program serves the Canadian Armed Forces across multiple bases (CFB Trenton, CFB Kingston, CFB Petawawa, NDHQ) with tactical freefall, water jumps, and night operations leveraging the C-130-capable facilities and a strategic partnership with Mobility Lab, Inc. Equipment is sourced from industry-leading suppliers including United Parachute Technologies (Sigma tandem systems with Skyhook), CYPRES (AAD systems), and Performance Designs (canopies). The company holds CSPA membership, has been named Best Skydiving Centre in Ottawa by Best in Ottawa, and operates within a Canadian market of 25 dropzones serving 3,000+ certified skydivers and 150,000+ annual tandem jumps.

Name

Parachute Ottawa

Legal name

PARACHUTE OTTAWA

Website

https://parachuteottawa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Parachute Ottawa is a seasonal Canadian skydiving dropzone and training center at Arnprior Airport, Ontario, serving first-time tandem skydivers, PFF certification students, licensed skydivers, and Canadian Armed Forces personnel with safety-focused training programs and C-130-capable military facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Skydiving Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Flight Training (611512)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps) (THAAAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training) (THAAAKAB), Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)

Keywords

• Tandem skydiving services
• Skydiving instruction
• Parachute training
• Dropzone operations
• Military parachute training

Headquarters

HQ city

Arnprior

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tandem Skydiving Services: One-time tandem skydiving experiences at 9,000 feet ($299) or 12,500 feet ($334). Includes harness, equipment, and instruction. Additional revenue from video/media packages.
2. Progressive Freefall (PFF) Training Program: Weeklong intensive training camp costing $3,113.96 that trains students to earn their Solo Skydiving Certificate. Includes ground school, 10 planned jumps, gear and jumpsuit rental.
3. A Certificate of Proficiency Program: 8-level training program costing $1,120 for advanced skydivers to earn their A CoP. Includes 8 planned jumps with one-on-one coaching.
4. Experienced Skydiver Services: Lift tickets to 12,500 feet at $46.02 per jump, with discounted blocks of 20 ($828.36), 50 ($2,013.38), or 100 ($3,911.70) tickets. HopNPop jumps at $36.28.
5. Video/Media Packages: Basic Package ($170), Standard Package ($200), Premium Package ($245) with varying video edits and photo options.
6. Military Training Services: Specialized parachute training programs for Canadian Armed Forces with $50 military discount per tandem student.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Parachute Ottawa operates a seasonal skydiving dropzone and training center at Arnprior Airport in Ontario, Canada. The company provides tandem skydiving experiences for first-time jumpers at 9,000 and 12,500 feet, structured certification programs (Progressive Freefall and A Certificate of Proficiency), instructor rating courses, and specialized military parachute training for the Canadian Armed Forces. Supporting services include media/video packages, packing classes, canopy clinics, gift certificates, and proposal packages.

Product overview

Parachute Ottawa operates as a skydiving dropzone and training center offering a comprehensive suite of services from first-time tandem experiences to advanced instructor certification. The core portfolio centers on three certification pathways: Tandem Skydiving (entry-level experiences at 9,000' or 12,500'), the Progressive Freefall Program (weeklong solo certification camp earning the CSPA Solo CoP), and the A CoP Program (8-level advanced certification for licensed skydivers). Supporting services include media/video packages, gift certificates, proposal packages, fun jump tickets for experienced skydivers, packing classes, emergency procedures reviews, canopy clinics, and instructor rating courses (C1, C2, PFFI). The company also serves the Canadian Armed Forces through dedicated military parachute training programs. A women's initiative called POW (Parachute Ottawa Women) fosters community and advancement for female skydivers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tandem Skydiving First-time skydiving experience where customers are securely harnessed to a certified tandem instructor. Offers two altitude options: 12,500 feet with 60-second freefall ($334) or 9,000 feet with 20-second freefall ($299). Includes preparation training, equipment, and canopy flight over Ottawa and Madawaska rivers.
• Progressive Freefall Program (PFF)

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 185,000 collective jumps of team experience
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mobility Lab, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for tactical parachuting equipment and facility development. Mobility Lab is described as an elite source for tactical parachuting equipment. Facilities were purpose-built in partnership with Mobility Lab, Inc. Founder Jake M. also serves as President of Mobility Lab Inc.
• Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPA is the governing body for sport parachuting in Canada, formed in 1956. Parachute Ottawa is a proud member. CSPA oversees 25 dropzones and 3,000+ certified skydivers. Sets certification standards and safety protocols that Parachute Ottawa adheres to including CoP requirements and safety guidelines.
• United Parachute Technologies (UPT)coreTechnology or IntegrationEquipment supplier providing Sigma tandem parachutes. UPT has been a leader in parachute technology for over 30 years. Parachute Ottawa uses UPT Skyhook system which utilizes force created by cutaway main to deploy reserve.
• CYPREScoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of Automatic Activation Devices (AAD). CYPRES AAD automatically deploys reserve parachute at predetermined altitude if jumper fails to manually deploy. All tandem and student rigs equipped with CYPRES AAD.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• United Parachute Technologies (UPT): Equipment supplier providing the Sigma tandem systems and Skyhook technology Parachute Ottawa uses. Not a competitor but a critical infrastructure partner whose product roadmap and pricing directly affect Parachute Ottawa's equipment capex and safety positioning.
• Canadian Sport Parachuting Association (CSPA): National governing body for sport parachuting in Canada that certifies Parachute Ottawa's training programs and sets safety standards. Industry association rather than competitor, but materially shapes the regulatory and certification framework Parachute Ottawa operates within.
• Mobility Lab, Inc. Tactical parachuting equipment specialist and Parachute Ottawa's strategic partner for military training programs. Run by Parachute Ottawa founder Jake M. as President, creating a closely-linked ecosystem for military-grade parachute training in Canada.

Direct peers

• Start Skydiving: US dropzone offering tandem, AFF, and licensed jumper services. Operates a comparable business model targeting first-time jumpers and progression into certification, with similar media package add-on revenue.
• Skydive Monterey Bay: California dropzone offering tandem experiences, AFF training, and fun jumps. Comparable to Parachute Ottawa in customer mix (tandem + student + licensed) and use of dedicated jump aircraft, with strong digital booking and media package offerings.
• Skydive Chicago: Large US-based dropzone operating tandem jumps, student training, and licensed jumper programs from a dedicated skydiving airport. Highly comparable operating model with seasonal operations, large jump aircraft, full certification pathway, and community-focused programming.
• Skydive Toronto: Operates tandem skydiving and training programs in Ontario, Canada. Directly comparable as a Canadian dropzone offering similar tandem, PFF-style, and licensed jumper services in the same Ontario market where Parachute Ottawa competes for first-time and certified jumpers.
• Paragon Skydive: Established dropzone providing tandem skydiving and student progression programs. Comparable in service offering, customer segmentation, and instructor certification pathway focus.

Regional players

• Skydive Vancouver: Western Canadian dropzone offering tandem experiences and certification training. Comparable operating model (tandem + PFF + fun jumps) but serves a separate geographic region, making it a regional rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• iFLY (Skyventure): Indoor skydiving franchise network with multiple Canadian locations. Adjacent competitor capturing entry-level skydiving demand in climate-controlled environments; not a direct skydiving dropzone but competes for first-time fliers and corporate events in the same region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ottawaparachute
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCOYv4XbGrPYvepcAKvwI0sw
• Facebookfacebook.com/parachuteottawa
• Instagraminstagram.com/parachuteottawa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parachute-ottawa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parachute Ottawa