Connecticut Parachutists, Inc.

What Connecticut Parachutists, Inc. does

Connecticut Parachutists, Inc. (CPI) is a not-for-profit, member-owned skydiving club operating a single dropzone at Ellington Airport (360 Somers Rd, Ellington, CT) since 1970, with founding roots in 1962. It is one of the oldest continuously operating skydiving clubs in the United States, branded as the "Home of Champions" and staffed by USPA-certified instructors holding state and national records across formation and canopy formation disciplines. The firm operates with approximately 5 employees and serves three primary customer segments: first-time/discovery jumpers, aspiring licensed skydivers, and experienced/licensed jumpers in the Northeast US market between Boston and New York.

The core product set comprises tandem skydives from up to 14,000 feet (priced $255–$285 per ticket across weekday, student/military, and group tiers), an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program priced at approximately $3,800 leading to a USPA "A" License after a minimum of 25 jumps, and three tiered video/photo packages ($99–$199). Underlying physical infrastructure includes a Cessna Caravan turbine aircraft (capacity up to 12 jumpers) for April–November operations and smaller piston aircraft for winter jumps, paired with state-of-the-art Ram-Air Canopy parachute systems. CPI also operates a closed Facebook group for experienced jumpers, an SMS alert system for dropzone status, and a Burblesoft booking platform supporting self-serve scheduling and gift certificate e-commerce.

The revenue model is predominantly transactional (tandem jumps, AFF enrollment, video add-ons, gift certificates) with a small recurring component via CPI Membership, which provides voting rights, discounted jump tickets, and equipment store access to member-owners. As a not-for-profit cooperative, profits are reinvested into facilities, equipment, training, and aircraft rather than distributed. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer, primarily through the company's website (skydivect.com), online booking platform, and community-driven referrals, with a small event-driven component through weekend load organizing for experienced jumpers.

Name

Connecticut Parachutists, Inc.

Legal name

Connecticut Parachutists Inc.

Website

https://skydivect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Skydiving Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training) (THAAAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Skydiving Experiences (Tandem, AFF, Scenic Jumps) (THAAAMAA), Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)

Keywords

• Skydiving services
• Tandem skydiving
• Skydiving training
• Parachute instruction
• Recreational skydiving

Headquarters

HQ city

Ellington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tandem Skydiving: Tandem skydiving experiences where students jump attached to certified instructors. Primary revenue stream with base pricing and multiple discount tiers (weekday, student/military, group rates).
2. AFF Training Program: Accelerated Freefall training program costing approximately $3,800 total, designed to help students earn their USPA 'A' License. Includes ground school, training materials, and successive jumps requiring minimum of 25 jumps for certification.
3. Video/Photography Packages: Video and still photo packages including Close-Up Handcam ($99), Standard Video ($149), and Ultimate Video Package ($199) combining both handcam and standard video coverage.
4. Club Membership: Not-for-profit club membership providing voting rights, discounted jump tickets, reduced event registration fees, access to club facilities, and equipment at discounted rates through the club gear store.
5. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold through their store for tandem jumps, experienced jumper jumps, and skydiving experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Connecticut Parachutists, Inc. operates a not-for-profit skydiving club and dropzone offering tandem skydiving experiences (jumps attached to USPA-certified instructors from up to 14,000 feet) and an Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program that takes students through ground school and supervised jumps to earn a USPA 'A' License. Additional offerings include handcam and helmet-mounted video packages, gift certificates, and club memberships for experienced jumpers.

Product overview

Connecticut Parachutists, Inc. operates as a not-for-profit skydiving club offering tandem skydiving experiences and the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program. The core service is tandem skydiving where beginners experience freefall attached to certified instructors. For those seeking to become licensed skydivers, the AFF program provides comprehensive training leading to a USPA 'A' License. Additional offerings include video packages (Close-Up Handcam, Standard Video, and Ultimate Video) that capture jump experiences, gift certificates for gifting skydiving experiences, and CPI Membership for experienced jumpers providing access to facilities, discounted jumps, and voting rights. The company is one of the oldest skydiving clubs in the US, established in 1962.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tandem Skydiving Tandem skydiving experience for first-time jumpers where students are attached to a USPA certified tandem instructor and freefall from up to 14,000 feet. Training takes less than 30 minutes; half-day total commitment. Base price $285, with weekday ($265), student/military ($255), and group rates available.
• Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Training Program Comprehensive skydiving certification program designed to help students earn their USPA 'A' License. Includes 6-8 hour ground class, practical instruction on aircraft exits, freefall maneuvers, canopy flight, and emergency procedures. Requires minimum 25 jumps. Total program cost approximately $3,800. Uses the USPA Integrated Student Program (ISP) with PowerPoint lessons and customized manuals.
• Close-Up Handcam Video Package Video add-on for tandem jumps featuring an instructor-worn modified glove with HD camera. Includes pre-jump interview, in-aircraft interview, exit/freefall footage, post-parachute footage, and 50-100 still photos. Priced at $99.
• Standard Video Package Helmet-mounted video package where a freefall photographer captures pre-jump interview, aircraft interview, exit/freefall footage, and landing, plus 50-100 still photos. Described as the most popular video option. Priced at $149.
• Ultimate Video Package Premium video package combining close-up handcam video and standard video footage for 360-degree coverage from all angles using both a glove-mounted camera and a separate videographer. Priced at $199.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates redeemable for tandem skydiving experiences, experienced jumper jumps, and skydiving services. Sold through the club's Burblesoft e-commerce storefront.
• CPI Membership Not-for-profit club membership for experienced jumpers providing voting rights, discounted jump tickets, reduced event registration fees, access to all club facilities, use of gear store at discounted prices, and the right to serve on club boards or committees.

Quantifiable outcome

• USPA 'A' License upon completion of 25 jumps, recognized worldwide

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United States Parachute Association (USPA)coreOthersConnecticut Parachutists is a proud member of USPA, and all staff are USPA certified instructors. Their AFF program is conducted in accordance with the USPA Integrated Student Program (ISP), ensuring standardized training and safety protocols.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Skydive Coastal Maine: Skydiving operator along the Maine coast serving the northern New England market with tandem and licensed jumper services, a regional alternative to CPI for New England-based jumpers.

Others

• United States Parachute Association (USPA): National industry body that governs skydiving certifications, training standards (including the ISP used by CPI), and instructor credentials; serves as CPI's primary regulatory and standards partner.
• Burblesoft: Booking platform provider used by CPI for tandem reservations, AFF registration, gift certificates, and membership storefronts across dropzones.

Direct peers

• Parachute Center: Dropzone in Lodi, New York (Finger Lakes region) offering tandem, AFF training, and experienced jumper events, comparable in operations and customer mix to Connecticut Parachutists.
• Skydive the Ranch: Skydiving center in Gardiner, New York in the Hudson Valley, offering tandem and licensed skydiver services that overlap with CPI's New York feeder market.
• Skydive Long Island: Skydiving operation on Long Island, New York, competing for the same New York metropolitan tandem and student customer base as CPI.
• Skydive Danielson: Operates a skydiving dropzone in Danielson, Connecticut, directly competing with CPI for tandem and student skydivers in the Connecticut and southern New England market.
• Jumptown Skydiving: Long-running dropzone in Orange, Massachusetts offering tandem, AFF-style training, and experienced jumper events to the New England skydiving community with a similar regional profile.
• Skydive Pepperell: Skydiving center in Pepperell, Massachusetts serving the greater Boston and New Hampshire market with tandem jumps, AFF training, and experienced jumper events on a comparable business model.

Broad incumbents

• Skydive City: One of the largest skydiving operations in the US, located in Zephyrhills, Florida; offers tandem, AFF, and event services at significantly higher scale, providing a benchmark for nationwide premium skydiving operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/265592273613789
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skydivect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Connecticut Parachutists, Inc.