SkyDance SkyDiving

SkyDance SkyDiving in Davis, California has been operating since 1987 and holds the distinction of being the only dropzone in Northern California approved for military parachute training by the Department of Defense. Located at Yolo County Airport (KDWA), this premier facility operates turbine aircraft including 1 Texas Turbines SuperVan 900 and 1 Cessna 172, enabling tandem skydives above 18,000 feet—making SkyDance the only dropzone in Northern California offering tandem skydives above that altitude.

The dropzone was instrumental in advancing the sport itself: SkyDance helped develop and operate the world's only aircraft specifically designed for skydiving, the PAC-750XL, and wrote the manual for the Federal Aviation Administration's jump aircraft operations. This technical leadership extends to current operations, where the facility maintains aircraft to FAA Part 135 standards—a higher requirement than the FAA mandates for skydiving operations.

SkyDance operates a USPA-certified Group Member and designated Training Center with exclusively USPA-rated instructors. The facility offers comprehensive programming for all levels: tandem skydives for first-timers, a full Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program for those pursuing skydiving certification, and specialized HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) training. The experienced HALO program is offered twice yearly and includes two practice jumps from 13,000 feet plus one HALO jump with loads reaching 28,000–30,000 feet. First-time tandem students begin with an introductory ground course covering the physiological effects of high-altitude exposure.

The atmosphere reflects SkyDance's family-focused core values: the operation describes itself as "the friendliest dropzone around" and maintains a community-centered environment welcoming jumpers of all experience levels. The facility emphasizes safety, experience, and passion—having completed over 10,000 jumps in its history and trained many of the sport's leading pilots and instructors.

Facilities include covered indoor and outdoor packing areas, high-speed fiber WiFi throughout the dropzone, and FREE overnight camping with clean bathroom and shower facilities. The dropzone also features a dog park for customers traveling with pets, designated camping areas, equipment rental and sales, load organizers, rigging services, and team rooms. SkyDance offers video and photo packages for capturing the skydiving experience, with options for either solo videography or combined photo-and-video packages.

Located 20 miles southwest of Sacramento and 6 miles from the nearest hotel, SkyDance SkyDiving operates Thursday through Monday. The dropzone's 1987 founding and three decades of continuous operation, combined with its military approval status and technical contributions to skydiving aviation, establish it as one of California's most established and credentialed dropzones.