Capital WOW! That's the only way to describe the experience of skydiving at Airborne Petawawa. As…read moresomeone visiting from outside of Canada, I was absolutely blown away by the beauty of this place. Jumping here at sunset was unforgettable -- the Ottawa River winds between Quebec and Ontario, surrounded by what seems like hundreds of lakes and bays. As the sun sets, the light reflects in golds, pinks, and purples across the water, creating the surreal feeling of floating above a hundred sunsets at once.
As a licensed professional skydiver, I stopped here while traveling and was immediately impressed. This drop zone is exceptionally well-run -- professional, safe, organized, and genuinely welcoming. The owners, a highly experienced husband-and-wife team, bring both military and civilian expertise, multiple instructional ratings, and outstanding videography skills. Whether you're a first-time tandem passenger or a fun jumper passing through, they create an environment that perfectly balances safety, professionalism, and excitement.
The facilities are excellent: on-site parking, a clean porta potty, a small refrigerator, and cold refreshments available for purchase. I left my car on-site all day and felt completely safe -- the airport itself seemed to be military-run, so you're surrounded by security and professionalism. Watching military parachutists jumping at the same time was such a unique and unforgettable experience.
Their military-grade packing tent deserves special mention. It's spacious, weather-protected, and equipped with top-quality packing mats that keep gear spotless and dry -- a reflection of their attention to detail and commitment to maintaining the highest standards.
Airborne Petawawa also offers several excellent video and photo packages for tandem passengers, capturing cinematic, high-quality footage from multiple angles against the stunning northern skyline.
The aircraft is clean, comfortable, and expertly maintained, flown by a highly skilled and experienced pilot. You'll be jumping from nearly 13,000 feet, giving you a true full-length freefall experience and a beautiful canopy flight that showcases everything skydiving is meant to be -- thrilling, freeing, and unforgettable.
If you're training toward your license, the student equipment here is outstanding -- easily the nicest and most well-maintained rental gear I've ever seen at any drop zone in the United States or in Canada. It's so high-end, I couldn't believe it was rental equipment. Everything is clearly cared for, modern, and reliable, which speaks volumes about how seriously they take safety and quality.
Airborne Petawawa offers AFF (Accelerated Freefall) courses to help you become solo certified and earn your skydiving license, as well as wingsuit training for licensed jumpers ready to take their flying to the next level.
If you're traveling in an RV or camper van, I'd recommend calling ahead about overnight parking availability.
Whether you're brand new to skydiving, training for your A-license, or already an experienced jumper, Airborne Petawawa is an absolute gem. The professionalism, warmth, and quality of this operation set it apart from any drop zone I've visited. I felt genuinely grateful to spend time here, and I can't wait to return.
If I could give more than five stars, I would. This place represents everything that's best about skydiving -- professional, kind staff, safe, breathtaking, and truly unforgettable.
