Any skydivers here? I've got a question...

GreenPlease · 02-01-2010, 08:48 PM

When you are falling, do your ears rapidly re-pressurize? When I'm in a commercial airliner that is descending or going down in an elevator, say from the 90th floor, I can feel my ears re-pressurize and it can be pretty painful for me at times. The only thing that's kept me away from skydiving is the fear of my ears hurting like a mother f**ker.

Buegie · 02-01-2010, 09:21 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. It's an interesting issue now that you bring it up, but it's not something I've experienced

Trowa · 02-01-2010, 09:36 PM

when you are free falling you are not in a pressurized tin can like an airplane or elevator. Your body compensates when its not being FORCED pressured like an airplane would do for you.

samwoo2go · 02-02-2010, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenPlease

When you are falling, do your ears rapidly re-pressurize? When I'm in a commercial airliner that is descending or going down in an elevator, say from the 90th floor, I can feel my ears re-pressurize and it can be pretty painful for me at times. The only thing that's kept me away from skydiving is the fear of my ears hurting like a mother f**ker.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, you are most likely jumping from under 10K feet and not 30K feet. So it shouldn't be too bad

FR33160 · 02-02-2010, 04:53 AM

If you have the slightest pain in your ears while going down an elevator you shouldn't do it. I know trust me and it will fuck up your experience. I jumped with a mild sinus congestion and my face and ears felt like they were separating from my body. Be sure that you dont suffer from sinus because if you do it is going to hurt like a mother fucker.

Ender514 · 02-02-2010, 09:43 AM

i jumped from 13K feet and didnt experience any pressure on my ears.

GreenPlease · 02-02-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

If you have the slightest pain in your ears while going down an elevator you shouldn't do it. I know trust me and it will fuck up your experience. I jumped with a mild sinus congestion and my face and ears felt like they were separating from my body. Be sure that you dont suffer from sinus because if you do it is going to hurt like a mother fucker.

Thank you. This makes sense.

evoi19 · 02-02-2010, 01:16 PM

jumped from 19k feet and no pressurized feeling. In fact, even if it did, you wouldn't notice because it's pretty loud when free falling.

FR33160 · 02-02-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenPlease

Thank you. This makes sense.

are you being sarcastic?

Doing a tandem skydiver can be extremely painful if you have ear or sinus problems.

Derek Zoolander · 02-02-2010, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ender514

i jumped from 13K feet and didnt experience any pressure on my ears.

x2

GreenPlease · 02-02-2010, 04:37 PM

@FR33160

Nope not being sarcastic, that's exactly what I reasoned. Though there seem to be a lot of conflicting opinions here...

Searcher821 · 02-02-2010, 04:51 PM

Don't worry about it.
Ears popping in a jet is normal, and no problem, as long as you're able to pressurize your ears again coming down. (block nose and blow)
In elevators/ariliners, do you try actively repressurizing, or du you just sit there in agony waiting for it to pass?

I only have static line jumps, but never experinced any problems.

Only problems I had was in the back seat of an F-16, and they go a helluva lot faster than skydivers

GreenPlease · 02-02-2010, 05:39 PM

^
I know it's normal it's just that it gives me some serious problems. When I try to re-pressurize on my own it makes things worse. I've just be sitting there "in agony" for the past two decades. Yes, it sucks.

Basically, I was hoping that by going up in an unpressurized cabin thing wouldn't be so bad on the way down.

Searcher821 · 02-02-2010, 06:21 PM

Airliners do not have a cabin altitude of 0 for the entire flight.
Normally I think cabin altitude will be around 5,000 ft when flying in 30,000 ft (in rough figures). That means you will have to pressurize the last 5k yourself, when coming down.

Going up is normally not a problem because air will flow from, the ear since the pressure in the ear is higher than the surroundings. I've tried rapid decompressions in decompression chambers, where we go from 0 to 20,000 ft in virtually less than a second, which will make your ears hiss for a good 4-5 seconds ...

Going the other way - down again - is harder because you have to supply the pressure to "inflate" the ear again like a balloon, to the same pressure as out side the ear.

If you do not do this as soon as you feel discomfort in your ear, it will only get harder, the longer you wait, and the higher the pressure gets.

The more pressure is on your ears from the outside, the harder they are pressed shut, and the harder you'll have to blow to get pressure into them again.

If yawning and swallowing is not effective, unblock your ears as follows:

Step 1: Pinch your nostrils shut.
Step 2: Take a mouthful of air.
Step 3: Using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and fingers off your nostrils. Do this hard enough, your ears will clear, and the pain is gone within a few seconds.

Try practising in elevators and airliners first - then go skydiving once you get comfortable with the routine.

Contrary to what some seem to think, it's not uncool to pressurize your ears on airliners. It just shows you know what you're doing.

I fly for a living and we do it routinely as well. It has nothing to do with how many hours you have in the air.

Going up unpressurized to more than 5k and then coming down again will obviously most likely be harder, than just the ~5k you need to work in an airliner, but in general the faster the pressure builds up - the harder it is.

Amir87 · 02-02-2010, 10:04 PM

I got a question about skydiving too,

When your free falling, do you get the feeling you left your stomach above like when going down on a roller coaster?

Sorry for the threadjack, OP.

Ender514 · 02-02-2010, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amir87

I got a question about skydiving too,

When your free falling, do you get the feeling you left your stomach above like when going down on a roller coaster?

Sorry for the threadjack, OP.

no...i did not get that feeling

evoi19 · 02-03-2010, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amir87

I got a question about skydiving too,

When your free falling, do you get the feeling you left your stomach above like when going down on a roller coaster?

Sorry for the threadjack, OP.

nope you don't. You feel a little disoriented when you first fall out of the plane. But once you get your bearings, there's no stomach feeling. The feeling is just pure adrenaline!

Just make sure to look around you and not down or else you'll miss the great views!

UncleWede · 02-03-2010, 12:46 PM

I screamed the entire 14K I fell, so no ear problems.

Leaving the plane you do feel the falling in the stomach, but after that it's so amzing to be that free and high, you forget it.

02-01-2010, 08:48 PM	#1
GreenPlease Lieutenant Colonel 147 Rep 1,629 Posts Drives: BMW 335i e92 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando Florida iTrader: (2)	Any skydivers here? I've got a question... When you are falling, do your ears rapidly re-pressurize? When I'm in a commercial airliner that is descending or going down in an elevator, say from the 90th floor, I can feel my ears re-pressurize and it can be pretty painful for me at times. The only thing that's kept me away from skydiving is the fear of my ears hurting like a mother f**ker. __________________ Cars>Women
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02-01-2010, 09:21 PM	#2
Buegie Captain 51 Rep 714 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: CT/DC iTrader: (2)	I wouldn't worry about it. It's an interesting issue now that you bring it up, but it's not something I've experienced __________________ Black Dakota \| Aluminum \| Sport \| Premium \| Cold \| iDrive \| CA
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02-01-2010, 09:36 PM	#3
Trowa Jack Bauer 12 Rep 266 Posts Drives: 2019 330i xDrive, 2016 S1000RR Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	when you are free falling you are not in a pressurized tin can like an airplane or elevator. Your body compensates when its not being FORCED pressured like an airplane would do for you.
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02-02-2010, 04:53 AM	#5
FR33160 Banned 5 Rep 20 Posts Drives: S550-AW 335i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sunny Isles Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	If you have the slightest pain in your ears while going down an elevator you shouldn't do it. I know trust me and it will fuck up your experience. I jumped with a mild sinus congestion and my face and ears felt like they were separating from my body. Be sure that you dont suffer from sinus because if you do it is going to hurt like a mother fucker.
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02-02-2010, 09:43 AM	#6
Ender514 General 228 Rep 20,998 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	i jumped from 13K feet and didnt experience any pressure on my ears. __________________ 09' E92 335i \| 6MT \| Montego Blue \| Black Dakota Leather \| Dark Burl Walnut \| Premium \| Sport \| Cold Weather \| Nav \| Sirius \| Comfort Access \| iPod and USB adapter Last edited by Ender514; 02-02-2010 at 09:50 AM..
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02-02-2010, 01:16 PM	#8
evoi19 Lieutenant General 1720 Rep 17,450 Posts Drives: 2022 G80C Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (18)	jumped from 19k feet and no pressurized feeling. In fact, even if it did, you wouldn't notice because it's pretty loud when free falling.
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02-02-2010, 04:37 PM	#11
GreenPlease Lieutenant Colonel 147 Rep 1,629 Posts Drives: BMW 335i e92 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando Florida iTrader: (2)	@FR33160 Nope not being sarcastic, that's exactly what I reasoned. Though there seem to be a lot of conflicting opinions here... __________________ Cars>Women
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02-02-2010, 04:51 PM	#12
Searcher821 I find stuff 1 Rep 8 Posts Drives: Jet pack Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cloud City iTrader: (0)	Don't worry about it. Ears popping in a jet is normal, and no problem, as long as you're able to pressurize your ears again coming down. (block nose and blow) In elevators/ariliners, do you try actively repressurizing, or du you just sit there in agony waiting for it to pass? I only have static line jumps, but never experinced any problems. Only problems I had was in the back seat of an F-16, and they go a helluva lot faster than skydivers
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02-02-2010, 05:39 PM	#13
GreenPlease Lieutenant Colonel 147 Rep 1,629 Posts Drives: BMW 335i e92 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Orlando Florida iTrader: (2)	^ I know it's normal it's just that it gives me some serious problems. When I try to re-pressurize on my own it makes things worse. I've just be sitting there "in agony" for the past two decades. Yes, it sucks. Basically, I was hoping that by going up in an unpressurized cabin thing wouldn't be so bad on the way down. __________________ Cars>Women
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-02-2010, 06:21 PM	#14
Searcher821 I find stuff 1 Rep 8 Posts Drives: Jet pack Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cloud City iTrader: (0)	Airliners do not have a cabin altitude of 0 for the entire flight. Normally I think cabin altitude will be around 5,000 ft when flying in 30,000 ft (in rough figures). That means you will have to pressurize the last 5k yourself, when coming down. Going up is normally not a problem because air will flow from, the ear since the pressure in the ear is higher than the surroundings. I've tried rapid decompressions in decompression chambers, where we go from 0 to 20,000 ft in virtually less than a second, which will make your ears hiss for a good 4-5 seconds ... Going the other way - down again - is harder because you have to supply the pressure to "inflate" the ear again like a balloon, to the same pressure as out side the ear. If you do not do this as soon as you feel discomfort in your ear, it will only get harder, the longer you wait, and the higher the pressure gets. The more pressure is on your ears from the outside, the harder they are pressed shut, and the harder you'll have to blow to get pressure into them again. If yawning and swallowing is not effective, unblock your ears as follows: Step 1: Pinch your nostrils shut. Step 2: Take a mouthful of air. Step 3: Using your cheek and throat muscles, force the air into the back of your nose as if you were trying to blow your thumb and fingers off your nostrils. Do this hard enough, your ears will clear, and the pain is gone within a few seconds. Try practising in elevators and airliners first - then go skydiving once you get comfortable with the routine. Contrary to what some seem to think, it's not uncool to pressurize your ears on airliners. It just shows you know what you're doing. I fly for a living and we do it routinely as well. It has nothing to do with how many hours you have in the air. Going up unpressurized to more than 5k and then coming down again will obviously most likely be harder, than just the ~5k you need to work in an airliner, but in general the faster the pressure builds up - the harder it is. Last edited by Searcher821; 02-02-2010 at 06:34 PM..
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02-02-2010, 10:04 PM	#15
Amir87 Gruppe Titan 281 Rep 2,839 Posts Drives: 08 E92 SG/Coral Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NC iTrader: (37) Garage List 2008 E92 335i [10.00]	I got a question about skydiving too, When your free falling, do you get the feeling you left your stomach above like when going down on a roller coaster? Sorry for the threadjack, OP. __________________
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02-03-2010, 12:46 PM	#18
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18650 Rep 9,438 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	I screamed the entire 14K I fell, so no ear problems. Leaving the plane you do feel the falling in the stomach, but after that it's so amzing to be that free and high, you forget it.
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