More Oversight for Parachute Centers

Parachute centers across the state are now getting extra oversight in an effort to keep jumpers safe. Gov.Jerry Brown signed a new bill into law to hold the owners and operators of parachute and skydive facilities more accountable. Parachute companies will now have to ensure that tandem skydive instructors and parachute packers are properly certified. The law was inspired by a deadly skydiving accident at a Lodi parachute center. Two skydivers were killed during a tandem jump last year. Investigators later determined the instructor wasn’t properly certified. Since 2000,15 people have died after taking off from Skydive Lodi Parachute Center. The new bill will go into effect at the start of next year.