British Parachute Association (BPA) is the National Governing Body for Sport Parachuting in the United Kingdom.
The BPA was founded in 1960 to organise, govern and further the advancement of sport parachuting within the UK.
The BPA aim to encourage participation in skydiving within the UK. Today there are currently 26 affiliated dropzones throughout the country and a membership of more than 30,000.
The association is funded by membership subscriptions and has an annually elected council of 15 full members which controls all aspects of skydiving on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority. Unlike many other sports which suffer from fragmented and divided governing bodies, the British Parachute Association represents most UK skydivers and most skydivers within the UK are members of the Association.
The BPA is constituted as a company limited by guarantee.
Following the 50th anniversary of the BPA, an Archive Project was established to record and collect the history of the sport in the UK and the Association.
The BPA council consists of 15 elected members and the current chairman is Martin Soulsby.
There are currently 29 affiliated drop zones in the British Parachute Association. These are:
Black Knights Parachute Centre - Cockerham, LancashireBritish Parachute Schools - RAF Langar, NottinghamshireCornish Parachute Centre - Peranporth, CornwallHinton Skydiving Centre - Hinton-in-the-Hedges, NorthamptonshireJoint Services Parachute Centre (Army Parachute Association) - Netheravon, WiltshireLondon Parachute School - Lewknor, OxfordshireNorth London Skydiving Centre - Chatteris, CambridgeshireNorth West Parachute Centre - Cark, CumbriaParagon Skydiving Club - Errol, Perth and KinrossSkydive Headcorn - Headcorn Aerodrome, Headcorn, Ashford, KentServices Parachute Centre, Ballykelly, County LondonderrySilver Stars Parachute Team (The Royal Logistic Corps) - South Cerney, GloucestershireSkydive Academy (formerly: Peterlee Parachute Centre) - Peterlee, Co. DurhamUK Parachuting at Sibson Airfield (Peterborough Parachute Centre) - Wansford, CambridgeshireSkydive GB, Bridlington - Grindale, East Riding of YorkshireSkydive Jersey - St. Peter, JerseySkydive London - Wanborough, WiltshireSkydive St Andrews - Glenrothes, Fife[Skydive St George] - Darlington, Durham.Skydive Strathallan - Strathallan, Perth and KinrossSkydive Swansea - Fairwood, SwanseaSkydive UK - Dunkeswell, DevonSkydive Weston (Royal Air Force Sport Parachute Association) - Weston-on-the-Green, OxfordshireTarget Skysports - Hibaldstow, North LincolnshireThe Parachute Centre - Tilstock, ShropshireUK Parachuting - Beccles, SuffolkWild Geese Parachute Centre - Movenis & Killykergan, County Londonderry