My tandem jump over Reunion Island with the paratroopers of the 2nd RPIMa

It’s 6:00 in the morning. In front of the gate of 2th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, at the Chef de Bataillon Dupuis barracks, in Saint-Pierre, I am waiting. I am not particularly in a hurry to reach the hangar located at the edge of the Pierrefonds airport runway which adjoins the barracks. There, parachutists are preparing to jump, some for the first time. Others must complete one of their six mandatory annual jumps. Six drops are planned this morning, including Charlie 3, mine in tandem, at 4000 meters above sea level, above Étang-Salé.

The briefing suddenly sped up for me. The first two Charlies, the first two drops, will not happen. The ground wind was measured above the 3 m/s (meters per second) authorized for beginners. The Casa de la BA 181 returned full of its contenders for the parachutist certificate. To do this, they must validate, during a 15-day course, six automatic opening jumps at an altitude of 400 meters.

It is therefore at an altitude ten times higher that we will fall. I will jump in tandem with Warrant Officer Cédric, the airborne troop officer within the 2th RPIMa. With 3000 jumps to his credit and part of his career spent within the prestigious Parachute Commando Group (GCP), one of the components of the Special Operations Command (COS), I am in good hands.

I will be connected to his equipment thanks to a harness and four attachment points, at the level of the shoulder blades and hips for me. Each metal loop can support 2.5 tons. Enough to leave with confidence.

The rules are given on the ground. To access the ramp of the Casa, I will have to bend my legs so that the adjutant has a clear view, because we have approximately the same stature. My hands should hold the harness at chest height at the start of the jump, my legs folded back, until I touch his butt with my heels.

And for the landing, I have to put my hands under my knees and pull them up as far as possible, up to my chest.

Knowing my flexibility is similar to that of a broomstick during my all too rare yoga sessions, I fear that I won’t be able to do everything perfectly.

The plane, engines running, is waiting for us. We sit on the barely comfortable benches and fasten our seat belts. The aircraft lines up on runway 15, facing Saint-Pierre, then takes off. During the climb, Warrant Officer Cédric and Major Bruno, with more than 10,500 jumps under his belt, give the latest recommendations to the fallers who perform their delayed opening jump, OR in the jargon. If the wind is measured at 6 m/s on the ground, it exceeds 11 m/s at 1500 meters altitude. They should not be surprised when approaching “Samwest”, the name given to the jump zone in the Étang-Salé forest.

The rear ramp which had lowered to bring us in, opens again, but this time at almost 4000 meters of altitude.

Due to difficult weather conditions, there will be two passages. We will be on the second.

The red light goes out, the green light comes on. The bell rings. The first to set off finds himself lying on a large PeliCase, these particularly reinforced suitcases intended in particular to transport sensitive equipment. A sticker on it indicates that it has a mass of 101 kilos. Helped by the adjutant and the major, the box on wheels is pushed with its paratrooper out of the plane. It is necessary to have a special qualification called heavy duty sheathing, or CL13. Then follow the other fallers.

The plane then makes a U-turn to reposition itself. The adjutant signals me to get up. He clings to me and tightens all the straps that bind us. We move towards the ramp. We will be the penultimate to jump for this passage.

The view passing before our feet is both magnificent and frightening. Fortunately, the Major’s helmet is equipped with a camera. Our jump will be made while watching the plane leave, our backs to the immense void, it filming us.

In a fraction of a second we are in free fall. I remain focused on the recommendations given at the briefing. I keep my elbows tight alongside my body, my hands at chest height. My legs are folded backwards. The wind whips your face and glasses are essential. The adjutant tries to communicate with me by gesture but I remain focused. It’s when I see the major waving at me that I realize we’re still being filmed.

I savor the moment that I hadn’t been able to find before. As a young student, before being among the last to perform national service, I tried skydiving at the Bourbon Para Club. At the time, Loïc Jean-Albert was among the best in the world and landed directly on the grassy area in front of the hangar, in a two-fingered slipper. I jumped at 1500 meters in automatic opening. It is a strap connected to the plane which released the parachute from its bag. To tell the truth, three jumps later, I realized the obvious: skydiving is not for me.

A few rotations to the right and left, and the sail opens. Time stops, for a moment. I enjoy the 360 ​​degree landscape. My eyes devour Reunion, from the Piton de la Fournaise in the distance to the Piton des Neiges, passing by the ridges which rise to Dimitile. Beneath our feet, the four lanes, where vehicles parade towards Saint-Pierre or towards the Route des Tamarins.

But soon the ground gets closer. At 500 meters altitude, I repeat the landing procedure one last time. I grab my knees and try to pull them up to my chest. The roundness of my adbo makes me say that I should do sports. There is no longer time to procrastinate. After a final turn facing Saint-Pierre, we land gently. A papaya slice smile appears on my face.

These tandem pilots are not legion. Before being able to apply, the jumper must have a minimum of 700 jumps and be either in operations or an instructor. Next comes a drastic selection of 20 jumps. The slightest missed jump is eliminatory. Because the goal of the tandem jump is to be able to bring into operation people far from skydiving, such as a dog handler and his animal, a doctor, or an intelligence specialist. Unlike conventional parachutes intended primarily to slow down, their sail allows them to sometimes travel up to thirty kilometers.

The feast of Saint Michael, September 29, is the feast of the patron saint of paratroopers. On this occasion, jumps are organized so that, as far as possible, all certified military personnel can jump during the months surrounding this date. Tandem pilots must perform at least 60 jumps per year, including 25 in tandem. Jumps which are offered either by drawing lots to people wishing to do so, or at the invitation of the regiment. An invitation that I did not refuse.