fbpx

About Phoenix Skydiving

About Our Local Skydiving Experts

Our team is a crew of locals who have taken thousands of folks from around the world skydiving, and have been Skydiving in the Phoenix area and around Arizona for over 20 years. Our Tandem Instructors are Certified by the USPA (United States Parachute Association) and have thousands of Tandem Skydives. They hold current FAA class 3 airmen medical certificates and can handle themselves in the sky. We are committed to a safe and enjoyable first time skydive!

The Fortner family business began in 1998 when Randall Fortner began training new jumpers in Canyon City, Colorado. His passion for the sport passed to his children who began skydiving a few years later. His Son, Thomas Fortner, started jumping in 1999 and fell in love flying his parachute!  He is now an advanced USPA Skydiving Instructor and Coach. When Thomas isn’t jumping out of airplanes, he also manages our Texas Rigging Operations as a Master Rigger! Randall’s’ Daughter, Kora Fortner, is USPA licensed with over 250 skydives! She hopes to continue working towards her Coach Rating and be able to share the sport with all the first time learners. Kora’s other half, Brian, has his USPA Tandem and Coach rating, working along time Thomas. In Arizona, Randall’s Step-Son, Devin Petrie, is working towards a USPA license of his own. He spent his early years studying and training for his Rigging Certificate which he now uses on a daily! His wife, Caitlyn, works behind the scenes. If you have called us for any reason, chances are you spoke with her. Starting out as a first time tandem, Caitlyn has found love for the sport and still does tandems whenever the opportunity arrives! The Fortner Family all love sharing first time skydiving with everyone they meet.

Skydiving Staff

More Than

0
Jumps

OUR EMPLOYEES

Our instructors have decades of experience

GOPR9936-81

Tim S

Skydive Center Jump Master
Tim is a 2nd Generation award-winning skydiver. Following his father to the US Skydiving Team in 1998, Mr. Straus was on the original US team in 1964. The medals prove that he is indeed world class, and with 18,000 jumps, that puts Tim up there near the top. Warning! Rico Suave owns Tim.
G0042183

Matt F

Tandem Instructor
GOPR0310-3

Joanna J

Pilot
Chance_Petrie

Chance P

FAA Rigger Parachute Packer & Bus Driver
Chance is the engine that keeps us in the air! While being a parachute packing and equipment expert, and driving the bus, he also is the smiling face to check you in! He earned his FAA parachute rigger certificate in 2017. Be sure to take a sec and watch how he can pack that huge parachute into that little bag… Amazing!
Caitlin_H

Caitlyn P

Office Manager | Media Specialist
Caitlyn is the behind the scenes specialist. She is the voice behind the phone when you have questions and Phoenix Skydive Centers Secret Weapon. You can see her video work on our YouTube Media Section and can always find her engaging with 1st-time jumpers on social media.
GOPR1450-5

Tom T

Tandem Instructor