Sheetal Mahajan

San Francisco

Mahajan

USA

Padma Shri

Pune Mirror

San Francisco Mahajan

San Fransisco

City-based skydiver Sheetalmade waves all across the country after she created a national record by skydiving from 30,000 feet in San Francisco,, on Saturday night. The jump which Mahajan successfully attempted is known as the High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jump, which no Indian woman had attempted earlier.Pune girl Mahajan is a wellknown name in the field of skydiving as she has the experience of more than 600 jumps in various parts of the world. She also has been awarded thefor her achievements in the field of skydiving. The San Francisco event adds yet another feather to her illustrious cap.Speaking tofrom, while delighted at her success, made no bones about the immense difficulties it entailed. "It was certainly one of the toughest things I have ever attempted. This was my 683rd jump and easily the most difficult one, especially as I had to jump from the plane with an oxygen mask on.”The HALO jump is primarily done by military personnel for certain operations. Those undertaking the jump have to undergo tough training. According to experts, any civilian attempting the jump is a hugely significant achievement as they do not have such rigorous training before making the attempt.The momentous event occurred around 9.30 am local time inon Saturday. Elaborating on her preparations prior to the occasion, Mahajan said, “The preparation for the jump started six months ago. The instructors had given me a routine to follow strictly. I had to focus on my breathing and carry out breathing exercises — that was the most important aspect of the jump. At a height of 30,000 feet, there is no oxygen and a skydiver has to jump with an oxygen mask on.”Explaining further, she said, “At that altitude, with no oxygen, it can take a major toll on the skydiver’s body. Even in the midst of jumping, skydiver can face various health complications, even something as serious as a cardiac arrest. Therefore, it is imperative for the diver to undergo training and breathing exercises before attempting the HALO jump.”Mahajan took a loan of Rs 4 lakh to perform at the event. Apart from the rigorous training, she had other hurdles to overcome. “It was a tough task as I was the only one from India attempting the jump. Before the final jump, I also had to undergo training on using the oxygen mask correctly. We first attempted the jump at 11,000 feet to get a feel of it and only then could I execute it from the full height of 30,000 feet,” she said.According to skydiving experts, it is a very significant achievement for any civilian to execute the HALO jump. Speaking to Pune Mirror, an expert from the city, who did not wish to be identified, said, “These jumps are not usually executed by civilians as they can be life threatening. Usually the skydiving sportspersons execute the jumps which do not require oxygen masks. Such jumps are taken from a very high altitude, hence the diver requires a lot of precision and planning before attempting it.”█ This was my 683rd jump and easily the most difficult one, especially as I had to jump from the plane with an oxygen mask on