Pathfinder UK Newsletter 2026 – 1 – Skydiving Specialists

Introduction
Company Profile
Schedule of Events
Membership & Benefits
Pathfiner UK Membership
Donations and Sponsorship
DZ Protocols
Timings
Finances
Website
Volunteers

Introduction

Dear Members of Pathfinders, I am honoured to take on the role of managing Pathfinders, succeeding Roy Mosby, a name globally recognised for founding our organisation and establishing a significant tradition of commemorating memorial jumps in Arnhem and Normandy.

I will officially commence my role on January 1st, 2026, eager to guide Pathfinders towards a new direction’ while maintaining our commitment to core goals and objectives. I would like to apologise for the length of this newsletter, believe me this will be a one off. moving forward, all information will be accessible online on our new website, accompanied by short newsletters as is necessary, to highlight essential updates and events.

Roy and Ian are responsible for establishing and shaping Pathfinders, and their contributions are well documented and legendary. However, It is also important to recognise the many volunteers who have assisted and supported pathfinders over the years. Without them it would never be as established as it is today.

Many of the organisers within other round parachute groups were trained by Pathfinders UK; as the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

In addition to the dedicated volunteers who have gone above and beyond, we owe our gratitude to all members of Pathfinders who have committed their time and resources to ensure we honour the sacrifices made by veterans worldwide. I understand the financial burden this entails; my average costs for attending events have been considerable.

Company Profile

I have taken on the responsibility of overseeing Pathfinders to ensure ongoing support for memorial events amid an increasingly complex environment, where rising costs and numerous regulations present challenges to our mission.

To thrive, Pathfinders must broaden its focus beyond mere survival, engaging with a wider scope than just Arnhem and Normandy, as this limited perspective may lead to challenges in maintaining our objectives.

The new organisation is being established as a UK not-for-profit limited company, as I believe the greed for profit is diluting the core objective away from what Pathfinders was initially setup to achieve.

Each year, I will provide a report on the company’s progress along with an individual accounting report prepared by our accountants, for all members to evaluate.

The year 2026 will be a pivotal test year with respect to financing, as many of the prices will be based on what I deem necessary, while subsequent years will rely on known income and costs to help focus on alleviating the rising costs for our members.

Jump ticket prices are increasing, along with aircraft hire by the owners, and supporting costs are also on the rise. Therefore, it is essential for us to revise our approach to include donations and sponsorships, which will help offset costs for Pathfinders members, who are already dedicating their time to achieving our shared goals and objectives. Unfortunately, the training course price must increase to support our regular Pathfinder members.

Schedule of Events

The following dates have been proposed for 2026.

When the website has been uploaded, more information will be available to include booking and payment online. Manifesting will also be created online using a database that parachute centres rely on.

20^th to 24^th April – Teuge Training Course
18^th to 22^nd May – Hinton Currency Jumps
1^st June to 5^th June – Abeille Training Course
6^th or 7^th June – Normandy
6^th to 10^th July – Hinton Currency Jumps
11^th July Water Jumps – Rutland Lake
14^th to 18^th September – Teuge Training Course
19^th to 20^th September – Arnhem

Membership & Benefits

Membership is currently open (new memberships will not be accepted after January 31^st)
Membership for new course candidates will be available at the conclusion of their course
Annual Membership fee is £28
Priority manifesting on all events (Members may manifest two weeks prior to non-members)
Discounted jump tickets
Discounted event fees (includes Arnhem & Normandy Displays, UK Water Jump, etc.)
Discount on equipment hire
Discount on reserve repacks and servicing costs
Our price list will be published once confirmation has been received from the DZs

Further details will be published shortly on the website.

Pathfinder UK Membership

Payment link : Pathfinders Parachute Team

Donations & Sponsorship

Each year, the costs for conducting the remembrance parachute jumps escalate. Pathfinders will actively seek donations and sponsors to help mitigate these costs for our members.
Donations start from £10; please share the link below if you know someone interested in supporting Pathfinders UK by selecting the payment link and adjusting the quantity accordingly.
Pathfinders UK Donations
We will also be seeking sponsors for our events; however, this task is challenging, as we will not compromise the integrity of the events by altering the standards established in the past.
Part of my initiative will focus on collaborating with the TV & Film industry, involving Pathfinder members in upcoming war film projects.

DZ Protocols

Previous timings and administrative concerns have been thoroughly discussed with the parachute centres to ensure we maintain their support during challenging times, as they navigate financial and legal pressures related to noise and environmental complaints against parachuting.

Compromises have been reached that should remain in place as long as our group supports and understands the challenges faced by the parachute centres.

Uniforms will be mandatory for all jumps, but civilian clothing is preferred when not engaged in jumps, to alleviate perceptions of a military invasion at parachute centres who’s main objective is civilian sport parachuting. Military T-shirts and sweat tops may be worn as acceptable civilian attire.

Timings

The day will commence at 9am and conclude at 6pm
There will be no late-night registration parades
If a course is not completed by 6pm, it will resume the following day.
Early starts may be communicated the day before jumping, contingent on weather conditions and staff availability.
Late parachute programs may be announced depending on weather conditions and staff availability.
Packing after 6pm may be necessary for commemorative jumps to be completed; however, planning should focus on preventing this.
All wings presentations must conclude by 6pm
All course candidates will be afforded a lunch break between 1pm and 2pm

Finances

Jump tickets will no longer cover equipment hire or packing; these will incur separate charges to streamline administration. New systems will include:

Qualified packers will receive remuneration for each packing job; unqualified packers may assist and train to qualify.
Qualified riggers will be compensated for each reserve repack.
Kit hire will be included as standard during a five-jump course.
Kit hire fees will be applicable for all additional jumps and commemorative jumps beyond the jump ticket price.
A comprehensive price list will be issued with clear instructions regarding what’s provided.
Volunteers will receive benefits in recognition of their enthusiasm and dedication.

Further details will be published shortly on our website.

Website

A new website will be developed starting in January.
Pathfinders will reaffirm its position as the leading authority for round military parachute jumps, both internationally and within the UK.
Two courses annually for the Dutch B wings will be promoted at Teuge parachute centre, the week prior to the Arnhem Jumps, which will also facilitate currency jumps.
One annual course will be held at Abeille parachute centre a week before the jumps in Normandy, allowing for additional currency jumps.
Two refresher courses will be conducted annually at Hinton Parachute centre for individuals requiring currency, following one of the training courses.
Extra courses throughout the year may be implemented based on demand, provided they do not jeopardise our support from the parachute centres.
Club members will be permitted to participate in commemorative jumps within the UK, provided they meet the currency requirements.

Volunteers

During 2025, I took the opportunity to observe and learn as Pathfinders conducted training, qualification, planning, and event execution.

I had the privilege of engaging with numerous Pathfinder members, who candidly expressed their thoughts on how Pathfinders needs to advance, alongside the challenges and concerns they face in participating in these events.

I appreciate everyone’s input, and my door will always be open to feedback.

I will be creating a new volunteer list with support from Ian and John and historical guidance from Roy to clearly define roles and optimise our team’s efforts.

Please email me if you are interested in assisting with any of the following:

Website Development and updates. I will initiate the website, but continuous maintenance and data updates will require volunteers capable of uploading new photos, videos, and content regularly.
DZ Support. We have long-established DZs, and to preserve these relationships, I would like a volunteer for each location to liaise with the local community and organisers. Additionally, I am open to exploring new locations suggested by members.
Instructor Support. Ian has been the driving force behind all courses for as long as I can remember, and this will remain unchanged. However, managing currency jumpers and those who have yet to finish the course requires additional instructors.
Rigging Support. Herve has excelled as the primary rigger, ensuring our equipment is jump-ready. As we implement a plan to transport equipment between Holland, France, and the UK, we will need support at various locations. My new UK rigging facility will serve as the main support hub, but assistance in this area will ensure our equipment is brought up to the highest standards.
DZ Control. Roy will continue to provide some DZ control, but we need to cultivate a growing team to assist me with canopy control debriefs, display DZ setup, etc.
Team Planning. I would like to form a small committee of Pathfinder members to aid in planning and developing Pathfinders through periodic Zoom meetings (3 times a year) to ensure we remain aligned with our goals and objectives.
Main Parachute Packing. John is our quartermaster responsible for equipment and will oversee packing; additional support from qualified packers monitoring and managing all pack jobs would be invaluable. I will compile a list of qualified individuals.