Military personnel from Brazil’s three Armed Forces set FAI South American Skydiving Record

SÃO PAULO (BRA) - Between 15 and 19 December 2025, the municipalities of Boituva and Tatuí, in the state of São Paulo, hosted a landmark achievement for Brazilian and South American military skydiving. A group of 26 active-duty military personnel from the Brazilian Navy, Army, and Air Force successfully established a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) South American Record in the Formation Skydiving discipline, Total Break Sequential (TBS) 26-way category, completing three valid points.

The project was conceived, planned, and executed by Team of Teams Military, which acted as the central coordinating structure integrating the three Armed Forces. The initiative ensured institutional alignment, technical and operational coordination, and the harmonization of all efforts involved in the record attempt.

Leadership of the project was provided by Carmem Pettená, FAI Delegate in Brazil; Ricardo Pettená, head coach responsible for overall strategy and operational safety; Rogério Martinati, engineer in charge of jump architecture and technical formation design; and Eduardo Moreschi, who played a key role in coordination and execution. Through this collective expertise, Team of Teams Military confirmed its role as a reference organization within both the military and civilian skydiving communities.

The record was officially achieved at 8:12 a.m. on 19 December 2025, following the successful execution of a jump featuring three successive formations, each separated by a complete break. This demanding technique, known as “Total Break Sequential,” requires exceptional precision, synchronization, discipline, and strict adherence to safety standards.

The jump was performed from two Cessna 208 Grand Caravan aircraft operated by Skydive 4Fun, with exit at 18,000 feet (approximately 5,500 meters) using supplemental oxygen. The achievement followed two training jumps and five official attempts, highlighting the high level of preparation, coordination, and perseverance demonstrated by the team.

International FAI judging was conducted by Juliane Radow (Germany), with Mike Pennock (Netherlands) serving as referee. National judging under the Brazilian Skydiving Confederation (CBPQ) was carried out by Ricardo Rotondo, Joelson Andrade, and Chief Judge Ricardo Bacarelli. The event received institutional support from CBPQ, under the presidency of Mr. Nelson Jorge da Silva Junior, sponsorship from Stratosphere International Corporation and Safran Electronics & Defense Group, and operational support from Skydive 4Fun.

Team of Teams Military brings together personnel from the traditional military freefall teams of the Brazilian Armed Forces: Netunos (Navy), Cometas (Army), and Falcões (Air Force). The organization of the event also relied on the support of senior officers and specialists, as well as Sergeant Lucas Weiss, who served as load organizer and was responsible for ground training and in-flight formation execution.

The achievement was honored by the presence of Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho, President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), who joined the team on site. His participation underlined CISM’s support for the development of military sports and highlighted the role of sport as a tool for integration, cooperation, and human development within the armed forces.

The Total Break Sequential discipline demands discipline, focus, esprit de corps, resilience, and the ability to operate under challenging conditions. Supported by centralized coordination and a shared mission, these qualities enabled the successful execution of a formation of exceptional complexity and precision.

This record concludes a remarkable year for Brazilian skydiving and builds on the FAI South American Record set by Team of Teams in Raeford, North Carolina (USA), in June 2025, when 104 civilian and military skydivers completed the largest freefall formation ever performed by South Americans. The initiative reflects the spirit of its guiding principle: “Brazilian Armed Forces – Integrated in Mission.”

(Source: Brazilian Delegation to CISM)