Five Minutes with… Jetman, AKA Yves Rossy

This May, Yves Rossy, famously known as Jetman, flew over the deserts and skylines of Dubai.

Today, the 55-year-old “birdman” tells Arabian Business how he started Jetman in his garage, what he thinks of free-jumping, and why he’s okay with being called “crazy.”

You are a former professional pilot. When and why did you decide to become Jetman and start doing what you’re doing? Was there a specific moment or event that triggered you to make that decision?

Since I was a child, I have always had a dream of flying like a bird. I joined the Swiss Air Force as a fighter pilot following an apprenticeship in engineering after which I turned to commercial flights. I flew as a fighter pilot for the Swiss Air Force and then as commercial pilot for Swissair.  When I was 30, I experienced skydiving and that was when my passion for free flying really began, I wanted to fly through the air without the constriction of being in a cockpit.

In 1993, I developed the concept of Jetman in my garage and began working on it during my spare time before it turned into a full time job. My main goal was to be completely free in the air and not constrained in a cockpit. I have drawn inspiration from the aircrafts I flew to help develop my wing and fulfil my ultimate dream of free flying.

I have to ask, while you’re up in the air, are you not afraid of something going wrong? Why or why not?

I am very comfortable when I’m flying because air is my element. I am one with it and completely free. However, having a plan B is the basics of aviation as unfavorable situations are inevitable. My safety is always a priority and if ever I am in a risky situation, I can easily release the wings off my back. My wings have a rescue parachute of their own so that the damage from the fall is minimal. I myself have two parachutes, just like normal skydivers. If the first one malfunctions, I can release it and open the second one in reserve.

Also, being a professional pilot and a skydiver has trained me to manage such situations and ensure my safety at all times in the air.

In the moment right before you fly, what do you think of?

I am concentrating on the coming actions like the start-up of the engines and the right move to leave the helicopter at exit. Once in flight, I am just focusing on soaring through the skies like a bird completely free and without any restraint. It’s truly surreal.

What does your family think of what you do?

Since Jetman is in fact a home-grown project conceptualized in my garage, my family and close friends have always been by my side supporting me and helping me and my project reach where it is today.  For that, I am eternally grateful.

Obviously you don’t have a fear of flying, but what would you say to people who do?

We are all afraid of the unknown. You hear noises in an airliner and you automatically think something is wrong but it is actually just the landing gear coming down. The best way is to learn with somebody who is experienced and understand how things function. Once you understand what it is all about, the fear disappears!

Tandems jumps in skydiving are really easy to be done at drop zones like Skydive Dubai. The feeling of flight is absolutely magical and something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime.

Do you think anyone can do what you’re doing if they got the right training, or do you believe that some people are braver than others?

Training and experience is key. Flying like I do requires skill, experience and intense training as it’s quite a risky feat. I myself have trained for over 25 years and my experience as an aviator has also helped me to be a good judge of what to do in bad situations.

Vince Reffet, who has recently joined the Jetman Dubai team is a pro skydiver with over 15,000 jumps to his credit. In addition, he has also trained under me for over 5 years to fly with the jet wings.

Recently, there has been a death in Skydive Dubai. When you hear of such news, does it discourage you to fly? What do you think of when you hear of deaths in the flying field?

Like in everyday life, there is a risk in everything that we do. The Jetman Dubai team has established safety standards to minimize all risk for Vince Reffet and myself while we are flying. With our training over the years we have also learned how to manage emergency situations while in mid-air.

I have another question for you: Everyday there are people dying due to car accidents but do you stop driving knowing this?

Also recently, a video went viral on Youtube of Oleg Cricket free-jumping from building to building in Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence. What do you think of stunts like these, which have no safety equipment?

The stunt is beautiful and as he has no other equipment than his body, the intense training that he does before doing the jumps is his only “safety equipment”. To do a stunt like this without sufficient training would be crazy, but like he is doing it, it’s OK. And which other safety equipment could he use? The same applies for mountain climbers who go to the top of the Everest, in case of problems at 8000 meters, nothing and nobody can rescue them.

You’ve flown over some of the world’s most iconic places, like the Grand Canyon and the Swiss Alps, and most recently the Burj Khalifa. What’s next in line?

I have had the privilege of flying over a few of the world’s most unique places such as over the Grand Canyon, Mount Fuji, Rio De Janeiro, the Swiss Alps and of course, the Dubai skyline to name a few. But right now, my team and I are focusing on evolving the wing and the technology itself by maintaining a longer sustained flight.

Of course, there are many more exciting flights to be flown over the years details of which will follow soon.

You’re 55 years old. Do you think there’s a specific age limit to what you’re doing? Does Jetman have a deadline?

I think I’m only getting started. There’s so much more that we dream of achieving with Jetman Dubai and we are not likely to stop any time soon. As long as I am fit enough, I will continue to fly, because that is my passion.

Lastly, in the media headlines, some people have called you crazy. What would you say to that?

Throughout history, the crazy ones have gone forward to achieve their dreams. If being crazy is what’s needed to pursue the dream of human flight, I’m happy with that!