PACMA, the Parachute Air Club du Maroc
FFP-approved, at the foot of the Atlas, founded in 2000.
PACMA is a skydiving club approved by the French Parachuting Federation, founded in 2000 and based at Beni Mellal Airport since 2003. Every winter, from 5 December to 4 April 2027, it offers beginners and licensed skydivers alike jumps from 4,000 m facing the Middle Atlas.
- Founded in
- 2000
- Approved club
- FFP
- Altitude
- 4,000 m
- Tandem skydive
- €250
At a glance
What is PACMA?
PACMA, the Parachute Air Club du Maroc, is the dropzone at Beni Mellal Airport. Approved by the French Parachuting Federation and founded in 2000, it offers you tandem skydives, the AFF first jump, the AFF course and jumps for licensed skydivers, every day of the season, aboard a Pilatus PC-6.
| Full name | Parachute Air Club du Maroc (PACMA) |
|---|---|
| Status | Club approved by the French Parachuting Federation (FFP) |
| Founded | 2000, by Karim Zaz and Omar Benizi |
| Dropzone | Beni Mellal Airport (BEM), Ouled Yaich, at the foot of the Middle Atlas, since 2003 |
| Aircraft | Pilatus PC-6 Porter: 9 skydivers plus the pilot; a second aircraft joins at busy times |
| The jump | Exit at around 4,000 m, around 50 seconds of freefall, deployment at about 1,500 m, 5 to 7 minutes under canopy |
| 2026-2027 season | 5 December to 4 April 2027, every day from 8:30 am to 6 pm |
| Getting there | A 2-hour drive from Casablanca, 2.5 hours from Marrakech |
| What you can do | Tandem skydive, AFF first jump, AFF course (7 jumps), jumps for licensed skydivers |
| Tandem price | €250 for non-residents, 2,500 MAD for Morocco residents |
| Partner | Vertical T'Air, skydiving centre in Arcachon (France) |
What we offer
What can you experience at PACMA?
Four ways to taste the sky, from your very first jump to a well-filled logbook: the tandem, with no training at all; the AFF first jump, under your own parachute; the 7-jump AFF course to aim for solo; and single jumps for licensed skydivers. Here are the prices for the 2026-2027 season.
Tandem skydive
€2502,500 MAD residents
No experience needed: harnessed to a qualified instructor, you enjoy around 50 seconds of freefall, then 5 to 7 minutes of flight under canopy facing the Atlas.
Discover the tandemAFF first jump
€5006,000 MAD residents
Your first jump under your own parachute, after ground training, with two instructors holding you throughout the freefall.
Discover AFFAFF course
€1,30014,200 MAD residents
7 jumps to progress to solo, using the French method equivalent to AFF: the most direct path to flying on your own.
Discover the courseLicensed skydivers
€27290 MAD residents
Your licence, your logbook and the Pilatus to 4,000 m all winter, with gear hire and packing on site.
Jump with my licence
Want to treat someone? Gift vouchers are valid for the season, until 4 April 2027, and print instantly.
Gift a jumpOur story
26 years of skydiving in Morocco
Every milestone below comes from a press article: the source link is under each date.
2000
Two enthusiasts found the club
Karim Zaz and Omar Benizi create the Parachute Air Club du Maroc.
2003
Beni Mellal becomes home
The club settles for good at Beni Mellal Airport, at the foot of the Middle Atlas. Five years later, the press already counts 3,000 jumps made with PACMA.
2008
Polytechnique and Europe in Beni Mellal
The club, then also known as the "Parachute Air Club de Marrakech", organises an international gathering with ONDA and the wilaya from December 2007 to April 2008. Students of the École polytechnique make 1,500 of the 3,000 recorded jumps.
Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc · Feb 2008Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc · Mar 2008
2009
An international camp every winter
A MAP news agency report describes the airfield's annual international camp, which draws skydivers from many countries, and a 340% rise in skydiving-related overnight stays between 2002-2003 and 2007-2008.
2016
French clubs in winter
A Yabiladi journalist does a tandem jump at PACMA, which is then working with the Royan club and hosting French and Moroccan military skydivers.
2023
An international championship
Beni Mellal hosts an international skydiving championship: 35 skydivers, including the PACMA men's team.
2025
Press and pros at the dropzone
A Le360 journalist does a tandem from 4,000 m alongside world champion Domitille Kiger. The CYPRES AAD manufacturer visits the club and counts more than a hundred French skydivers at the peak of the season.
2026
Beni Mellal, skydiving destination
The regional tourism council organises a Fam Trip with the club for tour operators and media, and mentions around 1,000 skydivers who came to the region in 2025.
2026-2027
Your season
From 5 December to 4 April 2027, every day: book your tandem, your AFF or your jumps online, and write the next chapter with us.
The founders
Who runs PACMA?
Omar Benizi, co-founder, is the club's president and chief instructor: he makes the safety and weather calls. Skydiving since 1975, he has around 14,000 jumps to his name. Karim Zaz, the other co-founder, was president in 2008 and was already championing the vision of a winter skydiving destination for Europe.
Omar Benizi
Co-founder, president and chief instructor
A former officer of the Royal Armed Forces and former member of the national team, he has been jumping since 1975 and has around 14,000 jumps. Every weather decision at the club goes through him.
Source: Médias24 · Jun 2022Source: Aujourd'hui le Maroc · Jan 2024
Karim Zaz
Co-founder
President of the club in 2008, he championed the ambition of making Beni Mellal a leading winter skydiving hub for Europe.
Why PACMA
Why skydive with PACMA?
Because you jump with an FFP-approved club, from 4,000 m, in the middle of the European winter, under the Moroccan sun. The Pilatus PC-6 climbs in 15 to 20 minutes, freefall lasts around 50 seconds at nearly 200 km/h, and the often snow-capped Middle Atlas fills the whole horizon during your 5 to 7 minutes under canopy.
- 01
FFP rules
Training and jumping rules aligned with the French Parachuting Federation, qualified instructors, an automatic activation device on every parachute: you jump with confidence.
- 02
4,000 m above the Atlas
Around 50 seconds of freefall at nearly 200 km/h, then the Tadla plain and the Atlas peaks beneath your canopy.
- 03
A real jump aircraft
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter carries 9 skydivers and takes off from the airport itself; a second aircraft joins at busy times.
- 04
A season in the heart of winter
Open every day from 5 December to 4 April 2027, 8:30 am to 6 pm: perfect for jumping over the Christmas or February half-term holidays.
- 05
Easy to reach
A 2-hour drive from Casablanca, 2.5 hours from Marrakech: your skydive fits into a great day trip or a weekend.
- 06
A friendly dropzone
Lunch in the caidal tent by the runway (70 MAD), friends and family welcome, and skydivers from France and across Europe every winter.
Our aircraft
The Pilatus PC-6 Porter, the club's jump aircraft
The PC-6 takes off short, climbs fast and has a wide exit door: 9 skydivers plus the pilot on every lift, 15 to 20 minutes to reach around 4,000 m. One Pilatus flies all season; a second joins the fleet at the busiest times.
Safety
Is PACMA a serious, safe club?
Yes: PACMA is a club approved by the French Parachuting Federation and follows all of its jumping rules. Every rig carries a reserve parachute and an automatic activation device, the instructors are qualified, and the chief instructor only lets you jump when the weather allows. All that's left for you is to enjoy it.
- Club approved by the French Parachuting Federation (FFP)
- Qualified instructors, federation training and jumping rules
- Reserve parachute and automatic activation device (AAD) on every rig
- Weather decisions made by the chief instructor, with no compromise
- Bad weather: free rebooking for another date in the season, or a credit note
- Licensed skydivers: licence, insurance and logbook checked, check jump possible
Partner
Vertical T'Air, our partner from Arcachon
The Vertical T'Air skydiving centre in Arcachon (France) provides the aircraft and some of the instructors for the season. That's why so many French skydivers and instructors spend the winter in Beni Mellal.
In the press
They're talking about PACMA
Moroccan media, international press, an equipment manufacturer: discover some recent articles about the club.
- Aujourd'hui le Maroc · 2026Grâce à un Fam Trip B2B exclusif: Le parachutisme propulse Béni Mellal sur la carte du tourisme d’aventure
- Le360 · 2025Testé pour vous: le frisson ultime du saut en parachute
- CYPRES (blog) · 2025Morocco Part 2: Skydiving PACMA Beni Mellal
- Aujourd'hui le Maroc · 2024Le parachutisme à Beni Mellal, un moyen de promouvoir le tourisme
- Le Courrier de l'Atlas · 2023Championnat international de parachutisme à Béni Mellal au Maroc
- Médias24 · 2022Parachutisme à Beni Mellal. Et si on se jetait dans le vide ?
Your questions about the club
What is PACMA?
PACMA (Parachute Air Club du Maroc) is a skydiving club approved by the French Parachuting Federation, founded in 2000. It runs the dropzone at Beni Mellal Airport and offers you tandem skydives, the AFF first jump, the AFF course and jumps for licensed skydivers, from December to April, under the winter sun.
Where is PACMA?
At Beni Mellal Airport (code BEM), Ouled Yaich, at the foot of the Middle Atlas. It's around a 2-hour drive from Casablanca and 2.5 hours from Marrakech: the club isn't next door to Marrakech, so make it a great day trip or a weekend.
When is PACMA open?
All winter, from the first weekend of December to the first weekend of April. For the 2026-2027 season: 5 December to 4 April 2027, every day from 8:30 am to 6 pm. Online booking is open for the whole season: pick your date now.
Is PACMA approved?
Yes. PACMA is a club approved by the French Parachuting Federation (FFP). Training and jumping rules follow federation regulations: qualified instructors, an automatic activation device on every parachute and weather decisions made by the chief instructor.
Who founded PACMA?
Karim Zaz and Omar Benizi, in 2000. The club settled for good in Beni Mellal in 2003. Omar Benizi, skydiving since 1975 with around 14,000 jumps, is now its president and chief instructor.
Is the Parachute Air Club de Marrakech the same as PACMA?
Yes. In 2008, the press also referred to the club as the "Parachute Air Club de Marrakech". It is the same club: its dropzone is at Beni Mellal Airport, around a 2.5-hour drive from Marrakech.
How much does a jump at PACMA cost?
A tandem skydive costs €250 for non-residents and 2,500 MAD for Morocco residents, with video and photos as an option (€100). The AFF first jump costs €500, the AFF course €1,300 and a licensed jump €27. Coming as a group? Enjoy group rates from 10 people.
Do you need experience to jump at PACMA?
None for a tandem: your instructor takes care of everything, you enjoy it. You just need to weigh no more than 90 kg, dressed, and bring a medical certificate, or have the check-up on site. The minimum age is shown on the tandem skydive page.
How do I book with PACMA?
Online, in minutes: choose your jump and your date, then pay by bank card, in dirhams, with Tiki, via the payment institution Chari Money (3-D Secure, exact amount shown before you confirm). For a group or a special request, write to us from the contact page.
Your skydive is waiting above the Atlas
2026-2027 season: 5 December to 4 April 2027, every day from 8:30 am to 6 pm. Tandem at €250: pick your date!