What should I expect to happen when I get on a skydiving flight
is there anything I as a passenger can do to improve the safety of the flight


You should do exactly what your told, when your told and make sure you keep well clear of spinning propellers. You will have a marshall or the pilot themselves guiding you when airside - do exactly as you're told!


  what pre-flight checks should the pilot make before taking-off


If it's the first flight of the day the pilot will do a walk around of the aircraft. They will check the general airframe, as well as some specific things


The static ports being clear
Pitot covers/control locks all removed (those little red dangly things that say "remove before flight")
Control surfaces have free movement and their connecting rods are secure
Tyres &amp; brakes satisfactory
Fuel is sufficient and uncontaminated
Propeller(s) undamaged
Oil sufficient in engines
... and a load of other things!


Before each take-off the pilot will also run the engine up and run it at idle. Just before take off they will perform some pre-takeoff vital actions. You will probably not notice any of this, but I assure you they'll be doing them - they may take mere seconds.