Narrative:

I was ready for takeoff from an airport with continuous [parachute] jump activity. The AWOS recording cautioned all pilots to fly the full pattern and no midfield crossovers. I had asked the jump school/FBO if there were any specific takeoff procedures and they said; 'no; our jumpers know to avoid approach and departure ends of the runway.'two jump planes departed and I taxied to the run-up area. After my run-up I heard 'jumpers away'; and I'm not sure if it was 13;000 ft or 18;000 ft; or one of each. I'm not a jumper; and have no idea how long from jumpers away to airport traffic area so I called on the CTAF and asked if there was time for me to take off. I couldn't see anyone when I looked up; although of course my view was not clear. One of the jump plane pilots said yes. I immediately commenced takeoff roll. Just as I was about to rotate I saw jumpers on either side of the runway perhaps 800 ft above me and 1000 ft to the side of me. There were none directly ahead so I departed but I was a little shaken. In retrospect I realized the jump plane pilots don't have a great view of how close the jumpers are to the field; and the safest course of action for everyone would have been if I had waited. They did not seem to be concerned about my departure but it seemed to me like it was too close for safety.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The pilot of a single engine airplane was aware of parachute activity near the airfield; but was surprised on takeoff roll when he observed parachutists above and on either side of the runway.

Narrative: I was ready for takeoff from an airport with continuous [parachute] jump activity. The AWOS recording cautioned all pilots to fly the full pattern and no midfield crossovers. I had asked the jump school/FBO if there were any specific takeoff procedures and they said; 'No; our jumpers know to avoid approach and departure ends of the runway.'Two jump planes departed and I taxied to the run-up area. After my run-up I heard 'Jumpers Away'; and I'm not sure if it was 13;000 ft or 18;000 ft; or one of each. I'm not a jumper; and have no idea how long from Jumpers Away to airport traffic area so I called on the CTAF and asked if there was time for me to take off. I couldn't see anyone when I looked up; although of course my view was not clear. One of the jump plane pilots said yes. I immediately commenced takeoff roll. Just as I was about to rotate I saw jumpers on either side of the runway perhaps 800 ft above me and 1000 ft to the side of me. There were none directly ahead so I departed but I was a little shaken. In retrospect I realized the jump plane pilots don't have a great view of how close the jumpers are to the field; and the safest course of action for everyone would have been if I had waited. They did not seem to be concerned about my departure but it seemed to me like it was too close for safety.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.