The planned separation of a freefall group before deployment. The accepted minimum is 1,500 ft above the highest planned opening altitude, and 2,000 ft from six jumpers up.
Break-off is the phase where a group turns back into individual jumpers — and midair collisions, in freefall and under canopy alike, form their own prominent fatality category at roughly 18 percent in the reviewed US data. The sequence is therefore fixed and agreed on the ground: on the signal, turn 180 degrees away from the centre, track away, brake under control, and look up before you pull. Around eight seconds all told — nowhere near enough time to invent it in the air. The classic error is staying in because the formation is 'almost' there. Worth placing correctly: these are minimums, not targets. What binds you is your dropzone briefing, teams plan above them, and freeflyers need more margin because they fall roughly 30 percent faster than belly flyers.