To what altitude should a jumper maintain above the planned deployment altitude in a group of five or fewer?

When jumping in a group of five or fewer, it is vital to maintain a proper altitude above the planned deployment altitude to ensure safety and avoid premature opening of parachutes. The correct altitude to maintain is 1,500 feet above the planned deployment altitude. This allows for adequate separation between jumpers, giving them enough time to deploy their parachutes effectively and safely.

Maintaining this altitude helps to mitigate the risk of collisions or entanglements in the air, as it provides a buffer zone that is crucial when multiple jumpers exit the aircraft closely together. Such a precaution is especially important in smaller groups where the dynamics of free fall become more concentrated.

The other options suggest higher altitudes, which may not be necessary for smaller groups and could lead to unnecessary delays in the jump sequence, or lower altitudes, which do not provide sufficient safety margins. Thus, the choice of 1,500 feet is optimal for ensuring both safety and efficiency during group jumps.