Learn to skydive - Advanced Freefall Course (AFF)

AFF stages 1-9

Student and instructors on an AFF jump

STAGE 1 (SOLO) Two instructors

Your first solo skydive is stage one of the course. Your briefing will take up most of the day and your actual skydive will take place either at the end of the day or early the next morning. Exit altitudes are up to 12,500ft.

You will climb out of the aircraft with two instructors along side of you for the duration of the skydive. You exit the aircraft, get in to a hard arch, followed by practice ripcord pulls, height awareness checks, ripcord pull at assigned altitude, canopy checks and finally follow target assistance from your instructors for landing.

STAGE 2 Two instructors

This is where your work begins. We push for greater general awareness ie. Whether we turn, which way, how far, and when, also awareness of leg and arm positions. The jump contains practice ripcord pull, altitude checks and signals, a delta position and finally a ripcord pull. After this jump we begin teaching you how to pack your own parachute.

STAGE 3 Two instructors

This is probably the most important jump in the course The primary aim of the jump is hover control ie - showing the ability to remain in one place, relative to the instructor without moving forward, backward or sideways. Prior to the jump the student learns basic spotting and principals of turning after exit, eye contact is made between student and the instructors, a series of hand signals are used to correctly position the students arms and legs. The second instructor then flies to the front of the student, and soon after, instructor 1 may release the student, but stay close by, ready to re-grip if necessary. The ripcord pull is made by 3,000ft.

STAGE 4 One instructor

This is a consolidation dive with only one instructor, with revisions on hover control and learning to relax more in freefall. The ripcord pull is made by 3,000ft. At this time you will also learn to steer your canopy and land unassisted.

STAGE 5 One instructor

This is usually the student's first solo exit and the jump includes 360° turns, pinning the instructor and a 180° turn before waveoff and pull at 3,000ft.

STAGE 6 One instructor

This is a consolidation of Stage 5 with longer closing distance between student and instructor, and a 180° turn before waveoff and pull at 3,000ft

STAGE 7 One instructor

This is the student's first diving exit. During the jump the student learns backloops and tracking.

STAGE 8 One instructor

A consolidation dive, which also incorporates fast fall and slow fall and a track.

STAGE 9 Solo Skydive

Solo skydive

A five-second delay from 3,000ft to acquaint the student with exiting from lower altitudes.

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