ACCELERATED FREEFALL - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. How old do I have to be for the AFF Course?
A. You must be 18 years or older.
Q. Is there a weight limit?
A. You must weigh under 230lbs and be height and weight proportionate.
Q. How quickly can I do the course?
A. Including the Ground School and weather permitting between 3 and 5 days.
Q. Do I have to do it all at once?
A. No, you can certainly spread the course (and the cost) out. However, you must have less than 30 days between each jump (or drop back a Level) and it is mentally much easier on you if you have less time between jumps.
Q. What is the Ground School?
A. Ground School is 6-8 hours training with one of our AFF Instructors when they explain every aspect of skydiving to you, from equipment to body position, how to fly your canopy and what to do in an emergency.
At the end of the Ground School there is a written test just to make sure you understood everything!
Q. How many jumps are there?
A. There are 7 levels and most people complete the course with between 7 and 10 jumps.
Q. What do you have to do on each of the Levels?
A. Level 1 - Includes Ground School and basic maneuvers in the sky with two Instructors.
Level 2 - Introduction to heading control and leg awareness with two Instructors.
Level 3 - Full release dive - using the skills acquired on the first two levels, you
will be introduced to solo freefall with two instructors supervising your skydive.
Level 4 - First skydive with one instructor. You will perform solo unassisted turns,
heading control and forward movement.
Level 5 - Progression to 360 degree turns and you will sharpen the skills you have
acquired on all previous levels.
Level 6 - You will now be ready for your first solo exit with your Instructor close by.
As your skills improve you will move onto dynamic forward movement and recovery
for a pre-planned unstable body position.
Level 7 - your graduation jump where you have the opportunity to demonstrate all of
the skills acquired during your previous levels again with your Instructor close beside
you.
Q. Are my Instructors attached to me?
A. No, on Levels 1-3 you exit the plane with two Instructors holding onto you, on Levels 4 and 5 you will have one Instructor holding onto you and Levels 6 and 7 you will exit the plane on your own but with your Instructor close beside you.
Q. What height do you jump from?
A. Weather permitting, 13,500 feet (which is approximately 2 ½ miles up)
Q. What is the cost?
A. The complete cost for Levels 1-7 is $1,138.00. This is a 10% discounted price for paying it all up front. (Includes all equipment, jumps and training but does not include the cost for any re-jumps - see below).
Q. Can I spread the cost?
A. If you wish to spread out your training we are more than happy to do this with your payments.
Level 1 and the Ground School is $285.00,
Levels 2 & 3 are $185.00 each
Levels 4-7 are $155.00 each
The cost for a repeat level will be priced as above with the exception of Level One
which will be charged at the lower rate of $185.00.
Q. Are there any other costs?
A. After your Level 3 jump you will join our national organization, the United States Parachute Association (USPA). As well as enabling you to jump at any Drop Zone around the World (once you are qualified) it also means that you will be able to receive future awards and licenses as you progress up the skydiving ladder.
Q. I'm nervous, is this normal?
A. Perfectly normal! Everyone suffers from nerves, though everyone copes in a different way. Rest assured, even if they don't show any sign at all, underneath, they are!
Q. What happens if I panic in freefall?
A. That is why your Instructor is with you. They will not allow you to progress onto the
next level unless they are confident that you are capable of harder maneuvers.
Q. What happens if I can't remember what to do under canopy?
A. Your Instructor will only allow you to jump when you have proved to him that you have total understanding of how your canopy operates.
Q. What happens if my canopy doesn't open?
A. The "rig" you will be wearing has two parachutes inside, your "Main" and your "Reserve". During the Ground School you are taught how to recognize and react to every kind of parachute malfunction.
Q. So when I have passed my 7 Levels I can skydive on my own?
A. You certainly can but to gain your A License you do have to do a little more..
Q. What do I have to do to get my A License?
A. Your Instructor will give you an A License Proficiency Card which lists the "tasks" you have to complete and have signed off by an Instructor to gain your license. These include, at least another two coach jumps (with a qualified Coach), learn to pack your own parachute, have done 20 skydives (including your AFF jumps) and demonstrate that you are knowledgeable and capable in freefall both by yourself and with others, under canopy and in the airplane. Once everything on the card is signed off you will then be tested on your knowledge of the Basic Safety Requirements (BSRs) and your card will be stamped by the Drop Zone to show that you are now a qualified skydiver.