Getting started in Sky Diving

There are a number of different ways to begin skydiving and you can take a couple of different routes to attaining your FAI solo parachutist’s qualification in Europe. An FAI license allows you to solo skydive at any officially registered dropzone in most countries. It is also the starting point for learning advanced techniques such as free-flying, formation skydiving and sky surfing.

Tandem Skydiving

In tandem skydiving, the novice skydiver has an instructor strapped to his back. The skydiving instructor is responsible for controlling the entire dive from exit, freefall, chute deployment, piloting the canopy and landing. The skydiving apparatus used in a tandem skydive has to support two people and provide the same descent rate as if it were just a single skydiver. As such, an initial auxiliary parachute, called a drogue parachute is deployed after exiting the aircraft to slow the descent speed of the two jumpers to that of a single skydiver and allow the main parachute (which is larger than normal) to be deployed where a normal parachute may be torn apart at such speeds.

A skydiving student needs very little training before he or she can participate in tandem skydiving. It provides most of the thrill of solo skydiving but with little of the responsibility in a much safer environment, so it is a popular choice for absolute beginners. A tandem skydive is a great choice for a one-off exciting day out, or to simply get a taste of the thrill of skydiving

Static Line Skydiving

Also known as RAPS, Static Line skydiving refers to a system of skydiving training, advancing through 8 stages (known as categories) and leading eventually to an FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) A License. The static line in question is a cord attached to the skydiving student’s canopy that opens his parachute automatically, directly after exiting the aircraft. In this system, a student's first solo parachute jump is made after around 6 hours ground training. Here is a list of the 7 categories that must be completed in order to reach category 8 and the FAI Licence.

• Category 1 - Ground school teaches you the theory on everything you need to know to make a safe static line parachute jump. Lessons on parachute equipment, stability in the air, safe body position in the air and on exiting, aircraft drills, malfunction drills and emergency drills, hazardous parachute landings and parachute landing falls (PLF). Upon the completion of ground school you are classified as Category 1 and are cleared to make your first parachute jump! On your first jump, an instructor will assemble your equipment and check it for you. Once at a height of 3500 feet you move to exit the plane, you will exit on the static line and your parachute will automatically open for you. You then descend towards earth usually with the help of radio assistance from the jumpmaster. Upon the completion of two static line parachute jumps at 3500 feet you are classified as category 2.

• Category 2 - You now must complete 3 parachute jumps at the same height of 3500 feet and still on a static line. The only difference here is that you must pull a dummy lever to simulate solo parachute deployment. You are then classified as category 3.

• Category 3 - This is the stage at which you are in control of your own parachute deployment, no longer on a static line, and you must freefall for a number of seconds before deploying your own parachute. The first freefall parachute jump must take place no later than one day after the last jump of the minimum 5 static line jumps required to pass to this category and must be authorised by a Category System Instructor. In this category, you must make two free fall jumps at 4000 feet - a 3 second delay jump and a 5 second delay jump. You are then classified as category 4.

• Category 4 - Your freefall delay increases to 10 seconds and your jump height increases to 4500 feet. You must make 2 of these jumps to progress to category 5.

• Category 5 - Upon reaching this stage, you will begin to use an altimeter and deploy your parachute at a minimum altitude or a specific period of delay as instructed by your parachute instructor. The altimeter is worn on your left wrist and must be checked every 2 to 3 seconds. In order to progress to category 6, you must make two freefall jumps at 5000 feet with a delay of 15 seconds using the altimeter.

• Category 6 - Now you must learn how to turn your body during freefall by using your arms to deflect air. To progress to category 7, a student must perform 360 degrees turns in both directions from a minimum height of 6000 feet.

• Category 7 - The point of category 7 is to show that you can regain your stability after having lost it, use body position to travel through the air, and transition safely from one position to the next. For the first jump at category 7 you must exit the plane in a tucked position and while in freefall perform a back loop to regain a stable position before deploying your parachute. The minimum height on this one is 8000 feet. The next set of dives are to work your horizontal movement. For this, you perform a dive exit where your body is inclined at 45 degrees, arms straight beside your body, hands six inches from hips and legs locked straight. This position is useful for placing safe distance between multiple parachutists. Two dive exits must be completed, the first with a track (moving yourself through the sky forwards at speed) at a minimum of 7000 feet and the second with a back-loop, two 360 turns to left and right, short track and wave off. You can then move onto category 8 and be granted an FAI A Licence.

If you perform every jump perfectly and your instructor is convinced of your confidence then you can attain category 8 in a minimum of 15 jumps. Because most skydiving students only jump at the weekends, it may take several months to work through the categories. It is generally accepted that it takes between 30 and 50 jumps to complete the static line course.

Accelerated Freefall (AFF)

AFF is an alternative and more intensive method of attaining your first International Skydivers License. Contrary to the Static Line system, AFF can be worked through in a matter of weeks rather than months. The reason here is that you get intensive one-on-one and usually two-on-one training for the first couple of levels. Instructors jump with you and are able to correct your position, physically interact and issue you with commands during freefall. With this kind of attention, obviously the initial cost is higher than Static Line, where the cost is more spread out over a period of months.

• Level 1 - Includes a day at ground school covering theory, technique and emergency procedures. Upon your first sky dive, you will be accompanied in the air by two instructors who maintain physical contact with you until you release your parachute. Diving at 12,000 feet you must deploy your parachute at 5,500 feet after around 45 seconds of freefall. If you have any trouble doing this, your instructors are there to help you.

• Level 2 - Similar to level one and at the same height. If your instructors are confident in your abilities then one will release and fly in front of you. Here you will practice some turning and altitude awareness.

• Level 3 - With parachute deployment at 5500 feet again but this time your instructors will fly beside you, allowing you to 'hover' on the spot and experience solo freefall.

• Level 4 - From level four onwards, you will have only one instructor with you in the air. Here you must learn 90 degree turns, demonstrate altitude awareness and maintain your stability on your own at speeds of 120mph with your instructor right beside you! Parachute deployment is still at 5500 feet

• Level 5 - More agility must be demonstrated, as you are required to perform full 360 degree turns to both sides and move yourself in a forwards direction. A lower parachute deployment is made at 4500 feet.

• Level 6 - This time you exit the plane solo in a 45 degree 'dive exit' towards the back of the plane. A successful back loop shows that you can lose and regain stability at freefall speeds. This is immediately followed by tracking and parachute deployment at 4500 feet.

• Level 7 - Now you must put all your skills together in a single jump accompanied by your instructor. After a solo exit you must perform a back loop, alternate 360 degree turns and turn during tracking. You have to demonstrate good control of stability all the way through and deploy your parachute at 4500 feet.

• Level 8 - This is the last jump you will make with an instructor accompanying you. It is a tricky one as you are making a very low jump at 6000 feet and pulling your chute open after only a 5 second freefall so you have to get stable quickly. At this point, the levels are completed and you move onto the consolidation sector of AFF training.

• Consolidation Training - 10 solo jumps must be completed so that you can practice your newfound skills and build confidence in a solo environment. After these have been successfully completed you can apply for your FAI license.