hello and some questions about AFF at Hollister, CA

[georgerussia 0]

Hello people,

Just did my first tandem at Hollister dropzone. Got really excited even while it wasn't completely new to me, as I had about thirty jumps in Russia ten years ago. The truth is that it seems like I forgot near everything I was taught - for example, I wasn't even able to make a stable right turn in freefall without the instructor's help.

So I'm going to complete AFF there, starting from scratch. Would like to ask several questions:

- Is there anybody, who studies/has completed AFF on this DZ? If so, could you share your overall experience?
- Do 7 levels of AFF include only 7 jumps, or more? I heard you had to have more than 25 to qualify for A license.
- Should I buy/order my jumpsuit before starting AFF? If not recommended, what would the best time to do so?

Thank you in advance.

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[daniel_owen_uk 0]

Not jumped at hollister but can answer 2 & 3.

AFF = 7 Jumps (that clears you for solo & coached jumps), if you fail a level you have to repeat, to get a USPA A Licence you need to do 25 jumps (there are a few more requirements like "land within x meters" etc.), but they will let you know those as you go through the AFF course.

http://www.skydiveelsinore.com/jumpstart/index.html

Is a good example of AFF although it may vary slightly. Check www.skydivingmovies.com for video of AFF.

I would wait to order your suit, there will be a lot you don't know (fall rate for a start).

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[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

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because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[monkycndo 0]

All of the DZs in the area have good programs. I went through AFF at Hollister and still jump there. I think they provide a quality program. One benefit for students is the van ride back from the landing area. You get your instructor's undivided attention for a very thorough debrief. They follow the ISP which has 7 jumps to complete AFF. It is not uncommon to have difficulties when you first start due to sensory overload. It took me a total of 8 jumps to complete my AFF and 25 to get my "A". Some people have completed AFF in less than 7. To qualify for your A license, you need 25 jumps and have all the requirements of the ISP completed through self supervision and coached jumps. I am a coach and would be happy to help with those.

Hollister seems to have weather that is jumpable when other DZs are weathered out for due to wind or clouds. Less time sitting during a weather hold when you can be jumping instead.

I would hold off on getting a suit. You can rent a suit or just jump in jeans and a sweat shirt until you start doing RW jumps. Once you have figured out your fallrate and consistently have good landings, I'd get the suit. No need to have a new jumpsuit getting grass/dirt stains from not so pretty landings. I would even suggest a used suit at first. Put the money saved towards your first rig.

Good luck on your jumps and see you in the air.

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[georgerussia 0]

Thank you people, will postpone buying a suit :)
Yet another question: if I have a logbook from Russia (of course it is in Russian), is there a reason to 'move' the jumps from this book to my U.S. logbook? Would it provide any benefit, or it is better just to throw it away?

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[monkycndo 0]

Your Russian jumps are part of your jump history. Keep your logbook and start your new one with a very simple list/description of your previous jumps with your next number jump starting your new logbook.

Gear that is good to get early is a helmet, altimeter and goggles. Gloves if you are use to them. They are the least expensive and nice not to have to share with other students. They are all available at the DZ or online.

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[Sebazz1 2]

I worked at this DZ for many years and know the DZO, staff, history of the DZ and lots n lots of stuff. Over the past year I have not been working there because they have a full staff, my availability has been limited and thus my services have not been needed.

- Is there anybody, who studies/has completed AFF on this DZ? If so, could you share your overall experience?

I learned to skydive here, then came back after many years to teach here. Both experiences have been great and I think Hollister is definately a great place to learn how to skydive. There are several tremendously competant instructors there any any given time.

- Do 7 levels of AFF include only 7 jumps, or more? I heard you had to have more than 25 to qualify for A license.

Once you complete your AFF (minimum 7 jumps I belive) you are cleared off student status. You must then complete several learning objectives set forth for the A license. One of these objectives is to complete 25 jumps. Your 10 jumps and one tandem previosully made count towards this total.

- Should I buy/order my jumpsuit before starting AFF? If not recommended, what would the best time to do so?

Nope wait for now.

[georgerussia 0]

Well, everything seems to be good, even though I was nervous a bit in the airplane. And I was completely unable to locate the DZ in my first jump.

The only thing that actually made me tremble was speed of the main canopy. It was SO FAST! I thought I've probably got by mistake the fastest canopy, and wanted to ask for a slower one, and then I was told this was actually a slowest one. This really impressed me, if this is the slowest one, how the fastest one looks like???

Hope this will go away as I got used to round canopies :)

And big thanks to Adam and Friday, my instructors.

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[monkycndo 0]

Your first few jumps, everything is new and seems to go by so fast, from freefall through to landing. As you get more jumps, things will start to slow down. Eventually you will be looking forward to a smaller canopy.

I had Adam as my AFFI for all but one of my student jumps. He was fun and helped me work through my spin issues.

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[brianfry713 0]

I landed way out on my first trip to Hollister too. The landing area is huge, but make sure to have some one point it out to you in the plane and on the photo of the LZ they have at manifest.

The fastest canopies out there look like they're still in freefall
Have fun.

[georgerussia 0]

Just want to inform that completed my AFF yesterday :)

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[Sebazz1 2]

Congratulations! Are you wearing the robe?...

[monkycndo 0]

Congrats. I would have been there, but instead helped a friend paint her apartment. I know, my priorities are all screwed up.

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[georgerussia 0]

Quote

Congratulations! Are you wearing the robe?...

Yeah, I am :)
Hope to see you and monkycndo there this Sat - I owe you some beer :)

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[georgerussia 0]

Some extra statictic for anyone interested:

- it took 8 jumps to complete AFF (had problems with arch, had to do C2 again);
- started on 03-26-06, completed on 04-30-06. Wasted two weekends because of cloudy weather, so it seems to be possible to complete AFF in two weekends if you're persistent.
- the scariest levels were A and E (still chilling rememberng how I got completely unstable after backloop, and spent a second thinking about what to do with it)
- had exit problem (solved with ground practice on 3rd jump), arch problem (same on 5th), problem locating the drop zone (solved on 5th with looking on satellite pics on Google), and flaring (still not completely solved).

The AFF program was really a challenge for me, even though I was not new to skydiving. However the instructors were very helpful, and it helped a lot.

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[bodypilot1 0]

Quote

it took 8 jumps to complete AFF

Thats great. Congrats.


Be safe
Ed

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[georgerussia 0]

Just to say that I got my 'A' yesterday :)

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