Wonka13 0 #1 September 15, 2015 Evening all, New to all this (only 2 tandem jumps with a 3rd coming up this Sat & 4th scheduled for the beginning of next month). My question is - Between AFP & AFF, which do those of you with experience believe to be the better course for a new skydiver? There will be a DZ opening up near me this spring that will be offering a version of the AFP and my current DZ (over 2 hrs away) that offers the AFF program. Travel distance truthfully isn't of great concern to me, but the quality of the training certainly is. Any thought on the subject or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!Lead or Follow, but get the hell outta my way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wasatchrider 0 #2 September 15, 2015 whatever you decide you should take the money for your next to tandems and put it into what course you decide. Whats the point of all the tandems?BASE 1519 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tred 0 #3 September 15, 2015 what is the difference between the two? is it that AFP has 3 tandems first? is there any other difference? I did one tandem then AFF. I would not have wanted to do another tandem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jbscout2002 1 #4 September 15, 2015 Stop wearing dudes on your back and start jumping with your own rig. Start putting that money towards AFF. Take control of your jumps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wonka13 0 #5 September 15, 2015 Thanks for the responses, guys. I'm doing the tandems right now just to be jumping. Winter's fast approaching here in Oregon and the weather will be a huge hinderance in completing the AFP/AFF course and required A license jumps (with the 30 days max between jumps requirement before having to repeat a level or do a refresher jump). I'd like nothing more than to be starting towards my A license tomorrow, but that's going to have to wait until spring. So, right now, I'm doing the tandems just to get my "fix" :)Lead or Follow, but get the hell outta my way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wonka13 0 #6 September 15, 2015 Oh, I do plan on getting some tunnel time in this winter...just waiting for the iFLY in the Portland area to open up.Lead or Follow, but get the hell outta my way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydived19006 4 #7 September 15, 2015 tredwhat is the difference between the two? is it that AFP has 3 tandems first? is there any other difference? I did one tandem then AFF. I would not have wanted to do another tandem. I'm not fully versed on what exactly AFP is. My understanding though, it's a Tandem Progression AFF program developed by Roger Nelson (also pioneered AFF) where the student's progression and training go all the way through A license. Not 7 Levels of AFF, then "neophyte" status. Tandem Progression with a little more structure after the tandems. Or, maybe they simply don't want to refer to it as "Tandem Progression" Here's a suggested training schedule from one DZ. Day One: Tandem 1 & 2 Day Two: Ground School, Tandem 3, AFP 1 Day Three, AFP 2-4 Day Four: AFP 5, 6 Dave Five: AFP 7, High solo, Low solo Day Six: 2 related skydives, 1 coach jump Day Seven: 2 Coach jumps, 1 relaxed skydive Day Eight: 2 Coach jumps, 2 relaxed skydives Day Nine: 2 Relaxed skydives, A-License checkout skydive My opinion, in the end they all get you to the same place. AFF, AFP, Tandem Progression, IAD, or Static Line. With AFF or AFP, you'll spend $3000 to $4000. IAD/Static Line will typically run you from $2,000 to maybe an upper end of $3000. And once you're licensed, nobody gives a shit, or will ask how you trained. DZ management will push AFF or AFP as "the best", and often denegrade IAD/SL as "old school" or some such. The truth is that it's all about money. If the DZ is flying a turbine airplane, they do not want to loiter the thing over the DZ on multiple passes, or low passes for IAD/SL, it's simply not cost effective. If the DZ is running a 182, then it really ties up the airplane to take one student to altitude on the first few with two instructors. Also, for the smaller DZs, maintaining staffing for AFF can be difficult, or in many instances, simply not possible. As far as quality of instruction goes, method is moot. You can find good and poor in any method of training. There's my two cents/rant for the day! MartinExperience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tred 0 #8 September 15, 2015 that makes sense, it kinda caters to what each DZ is capable of but yea in the end its all the same Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydived19006 4 #9 September 15, 2015 tredthat makes sense, it kinda caters to what each DZ is capable of but yea in the end its all the same Except for how much money you have left to spend on your first gear!! In many areas, you won't have a choice of training methods. Or at least not without traveling a greater distance.Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dthames 0 #10 September 15, 2015 Quote Also, for the smaller DZs, maintaining staffing for AFF can be difficult, or in many instances, simply not possible. As far as quality of instruction goes, method is moot. You can find good and poor in any method of training. There's my two cents/rant for the day! Martin For sure. At a small DZ I have seen SL/IAD students jumping while AFF students are hoping the second AFF instructor will show up.Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!” Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wonka13 0 #11 September 15, 2015 Thanks, guys! I just want to end up well taught and safe (not only for myself, but for the others in the air with me). I appreciate your insight.Lead or Follow, but get the hell outta my way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
