wingsuits and licenses

[skreamer 1]

I have noticed that a lot of certifications and licenses in skydiving seem tied into freefall time. Somebody jumping with a wingsuit predominantly would surely rack up more freefall time than somebody doing RW or freefly, whilst making significantly less jumps. Does freefall time spent using a wingsuit count towards certifications/awards/licenses?
Looking forward to those replies.
/s

[cyberskydive 0]

Ususally you will find that alot of certs and lisc. make freefall time only PART of the requirement. Most of the time
there are numerous other qualifications that must be met as well. Personally, I think freefall time is freefall time. Your in the ait XXX amount of time right? So why wouldn't it count?
Just my thoughts :)
D.Chisolm
webmaster@sunraydesigns.com
http://www.sunraydesigns.com

[Grogs 0]

The only cert I can think of where the free fall time really matters is for AFF Jumpmaster (6 hours required). I'm not talking about gold wings and such since they don't really grant any special privleges, just bragging rights. With a wing suit, it would be possible to become an AFF JM at 200 jumps (D License is required) whereas most jumpers take at least 350 to get the necessary FF time. However, having watched that course, you don't get that rating unless you know how to fly your !$$ off, so I doubt a wingsuit jumper could just get over because they had more freefall time.

[diver123 0]

I too think it should count. With a wing suit or not, you're still master the art of body flight for a specific amount of time right?

[cyberskydive 0]

LMFAO well I dunno about a master, but at least everyone can still fly like a turkey for the same amount of time
D.Chisolm
webmaster@sunraydesigns.com
http://www.sunraydesigns.com

[grasshopper 0]

skreamer, you are forgetting one key thing. To jump a wingsuit you first have to be a relatively experienced skydier. So far, you can't rack up the freefall time for JM/I without some conventional jumping.

[mattb 0]

Would racking up time with a wing suit make you a better jumper without a wing suit? Probably not. Luckily most wing suit jumpers already have plenty of experience and aren't trying to circumvent requirements for a instructor's license. (I hope!)

[marcusr 0]

mm

[riggerrob 643]

... as for wing suit experience counting towards an AFF Instructor rating. Half the art to AFF is holding the exit stable. If you can prevent a clumsy student from tumbling the exit, then you can prevent a whole raft of problems.
So it is more important to do hundreds of linked exits if you want to become a freefall instructor.

In closing, ALL types of skydiving skills make you a better instructor.
Now if I could just master a stable sit!
Hee! Hee!

[LouDiamond 1]

I have a little over 500 wingsuit flights, a good many of those instructional flights with a student. Personally, I think any time you spend in the air learning how to control your body is beneficial. So if you are up there longer, you have more time to work on your bodily control. With that said, there are specifics to each discipline of flight that also need to be learned. However, being confident in the air and having situational awareness is critical for any instructional purpose. As was stated, by the time a person puts a wingsuit on they will have already had time to develop a core set of skills in either RW, FF or both. You will undoubtedly get more freefall time in a wingsuit and learn how to control your body more but there is no substitute for leaving an A/C holding onto someone. If you want to get better at a specific thing, you have to concentrate on that specific thing and do it over and over until it is second nature, as far as I know, there is no osmosis learning

The only way to become a better instructor is to instruct, to a degree. We have all met people who were fantastic at something, be it shooting, driving, skydiving, sewing, art, etc. That doesn't necessarily make them the best instructors. There are people who have phenomenal talents but can't teach someone else how to do what they do let alone tie their shoes. There are also people who have less than phenomenal talents but can teach others. This is the person who a student is more than likely going to learn the most from of the two. Like anything else, the more you instruct the more you will be exposed to and the more experience you will rack up. The result is that your teaching style will evolve and your knowledge base will increase up to your individual capacity.

As far as licenses go , freefall time is one block to check but if you can't fly your slot or be where you're supposed to be or do what is required, it means nothing.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Quote

I have noticed that a lot of certifications and licenses in skydiving seem tied into freefall time. Somebody jumping with a wingsuit predominantly would surely rack up more freefall time than somebody doing RW or freefly, whilst making significantly less jumps. Does freefall time spent using a wingsuit count towards certifications/awards/licenses?

Looking forward to those replies.

/s

Absolutely! And I laugh outloud at the poor "freeflyers" who take well over 1000 jumps just to get a 12-hour award.

[skreamer 1]

Check out the date of the original post. Maturing like a fine wine... (and boy do I like a fine whine! )

[VectorBoy 0]

Absolutely! And I laugh outloud at the poor "freeflyers" who take well over 1000 jumps just to get a 12-hour award.

[DaGimp 0]

Quote

[ Some of them fly WS to balance their FF. Its all good

Glen...why do you have to talk about me like that we will see if i let you stay in my room again

"Professor of Pimpology"~~~Bolas