Question about AFF training

[FallloutboyDAoC 0]

i was wondering how long it would take to complete all 7 levels of training? That is, if i pass each level the first time. Could it be done in 2 days?

[labrys 0]

What country are you in?

Most places in the US, the first jump course and first jump will take the better part of a day. Doing the first 2 or 3 on the first day might be possible but it's pushing it. A lot of people are fairly worn out after the course.

Doing more than 2-3 a day after that (at first) is also pushing it. AFF is pretty stressful for a lot of people. It uses muscles and emotions that don't get much normal daily excerise

3-4 days is probably more realistic

Owned by Remi #?

[FallloutboyDAoC 0]

i see. i live in the USA

[FallloutboyDAoC 0]

how long does each jump take? i mean, how long is the cycle of getting suited up, (or do i have to put on the gear for the ground training?) waiting for the plane to reach 13k feet or however high?

Also, once i jumped, and wanted to do another jump, for the next level of training, do they repack the parachute i jumped with? do i have to wait for that?

[labrys 0]

I can't speak for how other dropzones handle AFF jumps, but where I teach the first jump course takes about 6 hours, and then if the weather is cooperating the first jump and debrief can be done in about an hour.

Each jump in the first 7 after that take roughly 45 minutes of ground time for training. Then we get people into the air as soon as we can. Sometimes that's right away, sometimes it takes a few hours.

We can generally get a student's rig repacked while they are in training.

Owned by Remi #?

[FallloutboyDAoC 0]

i see

[Stuntbabex 0]

I did mine in a weekend.

[jlmiracle 7]

I've graduated a few students in a weekend. We do our first jump course on Friday so we have all day Saturday and Sunday to jump.

j

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[SPAWNmaster 0]

Yup, in fact I did it in about 4 days...that's with bad weather on 2 of the days.

You could probably even do it in a day circumstances permitting! You may have to repeat levels, weather could be bad, strong winds for students, instructors may be busy, etc...so its quite circumstantial.

[virulindex 0]

I've been doing a level every weekend for a month and a half or so (one weekend got rained out and another I was ill) and I'm really happy with that pace.

I get at least a week between each level to reflect on what I can do better and at the same time get myself mentally geared up for the next level. I have a sort of "study guide" that goes through each dive and what I'm going to be required to do so I actually run the next jump through my head all week long and I think it's really helped me.

Everyone is different but I like the way I've been doing it.

Plus it's easier to cope with a big hit to my wallet if I spread it out a bit!

[archi77 0]

Quote

I have a sort of "study guide" that goes through each dive and what I'm going to be required to do so I actually run the next jump through my head all week long and I think it's really helped me

Just out of curiousity, where did you get the study guide? Your instructor, or did you find it someplace else? I'd be interested in a copy of something like that, if it were a generic book, but I could see how it could easily be DZ-specific if it came from your instructor.

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." Da Vinci

[virulindex 0]

It was given to me when I did my level 1 by one of my instructors at Skydive Taft. They have a copy of it online for students to look at:

Level 1
There is a pdf with all the stuff from the first jump course on the same page as levels 2-7.


Levels 2-7
http://www.skydivetaft.com/joomla/AFF_LEVEL_2to7.htm

I don't know how to make those clicky. Each DZ might have their own spin on these but it's a good breakdown of what you are typically going to be expected to do for each level.

[grannyinthesky 0]

Quote

http://www.skydivetaft.com/joomla/AFF_LEVEL_2to7.htm

Fixed it

"safety first... and What the hell.....
safety second, Too!!! " ~~jmy

POPS #10490

[virulindex 0]

Thanks granny!

Now I'm off to use the search function to learn how to do it myself!!

[labrys 0]

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?do=markup_help;

Owned by Remi #?

[bodypilot1 0]

Quote

i was wondering how long it would take to complete all 7 levels of training? That is, if i pass each level the first time. Could it be done in 2 days?

Yes, but it depends on the students comprehension of what is taught, and their natural flying ability.

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[stratostar 5]

The best bet would be to focus on doing your class first and your first jump and forget about being in a hurry to do all the jumps in two days, you will be just like every other student and have sensory over load, not only from the jump but from all the class info on how to save your ass when the shit hits the fan as well as just getting down safely under normal conditions, so how much do you really think you can retain craming in that much info in 2 days?

Not as much as you might think you can. Try taking one step at a time and not overloading yourself right off the bat.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[kschilk 0]

One of the larger turbine dzs, with plenty of student gear and starting early in the season, would probably be your best bet. That way, you won't be so likely to be held-up waiting for a rig or a slot and most of the "candyasses", like myself (only jump when it's warm) won't be out yet...it won't be so busy.

I too, recommend a slower pace...1 or 2 jumps per day with a few days between, to digest what you've learned and reflect on the previous jumps. Jumbling everything too tightly together, just seems too reminiscent of a "crash course" and generally, they're best avoided....hence the word "crash".

"T'was ever thus."

[superwoman8433 0]

I would first say slow down. When I worked as a manifest, we had 2 people out of about 30 that did it in less than 3 days.

Skydiving is a sport that can be amazing and extremely dangerous for you and others if you don't get proper training and understand everything you are taught. Even after you are done with AFF your learning shouldn't stop there, you still should take a canopy course and coaching. One thing about skydiving is never rush ANYTHING!

edited to add:
Get a SIM (Skydiver Information Manual) and look at all the tasks you must accomplish in those 7 jumps...it can be alot if put into 2 days.

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

In my experience, the biggest factor which slowed my progress was the WEATHER.

I cannot count how many hours I sat waiting for the wind to settle down. On many days I arrived at 0800 for my pre-jump training and didn't jump until the wind settled down just before sunset.

It took me six weeks to complete my AFF levels 1-7. At that point I was cleared to self-supervise in freefall.

Of course, I had much more training before I was licensed. It took me to jump #40 to complete all my license requirements (my landing accuracy was a challenge).

Between completing AFF and getting my license I had many, many more delays because of poor weather.

Blue Skies

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

Regarding the above suggestion:
Get a SIM (Skydiver Information Manual) and look at all the tasks you must accomplish in those 7 jumps...it can be alot if put into 2 days.

You can find that here:
http://www.uspa.org/publications/manuals.htm

Blue Skies

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[FallloutboyDAoC 0]

the main reason i want to get through it quickly is i

found out i called skyride.

[stratostar 5]

Then you need to tell dad ASAP and he needs to call the CC company and tell them you were scamed and dispute the charges, because rushing though your training is NOT the answer, you already rushed into this & didn't do your homework worth a damn and now you got your dad in a pickel with you.

Next time try doing your research a tad bit better before you rush into paying someone 1600.00 bucks!

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[FallloutboyDAoC 0]

i wasnt necesarily scammed, the DZ the do own was the one i wanted to go to in the first place, its not that far away. i just get a little nervous goin there with everything i read about skyride.

[stratostar 5]

Quote

i just get a little nervous goin there with everything i read about skyride.

And you should be, but hey thats the one you wanted to go to . . .

PA deleted. Your one warning.

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo