Does your DZ require tandem first?

[howardwhite 6]

Many DZs require making a tandem before you can enter an AFF course or maybe even a static line course.

Does yours?

Is this a good idea? Why?

(Too complicated for a poll.)

HW

[freeflir29 0]

Mine doesn't but I do think it's a good idea. It helps the person experience all the sensory over load without having to be responsible for their own life. No pressure....just enjoy the ride. It can also help them make up their mind if this sport is really for them or if one jump was enough. Then there is a little less for them to deal with when they have to "go to work" on their first AFF jump.

[Sassy 0]

The one I'm going to requires 3 tandems, 2 of them working ones. Plus I had to start fresh with them and not count the first one I did. So by the time I start AFF I'll have done 4 tandems. It's sure going to be weird leaving the plane with nobody on my back.

[riggerrob 643]

No, starting with a tandem is not manadatory in Pitt Meadows.
However I believe that starting with a tandem is a good idea because it helps students over that huge psychological first step.
The nature of student business has changed over the years, but the weather has not. Before I arrived, the majority of first-timers did IAD, but now most first-timers go tandem. There are two reason we retain the IAD program. First, the brighter students insist on jumping alone their first time. Secondly, from now until May the clouds hang low along the coast and we are doing well if we can climb high enough for IADs,\. It is tough to take tandems seriously over the winter. er rainy season here.

[ernokaikkonen 0]

No. Then again we only offer tandem and S/L. We do give discount on the S/L-course for people who have done the tandem first.

I think a mandatory tandem before AFF is a good idea. It probably will decrease the number of "AFF-students from hell". Some wont go beyond the tandem, others wont be so freaked by the sensation of freefall.

Erno

[jlmiracle 7]

We require a tandem first where I jump now, which is a very good idea. We had an AFF student who had done about 5 or so static line jumps some years ago so we let him do AFF. On level 1 he decided the skydive was over at 10,000 ft and dumped. When he landed he said the freefall freaked him out. He was doing well in the sky. He did his COA, 3 practice touches and we thought he was going for a 4th but just pulled.

My first jump was an AFF Level 1. I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed for a good portion of the skydive. I should have done a tandem first.

Judy

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

[homer 0]

No DZ I in my area requires a Tandem for a first jump. They do offer a discount on a second tandem and first static line. It could be to ease the sensory overload and to milk a little more money from the beginner jumper.

CSA #699 Muff #3804

[PhreeZone 20]

We only offer a tandem progression. It means we only have to have one JM per student all the way through the students progression. We currently have 4 tandems, 3 working ones. First is a joy ride, then the pull ripcord and canopy control sessions, then the right turns left turns, then the right turn, left turn, forward, backward motion tandem. Its been that way for years at the DZ.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[jfields 0]

I don't think any of the DZ's I've been to have required a tandem before doing AFF.

I'm against it as a requirement. They can recommend it, but not everyone wants to do it or needs to do it. I've never done a tandem, and I have no intention of doing one. Just not my thing.

Places that give discounts on AFF or SL training to tandem-experienced jumpers probably have the right idea. They can make it easy, and remove much of the financial burden of doing one first. If someone gets hooked, they will more than get their money out of them.

[aneblett 0]

Winnipeg Skydiving Centre also does not require a Tandem for the first Jump but I can see it being a good idea both financially for the DZ and for the development of the student.
Adrian

S.E.X. party #2

..It is far worse to live with fear, than to die confronting it.

[PhillyKev 0]

For me personally, I'm glad I did the tandems first to get over the sensory overload. But I know a couple people who were uncomfortable putting their life completely under someone else's perceived control. They preferred to do AFF first so that they would be ultimately responsible for pulling and landing. I don't see why that choice should be taken away.

[Jessica 0]

Skydive San Marcos does the thing where you do three tandems, then start on AFF L-2. The first tandem is an "orientation," then the other two are working jumps.

I think it's a great idea, much better than the straight AFF progression. It's a little more expensive than my seven AFF jumps were, though.

Skydiving is for cool people only

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

Quote

Does yours? Is this a good idea? Why?

No, we don't "require" anything of the sort. I do tell people that it is wise to spend the money on a tandem, though, before they commit to spending all that money on AFF or SL progression. It's best to find out right away if you even like freefall from altitude. I have had more than a few SL students make it all the way to 30 second delays (actually 60 seconds out of an Otter here at Raeford) before they figured out that freefall was just not their bag. That being said, if someone shows up on the dropzone and says they want to "skydive", I ask them if they are just out for a joy ride or are they seriously considering jumping as a hobby. If it's a one-time thing, I will try and talk them into just doing a tandem. If they are intent on skydiving, I will ask them if they are committed to getting it done quickly, or are they going to just show up once a month and squeek through. If it's the latter, I will try and get them to do a tandem first, before they find out they are wasting their time.

The bottom line here is that while I really enjoy teaching, I hate to waste my time and that of barely-committed students.

Now, some dropzones have hybrid training methods that use tandems as the first skydiving introduction. If that isn't your bag, then just find another, more liberal dropzone with multiple training methods. Here at Raeford we offer straight ISP-based AFF and SL. The military clubs here still offer seven-level AFF and standard SL progression.

Chuck
AFF,Tandem,SL-I

[diver123 0]

I think it's a great idea. The dz I schooled at didn't REQUIRE it, but it just so happens that's the route I ended up taking. I did one tandem for the fun of it and ended up hooked. Then I did three more tandems that were "working" or "student" tandems where i had learning objectives and a dive flow. Once I finished the four tandems I switched straight over to level 4 a of AFF and didn't fail once... It really helped to have that much exposure to freefall before doing it on my own.

"pull high! It's lower than you think..."

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

What you are talking there is what we here call "tandem progression AFF". Me, Paul Rafferty, and a host of others use that method to contract train government agencies under one of our LLC's. Paul's is "Total Skydiving", I am "Performance Skydiving." We do mercenary skydive instruction at dropzones that do not charge us a "student fee" for teaching out of their planes.

Chuck

[Magistr8 0]

We certainly do not up here at Gimili. We can opt for the Tandem or can choose the PFF. Candian AFF

"Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools." Napoleon Bonaparte

[nws01 0]

The DZ I currently jump at does. I did before I did AFF. I am glad too. I knew what to expect in freefall. I knew what to expect my canopy to look like. I knew how to find the landing area, etc. I think this is good information to have before you do an AFF in my opinion.

[jfields 0]

Admit it, Nathan. You just liked getting strapped to that tandem instructor, didn't you? Didn't you, Nathan? ADMIT IT!

[nws01 0]

It was kind of nice knowing someone else would be deploying the parachute on that first jump. Then I learned in AFF that all you to do is wait for your cypres to fire. No self deployment needed!
Joking.

[dropdeded 0]

Not required at the dz I jump at.Went with a group from work extremely hung over from the night before(last night on earth and all ya know).We all did Tandems.I went back a couple months later and did another Tandem with a clear head and fell in love with the sport.Glad I did that second Tandem.
dropdeded

------------------------------------------
The Dude Abides.
-

[howardwhite 6]

The range of facts/opinions here is about what I expected. Your point about wasting time with someone who makes one AFF and leaves is one I've heard from other AFF instructors; it's not so much the money as the emotional energy invested in people who disappear.

Do you find that folks who start with AFF are more likely to graduate and get licenses?

(say hi to Skymonkey 2 for me.
HW