First clear and pull: out-of-body experience

[StangMan90 0]

I'm an AFF student with only 5 jumps (all AFF). My home DZ is very good at letting students know that there is no pressure to progress rapidly, just that you progress correctly and safely. I started on Oct 30 and two weekends have been shot due to weather conditions, and one was shot due to a ground school practice PLF injury, so I arranged with work to finish AFF during weekdays with 48 hours notice. That way, I know what the weather is going to be like, and I don't have to compete with tandems for JMs. It will work out well for the next 5 or 6 jumps, then I'll go back to weekend jumping when I get to solo student status.

I don't let anyone else define my limitations. Everyone is different. My personal physical limit right now is one jump per week (I'm 53 years old) until I get into a bit better jump-specific physical condition. Also the decompression period for me is about 4 or 5 days. During the first 24 hours after a jump day I have an incredible buzz that is hard to quell. It will be nice when that gets better.

There are three people whose advice I always follow to the letter: (1) my doctor, (2) my lawyer, and (3) my skydiving instructor(s). I have not heard any of my instructors tell me that I'm not going through the program quickly enough. The only caveat is that in order to stay current as a student, I have to jump at least once a month.

For me, learning at my own comfortable pace has paid off with each successive jump. It helps me relax and enjoy each jump with confidence, which is really what it's all about as far as I'm concerned. Just my two cents.

simplify

[davelepka 4]

Quote

2 months between AFF jumps and you are not building upon anything. You are taking one step forward and one back.

It is unsafe. As simple as that

That's crazy bullshit. Skydiving is a recreational activity that's supposed to be fun. If someone wants to make one jump, or 1000, that is their choice, as is how they go about it.

Want to make one jump a month? That's fine. You may not pass, and have to repeat levels, but that is the student's business. Instructors read logbooks, and look at currency, Students are treated accordingly.

The idea that you have to make such a commitment of time and money is surely a detractor to many potential students. Of course, you would never know how many, because we're talking about the ones who never make it to the DZ.

It would be smarter to offer a pre-paid package that included guaranteed slots every weekend until they were licensed, along with a traditional pay-as-you-go program. By all means let them know that they will learn faster, and for less money with the pre-paid package, but to not even give them the option of pay-as-you-go is foolish.