Time between jumps

[lisamariewillbe 1]

My last jump was April 30th, I was supposed to jump again Memorial day weekend and still might if I can find the funding. I have a few questions.

1. What happens if I go over my 30 days? I had 3 tandems and only my 1st AFF level done.

2. At the very least it is still a month since my last jump, is that putting me more at a risk to fail and forget certain things? Is there anything I can do ahead of time to prepare?

I know I know talk to my instructor, but there in Florida and Im in Georgia... I just want general, will hold no one accountable for giving me wrong info and will verify everything before I listen to any advice. Thank you for your time.

Lisamarie

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[dmetz 0]

Just review what you've learned so far, and look over the next section in the SIM. That's all you can do.

_________________________________________

"If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?"

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Whats the SIM?

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[craichead 0]

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Whats the SIM?

Skydiver's Information Manual published by the USPA.

_Pm

__
"Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

[Ron 10]

If you go over 30 days you have to repeat the last level.

One option, if funds are an issue, is to take a Static line program.

It will take longer to finish, but you will be able to do more than one jump a mth, and if you go over 30 days with AFF you have to repeat anyway.

Skydiving is a sport where CURRENCY is very important.

St. Mary's has a DZ listed in the Data base

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/dropzone/review.cgi?ID=945

And they teach SL.

Palatka has a DZ that does SL http://www.dropzone.com/dropzone/Detailed/178.shtml

Palatka charges 55 bucks a jump, so you could make three for every one AFF.

DZ.commer Art Shaffer (Crutch) is an Instructor there, and by all accounts a good guy.

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?username=crutch;

Edit: as of 5/10 St. Mary's seems to not be flying.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Thank you very much, Skydive St Marys is closed until at least Nov, I did my tandems there and my FJC with Glenn Bangs but he is now in NJ for the season. Money wasnt an issue, but had a room mate clean me out. Static line scares me more, then AFF, not sure why. I did the AFF at Deland out of the skyvan, I hope I dont have to wait but if I do I will consider the static line, does anyone know what having passed AFF 1 would equate to in static jumps? Or would I start from the beginning ?

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[Ron 10]

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Static line scares me more, then AFF, not sure why

Lower exit is one reason. Different is another, still another is that you think that with AFF someone is there to "help" you.

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I did the AFF at Deland out of the skyvan, I hope I dont have to wait but if I do I will consider the static line,

I would just go....Never wait on what you want.

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does anyone know what having passed AFF 1 would equate to in static jumps? Or would I start from the beginning ?

Well depending on HOW you did the AFF jump it could be considered as a level passed.

AFF requires 7 levels to be passed and some require one or two solos....One should be a low solo.

SL requires 5 SL jumps, on the last three you have to perform Dummy ripcord pulls. Then you get to do a Hop n Pop which is a solo freefall from around 4 grand..(Like the AFF low solo). Then longer and longer freefalls till you meet all the requirements. Takes about 15 jumps to do it all.

Either program will work and after 50 jumps no one will be able to tell which program you did (Other than some AFF students are really scared of low exits.)

I would say send Crutch a PM and ask him since he is an Instructor in Palatka and ask him.

If I was local, I'd offer to help you out, but I am several hours away.

If you want it, do it!

My ideal program would be:

One Tandem
Four SL jumps
Two Hop n Pops
Then a modified coach/AFF program.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Oh I want it, but theres little to halk after what my Roommate took... I didnt think about the lower altitude being what scares me. I am terribly afraid of heights and when I was watching Hop and Pops and looked out the window I was more scared for them then when it was my turn. Palatka is only a hour or so away. Yup passed my first AFF , actually did decent ... heres the pics, Ive got decent body position, I practice daily still lol
Just click 1st aff album
http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[Ron 10]

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Oh I want it, but theres little to halk after what my Roommate took

Like I said SL is cheaper and does the same thing.

And fear builds if you are not current.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Orange1 0]

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My ideal program would be:
One Tandem
Four SL jumps
Two Hop n Pops
Then a modified coach/AFF program.

Why a tandem? Seems to me to do a passenger thing first is just a waste of time and money ... but don't flame me please, I know this seems to be a popular route over there

I did some SL before AFF, very glad i did (gets rid of door fear, builds some canopy experience and as you say comfort with low exits) - from people I've spoken to fear about SL seems to be mainly from the solo exits.

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[Ron 10]

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Why a tandem? Seems to me to do a passenger thing first is just a waste of time and money

Not gonna flame you, its a great question.

A Tandem does several really good things.

1. It allows a person who wants to "just do it once" to do it without wasting their time, or an Instructors time with 4-6 hours of ground school, and it is cheaper for the one time student.

2. It gives a very controled first exposure to freefall. Some people freak out...I'd rather have a person freak out strapped to me than me just holding on for their saftey.

3. Great exposure to freefall body position, turns, and tracking. Can't get much better than me moving your hands.

4. It counts as a level of instruction now in the USPA ISP program as good as an AFF level one, maybe better.

5. No better way to teach canopy control than with an Instructor right there talking to you and teaching you things like the pattern, "magic spot", holding area, and possible outs. I have taken AFF students up on a Tandem to "fix" their canopy control issues.

I think its better for the DZ in saving time, better for the student in that it is cheaper and faster, plus it is a way to give GREAT hands on instruction.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[lisamariewillbe 1]

Well at Skydive St Marys if you didnt do the tandem progression your very first aff jump was 1100 then 2nd 3rd and 4th were 210 5th 6th were 180 and 7th was 150, way to much money for me considering I could do three tandems at 180 a pop then 400 for aff1

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this

[Ron 10]

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400 for aff1

Is still too high.

SDC AFF ground course and jump1 with gear is only 279.00.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Orange1 0]

ok... interesting you both say cheaper, down here a tandem is way more than static line FJC, and almost as expensive as AFF1 (and about as much if you have video)... though for me it wasn't a money issue, I just didn't even consider doing a tandem. I wanted my first jump to be completely on my own (even if i did have a big yellow line opening my chute for me )

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[Ron 10]

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ok... interesting you both say cheaper, down here a tandem is way more than static line FJC, and almost as expensive as AFF1 (and about as much if you have video)...

Ignore the video since it would cost more to have video of the AFF as well.

Think about the time commitment between AFF and Tandem.

The SL program is cheaper...Well when I started they were the same 140 or 150. But you also don't get to freefall. I had a ton of students leave because they thought that there would be more and even telling them that freefall is comming was not enogh for them.

People want it NOW. And I think thats one reason that the SL program is dying, Its not instant gratification.

Still only a fool would not recognize that and adjust the plan.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[tso-d_chris 0]

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One option, if funds are an issue, is to take a Static line program.

It will take longer to finish, but you will be able to do more than one jump a mth, and if you go over 30 days with AFF you have to repeat anyway.

The static line program also has the advantage of teaching freefall skills at a pace comparable with the canopy training. You get more landings as a student. At many DZs this means you will get more instructor input on your canopy control before you obtain your A license.

For Great Deals on Gear

[Ron 10]

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The static line program also has the advantage of teaching freefall skills at a pace comparable with the canopy training. You get more landings as a student. At many DZs this means you will get more instructor input on your canopy control before you obtain your A license.

Plus more jumps under supervision means more opportunities to learn to spot, pack ect.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[Orange1 0]

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Ignore the video since it would cost more to have video of the AFF as well.

...not where I did it

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Think about the time commitment between AFF and Tandem.

Yes but... I personally feel you get so much more out of a first jump from properly understanding the equipment, how a ram-air canopy flies, and so on... But I do get what you're saying for those who think it's a one-time only thing. Just thinking... my first jump was meant to be a once-off. If I'd done a tandem... it may have stayed a once-off...maybe i'm just wierd.

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The SL program is cheaper...Well when I started they were the same 140 or 150. But you also don't get to freefall. I had a ton of students leave because they thought that there would be more and even telling them that freefall is comming was not enogh for them.

SL is still (I think) the most popular training course here, but it does seem to lead to "fatigue" - at the DZ i learnt at, they said they estimate 10% of first jumpers make it to first freefall (which here you need at least 8 SLs incl 5 DRPs), and 10% of those get as far as their A licence...

Back to lisamarie's original post though, it seems to me that it easier to go and get a jump done as an SL student than on AFF - and the point about currency and fear is a very valid one

Skydiving: wasting fossil fuels just for fun.

[tso-d_chris 0]

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No better way to teach canopy control than with an Instructor right there talking to you and teaching you things like the pattern, "magic spot", holding area, and possible outs. I have taken AFF students up on a Tandem to "fix" their canopy control issues.

This is one of the best aspects of tandems. Too bad more DZs don't use this approach.

For Great Deals on Gear

[Ron 10]

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Yes but... I personally feel you get so much more out of a first jump from properly understanding the equipment, how a ram-air canopy flies, and so on...

A *good* instructional tandem will cover all of that. Its just with an instructional tandem you don't need to have the student demonstraight the procedures, or retain all the knowledge.

Let me be clear, there is a big difference between a Tandem and an Instructional Tandem as part of a program.

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SL is still (I think) the most popular training course here, but it does seem to lead to "fatigue" - at the DZ i learnt at, they said they estimate 10% of first jumpers make it to first freefall (which here you need at least 8 SLs incl 5 DRPs), and 10% of those get as far as their A licence...

Thats about normal...I have seen lots of Tandem AFF and SL students never come back. I am not sure that ony one program has a better retention rate.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[lisamariewillbe 1]

It appears I will be able to make AFF 2 without delay, thank you all for your advice, I am still going to consider the SL course just because of the cost difference and the fact that SL is cheaper

Sudsy Fist: i don't think i'd ever say this
Sudsy Fist: but you're looking damn sudsydoable in this