Just Learning to Fly

[dropfanatic 0]

I am currently looking into setting up a time to start my training for my A License. Problem is my job doesn't allow me to get time off until November and even then it is only for a month. Since I travel so much it is hard for me to get my license at one place on one kind of rig and learn from the same people.

I was considering taking a trip to warmer climates in November and spending a couple of weeks at one drop zone with the same people to et my license.

Which is better for training AFF or Static Line?
What happens when I jump elsewhere after being licensed, do I still need a lot of training? I keep reading about people who do so many more jumps with coaches and instructors after they are licensed.....

Just confused as to where to start any ideas from anyone will help.....

Blue Skys

Brian

[jeremy556 0]

Good idea to take a month straight and do it. Go to a drop zone with good weather in the winter for that month and you should leave with a license and quite a few jumps beyond that.

If you want to do it quickly, do AFF, only 7 jumps until jumping on self supervision and you get freefall from the start.

Once you have a license, you can jump anywhere you want. Generally people do coached jumps after their license to improve on different aspects of the sport they want to improve in, as generally you can learn much faster with someone that knows what they are doing teaching you, rather than just trying to figure it out on your own.

[jtval 0]

You may run into a problem of being uncurrent.

once you are lisenced you still have a LOT of info to learn. researching places like this is a great idea but experience will need to be gained.

if you learn at a dz that is a FLorida and then move on to some other location, you may feel leftout.

if you don't havethe basic experience to fall safely you may not be invited on a jump.
Usually I am the one at my DZ who goes and jumps with a low timer and let them work on some basic stuff.

coaches are great. but if you were able to join a dropzone wher eyou could jump and get to know ppl it would be easier since you can work on more stuff with people who are comfortable jumping with you.

FYI-the SIM has guidelines for jumping with a non lisenced jumper. unless you have a coach lisence ( or higher) you are not supposed to jump with a non lisenced jumper. if you go to a d\z for the first time w/o a license, they'll let you jump( if you have the proof of training) but you'll jump with a coach.


doing one jump than going a while without jumping will be hard on you, but if you are dedicated you can get it done.


on theplus side.

if you go to many dz's you will get alot of differing idea that if you follow up your questions, will give you a better basic education.


Be safe and have fun.
one more bit of advice. don't be in a rush to get in a plane just because "this is my only day off"
be sure you are able to fly in the conditions first, progress slowly IMO is the safest way to do it.

My photos

My Videos

[MagicGuy 0]

Go to Jumptown in Orange, MA and do the AFF Camp. I got my AFF done in 4 days and now I'm on solo status working towards my A.

Of course my opinion is slightly biased

Good luck with it!

[Reginald 0]

Well AFF is really the only option at most big DZ's. Static line is a fine training method but a bit dated in many respects and not even offered at most DZ's anymore.

Think Eloy or most of the large Florida DZ's to go complete your license in a few weeks in November.

Once you get your license things free up a bit more. You may sstill need a recurency jump if you have a few monhts off between jumps after you get your livence but that is not a big deal.

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things." CP

[Fast 0]

Quote

I am currently looking into setting up a time to start my training for my A License. Problem is my job doesn't allow me to get time off until November and even then it is only for a month. Since I travel so much it is hard for me to get my license at one place on one kind of rig and learn from the same people.

I was considering taking a trip to warmer climates in November and spending a couple of weeks at one drop zone with the same people to et my license.

Which is better for training AFF or Static Line?
What happens when I jump elsewhere after being licensed, do I still need a lot of training? I keep reading about people who do so many more jumps with coaches and instructors after they are licensed.....

Just confused as to where to start any ideas from anyone will help.....

Blue Skys

Brian

Some questions to ask yourself:


Can I save enough money up by november to take a trip to florida, arizona, or california, do AFF, and finish off my A licesnce probaly over 2 weeks?

While I am working do I get a day or two here and there to sneak away to a dropzone wherever I might find myself? There are dropzones all over this country and most of them will be happy to have you come jump with them for a day after you get your license.

Can I afford to buy my own gear, so that while I may not be jumping as much I can be more familiar with the gear I am jumping?

Can I reasonably travel with my gear?


How many jumps a year do I want to be able to make after I get done with my student training? You should be able to jump at least 1-2 times a month at the minimum or you might risk being constantly uncurrent and will have a hard time learning and it adds risk to something that is already risky.


Do I adapt well to new places and faces? Not jumping at the same DZ consistantly also means added risk. You say you travel a lot? Are you back home for a couple days out of the month that you could establish yourself at a local DZ?


Just some things to think about.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka