Recurrency after a long absence

[Surf 0]

I'll be picking up a new SIM soon but I thought I'd post just to see what reactions I get:

I was a student jumper 5 years ago, I have log entries on 50 jumps, I never applied for my A though.

It's been 5 years since I've jumped.

I try to play things conservatively, so I was intending on going through AFF 1-8, but I've heard of others in my situation doing AFF1, then 4, then good to go.

Anyone have any opinions on this?

"Nothing is written"- T.E. Lawrence

[darkwing 5]

Talk with your instructors. They will probably be conservative (as they should) initially, and let you progress as fast as the skills you demonstrate on jumps allow.

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[bodypilot1 0]

Quote

I've heard of others in my situation doing AFF1, then 4, then good to go.

Anyone have any opinions on this?

If you have kept a good log of your past jumps ,with a signature of a licensed skydiver, they will look at your log book and decide from there. You probably will have to set through an FJC though. I have had someone return to the sport that I remembered from years back, similar to you, about 50 jumps, no license but a great log book record of his jumps.
I also remembered how "heads up" he was so I just did a short 1 on 1 refresher course and then a refresher jump with controlled turns and back flips.
Try and go to the DZ that you did your 50 jumps at and they may have someone working there that remembers you?
Some DZ's have different ways to get you back in the air, so take this info I'm giving you like a grain of salt. Getting your A license has alot more objectives now than 5 years ago, so try to do it right this time?

Ed
AFF-I 94

www.WestCoastWingsuits.com
www.PrecisionSkydiving.com

[footbagman 0]

I was out of the sport for about 15 years with @100 jumps. Got back in last September. My instuctor at Cross-Keys checked over my logbook then gave me a refresher class for @ 1 hour. Back in the air in less then 2 hours. Boy it felt great.Next jump was with my college roomate who I used to jump with. Great way to get back in the sport. Welcome Back

Life's a Beach, Not a Mountain.

[lt9144 0]

I was out 18 years 254 days, got back in about 2 1/2 years ago. Great experience as I was previously and instructor, rigger, and D license holder with about 400 jumps before 1982. Some things, like basic stability and canopy control, were no problem at all, much like riding a bicycle. Other things, especially judging altitude, were completely gone and had to be rebuilt one jump at a time. Many things, like zero p, freeflying, dytters, collapsible pilot chutes, were all new. My advice to those getting back in after a layoff is be CONSERVATIVE and DELIBERATE about rebuilding your skills, especially with the first few jumps. It's worth some time with an AFF instructor and coach. Be HUMBLE about canopy selection and passing up those head down bigways! It took me at least 75 jumps to get back to where I was before I left the sport the first time, and like all skydivers I'm learning every day. Blue skies,

[footbagman 0]

The sport has changed so much in the last 20 years.
The equipment is much safer but speed seems to be the in thing. With these new high performence canopies & freeflying it was like going from a para-commander & static line jumps to freefalling & squares, big changes. It is good advice to take it slow, have every intention on. Its just fun being back in the air again. Blue Skies

Life's a Beach, Not a Mountain.

[Blahr 0]

I had 57 jumps, my A license, and 8 years since my last jump until Nov 1 this year when I made a comeback.

I sat through the FJC at my old DZ to refresh, did a 2 way AFF style recurrency jump with 1 instructor in which all I did as fall, do a couple practice pulls/touches, and then just
stay on heading with a steady fall rate until pull time.

All went well and she cleared me to return to regular jumping. I hooked up a couple coached jumps after that
to get even more "back up to speed" and I've been makin a couple each week since then.

If you have access to your old instructors, talk to them and see what they think. They may remember how you were doing before you laid off and have a good notion of the best way to bring you back in.
If they arent available, talk to the current instructors and be very honest about where your skills were before you stopped and about how long its been since you last jumped.