Lokke 0 #1 October 15, 2012 Hello Everyone! I am currently in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, I am in California for another 10 days and at the last minute have time available to do my AFF. I have never even jumped tandem but am very confident that I will want to continue and get my AFF. What I am looking for: A reasonably priced drop zone, in Northern California preferably, where I can either stay on site or very close by for a reasonable cost and is not in the middle of nowhere or has transport arrangements. I am on a budget and would like to avoid having to add the cost of a rental car to the 5-6 days it may take to complete my training. I have a good sleeping bag but am not really set up for cold weather camping and cooking. It would be nice to be able to hang out with people in the evenings but not necessary. I am really excited and am ready to get started as early as two to three days from now. Any help or suggestions that could be provided would be most appreciated! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LiborJanicek 0 #2 October 15, 2012 LODI is the place Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DcloudZ 0 #3 October 15, 2012 Lodi is extremely cheap; after you get your license jump tickets are 15$ and 5$ hop and pops lol"Better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing than a long life spent in a miserable way." -Alan Watts Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #4 October 15, 2012 QuoteHello Everyone! I am currently in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, I am in California for another 10 days and at the last minute have time available to do my AFF. I have never even jumped tandem but am very confident that I will want to continue and get my AFF. What I am looking for: A reasonably priced drop zone, in Northern California preferably, where I can either stay on site or very close by for a reasonable cost and is not in the middle of nowhere or has transport arrangements. I am on a budget and would like to avoid having to add the cost of a rental car to the 5-6 days it may take to complete my training. I have a good sleeping bag but am not really set up for cold weather camping and cooking. It would be nice to be able to hang out with people in the evenings but not necessary. I am really excited and am ready to get started as early as two to three days from now. Any help or suggestions that could be provided would be most appreciated! http://www.dropzone.com/dropzone/North_America/United_States/California/index.html Find a DZ here, cross check it with its history here as well. If you have any doubts about the DZ's A/C Maintenance, gear or Instructors give it a pass, no mater how cheap. If any respectable Instructor says they wouldn't let a member of their family jump there, give it a pass. If the FAA has an open book of fines on them, pass. Negative press for failure to follow industry Standards, pass. Good luck! MattAn Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSpenceFLY 1 #5 October 15, 2012 What's your point?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #6 October 16, 2012 hahaha matt:.....Pass??? that sounded more like a dropKick!!!!!!!!jmy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
matthewcline 0 #7 October 16, 2012 Quote hahaha matt:.....Pass??? that sounded more like a dropKick!!!!!!!!jmy I was going more with a Formula 1 (drive by like hell!) reference and not so much a Football reference.MattAn Instructors first concern is student safety. So, start being safe, first!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davelepka 4 #8 October 16, 2012 QuoteI am in California for another 10 days and at the last minute have time available to do my AFF. I have never even jumped tandem but am very confident that I will want to continue and get my AFF. the 5-6 days it may take to complete my training. First off, it might take longer than you are budgeting for time. Rushing through your trinaing, or even trying to, is not going to help you. Find a DZ near where you are staying, go for the day and take the AFF level 1 class. You'll be in the classroom for most of the day, and make your frist jump when your done. See what you think then, and go from there. You're not doing yourself any favors by comitting to finishing your training in 'x' number of days, or even comitting to one DZ. What if you get there, set up camp, and find out you don't like the people, the vibe, or the instructors? Finally, avoid Lodi. Yes, it's cheap, and there's a reason for that, they don't do the (costly) required maintenance on their aircraft. I know you're wearing a parachute, but when a wing falls off at 500ft, everyone is going to die no matter what they're wearing. The FAA fined the owner close to $700,000 becuase the maintenance shortcomings were that severe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtiflyer 0 #9 October 16, 2012 Contact Pat Garcia at Skydive Sacramento. They are actually located in Lincoln. Location, Facilities, and staff are all top notch. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lokke 0 #10 October 16, 2012 Thank you everyone, I will continue researching! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #11 October 16, 2012 In addition to Sacramento, you might also check out Skydance in Davis, CA. Camping, showers, on-site cafe, not too far (though you will need a car) from Davis itself. They'll take good care of you."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
