AFF or Static line...which is safer??

[steve1 5]

I was just wondering if there are any statistics out there on these two methods of training. I've got two daughters who may continue after their first tandem jump. It seems like AFF is throwing a lot at a student all at once. I also wonder if it is possible for a student to get away from the instructors, such as floating above them. What if they lose a student who is in a severe spin or tumbling etc. The chances of a malfunction would increase dramatically. In the olden days everyone started with static line. I trained that way and it worked okay. I know most everyone says AFF is the only way to go, but I'm just wondering which is safer for my kids to learn under. Thanks, "Mother Hen Steve"

[hooked 0]

I can't wait to hear the answer for this one. I've often wondered the same thing, as I plan on starting this spring. My DZ offers both and I have often thought about which one to do. They told me with Static line, you learn in baby steps, which may be what I need just to remember everything! Ha! I have experienced freefall in the tandem, so I could wait for that to happen eventually, it's the learning the canopy ride and landing!
J

[billvon 3,070]

I did a study about five years ago, and overall AFF came out six times safer than static line. The flaw in my study is that I compared all static line jumps to all AFF jumps that I could find documentation on. AFF is fairly recent (less than 20 years old) while SL jumping goes back to WWII, with its gutter gear, Jesus strings and pin-and-cone closure systems.
I have not done a more recent study, nor have I compared, say, all the SL jumps in 2000 to all the AFF jumps in 2000. From my personal experience I would say that they are about equal in risk nowadays, since 90% of the risk to a student comes from canopy control/malfunction problems, not freefall or deployment problems. Of course, individual drop zones vary incredibly, and I would not recommend doing AFF at a drop zone that does 90% SL or vice versa.
BTW there are several hybrid programs out there that combine both SL and AFF.
-bill von

[Jabeln79 0]

I dont know about statistics but I think they are both safe. THe instructors jumping with the students can match fall rates very well and should be able to catch anyone. I would personally recomend Static line. I think its just as safe as AFF and I thought that i learned more through the course than if i had taken AFF. i was spotting on my 10th jump. All in all i think that whatever they choose theyll be happy with and have the times of there lifes.
Blue Skies
Joe
"When they say jump you say how high" RATM

[Snowflake 0]

I'm not qualified to speak about safety, but I would choose AFF over SL anytime. I like the thought of having instructors there during freefall I like the fact that my passing a lvl is not dependent on my exiting stable I like the fact that I get more freefall time in one jump with AFF as a SL student would with 10-20 jumps. That being said I went with AFF and had a blast doing it.
JG

[skymedic 0]

This has been debated on this board quite a bit....if you do a search you can find the pro's and cons on both....and the fact that everyone will definatley NOT agree on this one....SL gives you much better canopy control lessons(from sheer amount) AFF means you have an instructor RIGHT there for you in your time of need.....and on and on and on and on...
marc
BSBD

[riggerrob 643]

The best syllabus includes 1 or 2 tandems, 2 or 3 static-line jumps, an hour or 2 in a wind tunnel, 6 or 8 AFF jumps with a dozen or so coach dives to polish skills.
No one system is better overall, it is just better at one particular level of learning.

[FallinWoman 1]

What wyou will also find is that those who did Static Line tend to recommend static line....those who did AFF tend to recommend AFF....
Of couse I would recommend static line...that is what I did...as much as I learn about AFF, I will never truly understand what it is like to be an AFF student....
Anne
When I rule the world....

[n2skdvn 0]

i recomend aff(i did static line my self) it teaches you how to control your body in freefall but static line is a tried and true
method do what you pocket book allows but be safe!!!!!!
this space for rent........

[quade 4]

I would highly doubt that the number of incidents per 10,000 training jumps in either AFF or SL would be statistically significant.
Both methods have unique problems that can arise.
quade
http://futurecam.com

[SkydiveMonkey 0]

I would say AFF as there are 2 instructors holding onto you for stability. I've seen quite a few people mess up a S/L exit and go unstable, almost ending up in lines etc.....
You shouldn't put a knife in the toaster - but you're an adult now !!!

[Scratch 0]

I would say it is pretty much six of one or 1/2 dozen of the other.
My experience is that S/L students have better initial canopy pilot skills and the AFF people are initially better at RW.
Each for obvious reasons.
It all evens out pretty quickly though.

[PhreeZone 20]

Never seen a video of instructors getting tossed from an unstable student?
PilotDave has some clips from FoxSports on his FTP server that are must see. The Stupid Student tricks is a classic. Shoes getting knocked off students in a flat spin, totally unstable exits in AFF, Students clawing at the instructors for grips.... And these are all AFF students.....with at least 1 AFF-I, sometimes 2....
Cause I don't wanna come back down from this cloud... ~ Bush

[MarkM 0]

Quote

I've seen quite a few people mess up a S/L exit and go unstable, almost ending up in lines etc.....

Yeah, but if they're using a direct bag deployment I don't think a lot can go wrong even if you're unstable. I did a flip and got tangled in my lines. The chute was fine, I just got some bruised legs.

Quote

The best syllabus includes 1 or 2 tandems, 2 or 3 static-line jumps, an hour or 2 in a wind tunnel, 6 or 8 AFF jumps with a dozen or so coach dives to polish skills.

I totally think this is the way to go. I've seen a lot of students freak out under their first canopy ride, where no one has any real control of them. At least by leading with a couple tandems the student gets the feel of the sensations before actually having to go through it alone.