Jessica 0 #1 January 28, 2002 Here's my convoluted situation. I started skydiving in August of 2000. I now have about 70 jumps, and no A license. I was on track to get it before the year 2000 ended, took the test, met all the requirements, everything, but couldn't learn to pack. I won't get into the details, but I REALLY tried, and REALLY couldn't.By now, I could get signed off on packing, but now they have that new A license thing where you have to fill out that little card. I never had a little card, because I trained at a time when the little card didn't exist.I have all the stuff logged, but the entries are signed by fellow jumpers, not instructors.In fact, I'm really practically B-license qualified. I have water training and everything.So what are my options? I really don't want to pay a coach to prove I can turn 360s, you know?I don't understand the technicalities of how to get an A license now. I don't know what's required, what's recommended, etc. It confuses the hell out of me.Anyone got any insight or ideas?Thanks. Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #2 January 28, 2002 Just get the B. That would probably be the easiest.There's nothing that says you have to get the licenses sequentially, as long as you met the previous licenses' requirements (and can document it) and take the previous license's written test, you can getthe next one down the list.I know a few people who got their C, even D, never having gotten their A. I skipped the B and went for the C."Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #3 January 28, 2002 Zen, how did they get there D when you need to do Night jumps to get it...and to do night jumps you need your B?marc"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
indyz 1 #4 January 28, 2002 IIRC, the "B for a night jump rule" is only a recommendation. A few days ago somebody pointed out that you could do your whole student progression at night if the DZ felt like it.--BrianHomepage Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #5 January 28, 2002 Well if you look at it that way the WHOLE BSR is just a bunch of recommendations......and no real set rules...marc"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #6 January 28, 2002 QuoteZen, how did they get there D when you need to do Night jumps to get it...and to do night jumps you need your B?For starters they could have been done on a non-USPA DZ, so th SIM wouldn't apply, just the FARs. Then of course they might have been done notwithstanding the SIM.Then again, I could get all lawyer-ese on ya... Section 6-4(B)(1) "Skydivers participating in night jumping should possess a currently valid USPA B or higher license."It doesn't say "shall" or "must", it says "should". I went back to the BSRs, and there appears to be a differentiation between "should" and "are to be".Note the difference in wording between the experience requirements for night jumps and those for Exhibition jumps (Section 7-1(C)). The requirements for demos is more clearly in the "shall" nature.So I think technically you could do night jumps without your B (or higher) and not run afoul of the SIM. Does it violate the spirit of it? Yeah, probably. Does it violate the letter of it? No.See why I got out of law? I'm feeling all slimy again. "Zero Tolerance: the politically correct term for zero thought, zero common sense." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #7 January 28, 2002 Thank you for getting out of law for one....I hate lawyers..they make my job a headache and a half...and secondly thanks for getting all lawyered up on that for a secone...and thirdly..go take a shower to wipe off the slime....marc"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #8 January 28, 2002 QuoteJust get the B. That would probably be the easiest.Yah but...I apparently now have to have an A license before I can get a B license. I don't have to send in the money for the license number, but I have to give them the completed "proficiency card." I checked the form on the USPA site.Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ducky 0 #9 January 28, 2002 If you did AFF and can still contact the instructor(s) who trained you they may be able to help. ALOT of what is on that card is covered in AFF. They may not remember you, but if your log book shows the info and their signature they would be more than happy to sign off.I was handed my proficiency card after my AFF grad jump. I realized I had done quite a bit of the stuff on it already so I did exactly as I am advising. I actually made a post on this forum recently about it > "Import Student Info" i think it was called. Good Luck!KwaK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyhawk 2 #10 January 28, 2002 i done the same as u and i got bout same number of jumps i just havnt gotten around to handing it in . my plan is to get my d licence first lol just skip all the others(o)(o) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #11 January 28, 2002 If you did all or most of your jumps at one dz it shouldn't be too hard to get everything signed off without having to pay for "coach" jumps. Talk to whoever is in charge of student training there.pull and flare,lisa--Life is tough, but I'm tougher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #12 January 28, 2002 QuoteIf you did all or most of your jumps at one dz it shouldn't be too hard to get everything signed off without having to pay for "coach" jumps. Talk to whoever is in charge of student training there.The S&TA at my old DZ is in Mexico living in a hut. He'll probably be back this summer.Man, this SUCKS. Maybe I'll e-mail USPA. Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,070 #13 January 28, 2002 >I have all the stuff logged, but the entries are signed by fellow jumpers, not instructors.Most places are pretty reasonable about such things, and will probably be willing to sign off most of that stuff as long as you have the documentation (the other jumpers sign offs.) They might ask you to do one or two of them, or quiz you to make sure you really did them, but it should be possible to get them signed off.-bill von Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnischalke 0 #14 January 29, 2002 Hey Jessica, I was going to send this earlier, but I was procrastinating. (sorry, I have this whole thing now about skydivers and ADD) There are two cards for the A. One is the whole progression thing and the other is a list of skills. The second became valid in August. Find a cool instructor or two, and sit down and do some validating and use the second card. It's actually only one sided if I recall correctly. They are both on the USPA site.Hope it helpsmikeA bucket of Jet A can heat an entire county if burned all at once. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #15 January 29, 2002 Mike, this is exactly what I used....and I have my license to prove it works...marc"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grogs 0 #16 January 29, 2002 I think you should just sit down with the S&TA/DZO/head AFF etc. at your dropzone and explain the situation to them. They're the ones that ultimately decide what a person needs to do before they're signed off. If you've been jumping at this DZ for a while, they probably already know you well enough to sign you off. After all, if you can turn 2 points on a 4-way, you already fly better than 90% of the students coming off the coach program, so what would be the point of having you do 12 2-way coach jumps. We had a similar situation at my DZ where we had a guy with 100+ jumps and no A license. He had made all those jumps at our DZ, and since it seems like there's an AFF-I on just about every jump, they were able to sign him off. I would think that the worst you would have to do is 1 or 2 recurrency-type jumps at $50 each or so. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowflake 0 #17 January 29, 2002 Jess talk to Allen Flynn if you go to SSM this weekend. He should be able to help ya out and you don't need your A to get your B you just have to pass the exam (or did that change too?)JG Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #18 January 29, 2002 "or did that change too?"Nope...you only pay for licenses issued. If you have passed the previous test you are good to go. Now I just have to go take my B & C tests so I can get this coach rating...."I got some beers....Let's Drink em!!!"Clay Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thrillseek 0 #19 January 30, 2002 i think i can top that...i have about 125 jumps, have taken the tests for A and B, but never sent the info in...now i am ready for my C test and my DZ wants me to become a coach, then instructor....yikes....and here, i wanted to wait till I was eligible for my D to send it all in! :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ducky 0 #20 January 30, 2002 "you don't need your A to get your B you just have to pass the exam (or did that change too?)Not to be a pain, but I do think this is affected beacuse there IS NO EXAM for the A license anymore, only the proficiency card. So I am under the impression that you have to do the card in lieu of the exam which puts it all back at square one getting the A.kwak Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ducky 0 #21 January 30, 2002 Oh and btw, for a little humor perhaps. If I am not mistaken Jess was teasig me about being a newbie in the Pub last week. So if I get my A before her, does that mean I can give her shit about it? boobies!kwak Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #22 January 30, 2002 QuoteSo I am under the impression that you have to do the card in lieu of the exam which puts it all back at square one getting the A.You are right. Thus my angst.QuoteSo if I get my A before her, does that mean I can give her shit about it? See, it's obvious right here that you're a newbie, because you haven't learned to fear my wrath yet.Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ducky 0 #23 January 31, 2002 UPDATE!I will be completeing my A license porf. card this weekend, so the pressure is on sista! Skeared?? I ain't skeared.kwak Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jessica 0 #24 February 1, 2002 It ain't a race, hon. If it were, I'd have already won. But yeah, I'm going to try to get things squared away this weekend. *looking for cleavage-flaunting skydiving clothes*Pet me! I'm harmless and cute! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skymedic 0 #25 February 1, 2002 Jess, I thought those clothes were for MEEEE!!!!!!!marc"...a mind stretched with new idea's will never regain its shape" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
