AFF First Jump CourseAFF First Jump Course

Introductions

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Your nameWhat do you do during the week?Have you skydived before?Why do you want to get certified?

Course Objectives:

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EquipmentAltitude AwarenessFreefall Body PositionPull PrioritiesCanopy ControlLandingLanding HazardsEquipment ProblemsEmergency ProceduresDive FlowWritten Exam

United States Parachute Association (USPA)

Official organization recognized by the FAA to oversee skydiving activities in the U.S. according to FAR 105.

USPA develops:Standardized InstructionSafety StandardsLicensing and Ratings

Membership: provides 3rd party liability insurance and monthly magazine

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Equipment Overview

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Harness/Container, including leg straps and chest strap

Reserve parachute and closing pinMain parachute and closing pinDeployment handle3 ring releaseCutaway handle (RED)Reserve ripcord handle (SILVERSILVER)RSL – Reserve Static LineAAD – Automatic Activation Device

Equipment Overview

Main Deployment handle/pilot chute (activation)

Main closing pinDeployment bag (begin deployment

phase)LinesSlider (begin inflation phase)Main Canopy RisersToggles/Brakes

Personal Equipment

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Helmet Altimeter – reads in thousands of feet Jumpsuit Goggles Radio (one way) Shoes (no boots with hooks or

sandals)

Altitude Awareness

Skydivers fall 1000 ft every 5.5 seconds!

Check your altimeter:After every maneuverWhen encountering difficultyWhen uncertain of altitudeEvery 3 – 5 seconds

If you don’t know your altitude – PULL!PULL!8

Equipment Checks

All equipment will be checked 3 times1. Before putting the equipment on2. Before boarding aircraft3. Before exiting the aircraft

Ask if you do not receive them!

Freefall Position

Belly-to-Earth or Arch position:1. Most stable position to learn

Leaf versus badminton birdie

2. Best (but not the only) position for deployment

Freefall Position: “Arch”

Pelvis forwardLegs shoulder width

apartLegs 45o at the knees

with toes pointed towards the sky

Arms 90o/90o with relaxed, floppy hands

Chin upRelaxed

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Hand Signals

Pelvis Forward/Arch

Extend Legs until you see a thumbs up

Circle of Awareness (Heading, Altitude, Reserve side, Main side)

Toe Taps/Bring knees together

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Practice Touch

Check Arm Position

Relax – show floppy hands in response

Pull – Arch, Reach, Throw, immediately! ***finger can be pointing in any direction

Other Signals

Shaking on exit – ARCH!Instructor is slapping your wrist (either

side) – check altitudeInstructor is tapping your chin – get your

chin upThumbs up – you are doing well

Main Deployment/Pull Sequence

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Wave off “Arch! Reach! Throw!”As the right hand reaches for deployment

handle the left hand stretches in front of your head to maintain balance.

Deploy the pilot chute and return to neutral position

“Check Right! Check Left!”

Time to practice!Time to practice!

Pull Priorities

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In the following order:1. Pull2. Pull at appropriate altitude3. Pull with stability at appropriate altitude

Most importantlyMost importantly:Most importantlyMost importantly: PULL!!!PULL!!!

Loss of Instructors

If you lose one instructor: keep going with the dive flow

If neither instructor is in physical contact with you: PULL!

Controlling the ParachuteHalf–brake setting requires you to “release

your brakes”Toggles up = full speedPulling one toggle will cause the canopy to

turnLook firstParachute continues to turn while the toggle is

held downSpeed of the turn is directly proportional to how

far down the toggle is pulledPull both toggles = flare

Time to Practice!

Effect of Wind Speed on Ground Speed

Assume your canopy has a forward speed of 28 mph.

What is your ground speed when you are traveling with a 9 mph wind?

18 mph9 mph

Ground speed?

9 mph + 28 mph = 37 mph = Ground speed

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Effect of Wind Speed on Ground Speed

Assume your canopy has a forward speed of 28 mph.

What is your ground speed when you are traveling against a 9 mph wind?

18 mph9 mph

Ground speed?

28 mph – 9 mph = 19 mph = Ground speed

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Left Hand Landing Pattern

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600’

Base leg

Downwind leg1000’

Remain upwind before entering pattern (Holding Area)

Flare at 15 ft. (wind sock height)

300’ Final legStraight In Approach

DZ orientation from 13,000 ft

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Time to Time to practice!practice! 22

Dow

nw

ind

leg

Fin

al le

g600’

Base leg300’

Holding Area

1000’

Time to Time to practice!practice! 23

Downwind leg

Final leg

600’

Base

leg

300’

Hold

ing

Are

a

1000’

Final Approach <200’

Fly straight, only small corrections Canopy seems to fly slowly…until near the

ground on final approachLook at 45˚ anglePut feet and knees together, prepare for PLF3 second canopy flare at ~15 ft.

Flare converts forward speed into liftLetting the toggles up after a flare causes a steep

dive.If flaring too high, hold the toggles where they

are and finish flare at appropriate height

Parachute Landing Fall (PLF)

Before landing1. Look ahead, 45o to the horizon.2. Feet and knees together (slightly bent)3. Flare the canopy, both hands together in the

front of your body

Upon ground contact1. Feet First2. Lay onto the side of one calf3. Roll onto your thigh4. Roll onto your hip (side of butt)5. Roll diagonally across your back to the opposite

shoulder (throw legs overhead if necessary)25

Landing Priorities

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1. Land with Wing Level2. Land in a clear and open area3. Flare to at least half brakes4. Always be prepared for a PLF

ONLY SMALL CORRECTIONS WHEN ONLY SMALL CORRECTIONS WHEN <200’<200’

Landing into the wind is NEVER a priority

Landing Obstacles

AVOID THEM!

“Only fly over things that you would want to land on” 1000’ and below

Gently steer away, give slight corrections

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DZ from 13,000 ft – identify landing hazards

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You did not avoid the obstacle

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You did not avoid the obstacle

Trees: protect your face while flaring, aim for the strongest part (generally the trunk)

Water: loosen chest strap, land close to something if possible

Power lines: drop anything metal, do not touch more than one wire at a time

Buildings: Landing into the side: Protect your face

while flaring Landing on top: Disconnect RSL. After

landing, may need to cutaway

Off Field Landings

“Half way down, half way back” Decide if you can make it back by 2,500 ft.2,500 ft. Find clear area to land Look for and avoid obstacles – small small

corrections below 200 feet!corrections below 200 feet! Transpose landing pattern to new spot, if

possible Prepare to PLF Wait for assistance or further instructions Respect property and be polite to property

owners

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High Winds

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Once safely landed, pull in one toggle hand over hand

Stand up and run towards back of canopyIf you are still being dragged, disconnect

RSL and pull REDRED

Normal Canopy

Safe Canopy Criteria: Square (symmetric) Stable Straight lines Slider completely down Steerable

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Steerability/Controllability Check

1. Unstow Toggles/Release Your Brakes.2. Look Left, Turn Left. Look Right, Turn Right.3. Practice Flare.

Head for the airport and your holding area.Head for the airport and your holding area.

Time to practice!Time to practice!

Equipment Problems

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If the parachute fails criteria you must make the decision to initiate emergency procedures by:

Decision Altitude = 2,500 ft.2,500 ft.

IS IT THERE?

IS IT SQUARE?

IS IT STEERABLE?

There is a parachute out.

Parachute is inflated, rectangular, and regular in shape.

You can turn left and right and flare.

Emergency Procedures

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1. Look RED2. Grab RED3. Look SILVERSILVER4. Grab SILVERSILVER5. Peel, Pull RED (down), clear6. Peel, Pull SILVERSILVER (down), clear7. Arch

IF BELOW 1,000 ft. WITHOUT A LANDABLE PARACHUTE, IMMEDIATELY PULL SILVERSILVER

Problem: Pilot Chute Hesitation

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Pilot chute stays within the burble created by your body traveling in free fall

Check over each shoulder to change airflow, allowing pilot chute to clear burble and initiate activation

Canopy is Not There

Missing or Stuck Deployment Handle:Slide hand across the bottom of the pack from

one side to other and feel for the handleTwo attempts, Two seconds, then execute

Emergency Procedures

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Canopy is Not There

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• If you can see the bag, an inflated pilot chute, and/or lines, but no canopy, execute Emergency Procedures

Canopy is Not There

Two tries, Two seconds to deploy main parachuteIf you cannot locate

the deployment handle, execute Emergency Procedures

If deployment results in a malfunction initiate emergency procedures

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Canopy is Not Square

Wait two seconds to see if it is a normal deployment

If not initiate emergency procedures

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Canopy is Not Square

AsymmetricCanopy may begin

to turn on its ownInitiate emergency

procedures

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Canopy is Not Controllable

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More than two broken lines: Initiate emergency procedures

Hole as large as your head:Initiate emergency procedures

Broken steering line (lost toggle):Initiate emergency procedures

Broken riser:Initiate emergency procedures

Problem: Line Twists

Very common Pull risers apart

and bicycle kick to correct

If not corrected by 2,500 ft.2,500 ft. initiate Emergency Procedures

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Problem: End Cell ClosureCommon – especially

for smaller people under large canopies

While releasing brakes, hold toggles at waist a few seconds then return toggles to full up position.

May require several attempts to inflate end cells

If canopy is not controllable by 2500’, execute Emergency Procedures

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Problem: Stuck Slider

Smoothly pump toggles (after releasing brakes).

Repeat as necessary until the slider works its way down

If canopy is not controllable by 2500’, execute Emergency Procedures

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Problem: Good canopy, but turning

Try releasing the brakes

If canopy is not controllable by 2500’, execute Emergency Procedures

Both Parachutes DeployedBi-plane

1. Do not cut away2. Gently steer front canopy with

rear risers3. Do not flare and perform a PLF

Side-by-Side If two canopies are not

entangled: Cut away the main If main canopy is not clear of the

reserve:1. Gently steer the larger canopy using the rear risers2. Perform a PLF

Downplane Cut away the main canopy

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Canopy Collision

Avoid!Look before you turn

If approaching a head-on collision:Both jumpers turn RIGHT

If below 1000ft and canopies are entangled:Both jumpers should deploy their reserves

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“Keep your head on a

swivel”

Aircraft Procedures

1. Approach, enter, and move about the aircraft, engine running or not, only when accompanied by your instructor.

2. To avoid contact with the propeller, always approach fixed-wing aircraft from the rear.

3. Be mindful of the size of the parachute equipment and location of handles when moving about the aircraft.

4. The pilot and the jumper are jointly responsible that seat belts are worn during taxi, takeoff, and landing (if landing with aircraft).

Aircraft Emergencies

Listen to your instructorIf you see anything that you think is odd

(pilot chute or canopy is out), tell your instructor loudly and immediately.

Dive Flow

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Set up in the doorCheck in – get O.K. from instructorCheck Prop, up, down, archCOA (Heading, Altimeter, Reserve side, Main

side)3 practice touches (Arch, Reach, Touch)COA (HARM)“Short” circles (Heading, Altitude, Arch, Legs,

Relax)6,000 ft. = Lock on5,500 ft. = wave off, arch, reach, throw, check,

check

Relative WindYou should exit the aircraft in your arch

position, hips pointing into the “relative wind.”

Expect to feel like you are standing up for a bit

You will transition to belly to earth orientation within a few seconds.

Exit Cadence/Exit Count

No matter which aircraft you are exiting, the exit cadence is important for both you and your instructors.

Your exit cadence establishes the tone of the entire skydive.

How to pass the Cat A skydive

1. Be stable during at least the second half of the jump

2. Be aware – respond to hand signals3. Have at least an assisted pull

Important Altitudes

6,000 ft = Lock on5,500 ft = wave off, arch, reach, pull2,500 ft = Decision altitude for emergency

procedures and finding an alternate landing area

1,000 ft = Do not cut away1,000, 600, 300 ft – landing pattern

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Questions? Time to take the test.

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