Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Program
Solo First Jump Course
All non-tandem jump students must take our USPA-approved, Solo First Jump Course. This is your first step in becoming a licensed skydiver. The first jump course encompasses all of the training necessary to undertake your first solo skydive. The course lasts around 6 to 7 hours, and consists of classroom instruction designed to develop practical skydiving skills.
We offer two course times to fit your schedule:
- Friday evening 6:30 pm to 10 pm and Saturday morning
- All day Saturday beginning at 8 am and finishing in the evening.
To streamline the training process and maximize efficiency, your first solo jump will be a static line jump from 3,500 ft. above the ground. During a static line jump, your parachute is deployed automatically after you exit the aircraft. Training is focused on a stable body position, canopy flight, and landing. An instructor will ride with you in the aircraft to ensure you exit safely, but you are solo – wearing your own individual parachute system and not connected to an instructor. After you exit the airplane, another instructor on the ground will assist you in landing, using a hand-held radio.
Earning your Skydiving License with the AFF Program
Progress faster in your skydiving training with jumps from full altitude, working on freefall skills! After completing our Solo Skydive First Jump Course and your first static-line jump, you are eligible to switch to the AFF Program. Unlike the Static Line Program, the AFF Program is considered “accelerated” because you will experience full freefall on every single jump.
Each AFF jump is made from up to 12,000 feet, with either one or two instructors with you in freefall. On your first AFF jump, you will freefall for nearly 45 seconds while two instructors hold onto you. Your instructors will guide you with hand signals to help you focus on a stable body position, altitude awareness, and proper parachute-deployment procedures. The AFF program provides the most comprehensive, advanced training available, and it is recommended for those who want to experience freefall from full altitude (i.e., 12,000 ft) on all of their training jumps.
AFF Jump Progression Outline
The AFF training program consists of five USPA-approved training categories (A-E). Following the completion of the five categories of the formal AFF program, you are considered off AFF student status, and will move on to Categories F through H, which are coached and self-supervised solo jumps. During your coached jumps, a USPA Coach or Instructor will teach you how to refine and advance your skills. When a minimum of 25 total jumps are reached, you can apply for your license. Please plan time for your instructor to debrief you on your last jump and to brief you on your next jump. This is CRUCIAL to advancing towards your license. Each category has certain performance objectives and advancement criteria that must be achieved before moving on to the next category.
| Static Line First Jump | Jump 1 | All Solo Jump Students will complete a static line jump as part of the Solo First Jump Course. |
| AFF Category A | Jump 2 | LArch, Stability, and Altitude Awareness |
| AFF Category B | Jump 3 | Leg Awareness and Relaxation |
| AFF Category C | Jumps 4-5 | Hover and Heading Control |
| AFF Category D | Jumps 6-7 | Turns: 90, 180, and 360 Degrees |
| AFF Category E | Jumps 8-10 | Disorientating Maneuvers / Aerobatics |
| Coach Category F | Jumps 11-12 | Tracking |
| Coach Category G | Jumps 13-16 | Docking |
| Coach Category H | Jumps 17-20 | Group Freefall Skill |
| Remaining Jumps | Jumps 21 - 25 | Solo - Self-Supervised Jumps |
Aff Training Prices
| Solo First Jump Course and Static Line Jump | $215 + $30 USPA Membership |
| Jumps 2 - 4 (requiring two AFF instructors) | $180 each |
| Jumps 5 -8 (requiring one AFF instructor) | $110 each |
| Remaining Student Jumps Until Licensed | $55 each |
| Total skydiving license cost through AFF | $2,160 (assumes 25 jumps, no repeats) |
USPA AFF Cat D-2