learn to skydive

• The Accelerated Free Fall Course, starts with an 8 to 10 hour First Jump Course. During the course, you will learn everything necessary to safely make your first Solo Skydive.
•  You will learn canopy control and navigation.
• Practice Emergency Procedures with your equipment.
•  Practice climbing out of and jumping from the aircraft. 
• Planned free fall objectives.
•  Best body position for free fall.
•  Canopy opening altitude / Decision making altitude. 
• Altitude awareness development and much More.

• All Solo Skydives in the AFF Course, are under the direct supervision of the Instructor - through all phases of the skydive. 

•  All AFF Skydives have complimentary video of the Skydive included, taken by your Instructor. Video is for later debrief and review of your performance. All videos are yours to keep  for bragging rights! 

• Log Book included.

•  All students wear a radio, for instructor guidance as needed.

• AFF Levels 1 and 2, you exit the aircraft held by your Instructor. He does not let you go, until you open your main parachute.

•  AFF Levels 3 and 4, you exit the aircraft held by your Instructor, to later be released in free fall.

• AFF Levels 3 and 4 are your first release dives. your Instructor releases you in free fall, while you initiate the planned maneuvers and execute your main parachute opening, without being held or aided by the Instructor.

•  AFF Levels 5 through 8, are your TRUE Solo Skydives - where you exit the aircraft, initiate the planned maneuvers and open your main parachute at the assigned altitude - All with the Instructor never touching you, just observing you. Continue with your 5 to 6 minute parachute ride back to your designated landing area.

• Our course consists of Eight (8) levels, which corresponds to the number of jumps - if you are passing your levels. 
• Every jump has pass or fail criteria and you will always understand the parameters for a pass / fail, before going up for your jump. 
• Most people graduate within 8 to 10 jumps. We practice A LOT and to perfection, in the hopes that you pass all your levels.
•  After your first solo jump (AFF Level 1) , you will have to do at least one jump a month, to remain current. If you go beyond the month, you will have to repeat the previous level / jump and do recurrent training..
• AFF Course weight limit is currently 190 pounds.

This is your first Solo Skydive and your feeling the most excitement and pumping the most adrenaline ever in your life! You will exit the aircraft, held by your Instructor, by the hip and shoulder area. Once settled into free fall, you will commence with the planned free fall objectives. Open your main parachute at the planned opening altitude, verify the condition of your canopy and bring it on home to the planned landing area - with the knowledge gained in your First Jump Course, land yourself safely and ready to do it all again! Cost:$350.

We start with 45 minutes to an hour of training. On your second Solo Skydive, you will be initiating 90 degree turns right and left. You then move on to forward movement for a period 5 seconds. You will conduct 2 practice touches on your main handle. End your free fall exercise, by opening your main parachute at your assigned altitude. On your 5 to 6 minute parachute ride, you will be flying to your designated landing area. Land softly, on target and repeat! Cost:$225.

Heading and Hover control. On this Skydive, you will be released by your Instructor for the first time in free fall. Your job is to maintain your heading and initiate your main parachute opening - without being held by the Instructor. A Solo wave off and pull. Cost:$225.

On this Skydive, the action and pace starts picking up. After your Instructor releases you in free fall, you will initiate right and left 90 degree turns. The Instructor will then create a distance of 8' to 10' feet from the student. The student closes the distance towards the Instructor using forward movement. Initiate main parachute opening at the assigned altitude. We're half way there! Cost:$225.

This Skydive is considered to be your first REAL Skydive. This will be your first Solo exit (without being held by the Instructor). After settling into free fall, you will communicate with your Instructor (COA). You will then execute a 360 degree turn to the left and right. The Instructor will create a distance of 8' to 10' feet from the student. The student closes the distance towards the Instructor using forward movement. Open your main parachute and fly the canopy to your designated landing area. Conduct your Flight Pattern, for a safe on target landing. Cost:$225.

By now, a good amount of the fear has subsided. You're relaxed and starting to see what Skydiving is all about! You will be doing your first Diving Exit. After stabilizing and communicating with the Instructor (COA), you will execute a "back flip". You will then do a "Track" for a period of 5 seconds. Stop, check your altimeter (Short COA). Execute a 180 turn and conduct your second "Track" for a period of 5 seconds. Deploy your main at the assigned altitude and conduct your Flight Pattern at the designated landing area. Cost:$225.

This Skydive is the culmination of everything you have learned. A combination of all the Skill Sets you have developed on AFF Levels 1 through 6. You will choose the desired exit, Poised or Diving. Stabilize and COA with the Instructor. Execute a 360 degree turn right and left. Barrel Rolls right and left. At the assigned altitude "Break Off" - turn a 180 degrees away from the Instructor and "Track" away for a period of 5 seconds. Open your main parachute at the assigned altitude, fly to the designated landing area and conduct your Flight Pattern. Cost:$225. 

The Hop and Pop, is the last jump of the AFF Course and your Graduation Jump! On this jump, using a winds aloft forecast, you will plan your jump run and exit point (Spotting). Then, you will conduct a complete gear check and don your gear. Board the aircraft with your Instructor for your flight to 4,500'.The Hop and Pop, is a simulation of an emergency exit. Many emergencies take place at lower altitudes. The task here, is to exit the aircraft, count 5 seconds and deploy your main parachute. Fly the planned Flight Pattern, for a safe, on  target landing. CONGRATULATIONS! You're a Cleared for Solo and Self Supervision Skydiver. Cost:$100. TOTAL AFF Course Cost:$1,800.

Most students and depending on their  performance, will graduate the AFF Course with between 8 to 10 jumps. The USPA "A" License, the first Skydiving License you will obtain, requires a total of 25 Skydives. A student has the option of renting gear and doing Solo Skydives, while honing your skill sets and building new ones. Build skills more quickly with videoed Coach Jumps. Finishing the AFF Course, is the first step in becoming a Certified Skydiver. Skydivers must stay "current", by Skydiving at least once (1) a month. Going more than a month without Skydiving, will require "Recurrent Jump" training. Visit USPA.ORG, for currency guidelines for A,B,C and D License holders. Gear rental + jump $90.

The Recurrent Jump, is for the Skydiver who has had a bit of a layoff from the sport and is looking to get back into it. This includes a review of Emergency Procedures and all general areas. Call with your specifics (how long since your last jump / how many jumps). From $275 - $350.

• HOTEL CHECK: Once you've stepped out of the aircraft and climbed into the exit position and are ready to exit - you initiate the Hotel Check. You look at the Instructor and say "check in", the Instructor verifies your exit position is correct and answers "ok". Once you've gotten the "ok", you start the exit count.

• EXIT COUNT: Ready, Set, GO! As the student, you will initiate the exit count. You must be LOUD and PRECISE with your count.

• CIRCLE OF AWARENESS / COA: The COA is an awareness exercise - where you first look at the horizon, read your altimeter and look at your Instructor for his "ok" (thumbs up). Your Instructors "ok" indicates your free fall body position is correct. 

• SHORT COA: Looking at the horizon and altimeter only - no communication with the Instructor.

• PRACTICE HANDLE TOUCHES: On AFF Levels 1 though 3, you practice reaching for and touching your main deployment handle. This exercise is to familiarize you with the handles location, so it is easy to locate and deploy the main parachute at your assigned opening altitude.

• OPENING ALTITUDE: Your planned opening altitude, on your AFF Skydives.

• DECISION ALTITUDE: the lowest altitude at which you will release the main parachute and activate you reserve parachute - when experiencing a parachute malfunction. 

• PILOT CHUTE / MAIN HANDLE: What you grab and throw into the airstream to initiate main parachute deployment. 

• CUT AWAY HANDLE: The handle pulled, to release your main parachute.

• RESERVE HANDLE: The handle you pull, to initiate your reserve parachute opening.

• RELEASING THE BRAKES: The act of grabbing the parachute controls (brakes / toggles) and pulling down the controls to chest level, then bringing the hands back up to full extension overhead. releasing the brakes is done, before controlling and flying the parachute. you then continue with - the Control Check.

• CANOPY CONTROL CHECK: Once your parachute fully opens / inflates, you release the brakes and initiate a 360 degree turn to the left and right , followed by a landing flare. This is to verify your main parachute is in good flying condition.

• BRAKES / TOGGLES: The controls you use, to steer your main or reserve parachute.

• LANDING FLARE: The action you  take, to brake your main parachute and soften your landing, initiated 10' to 12' feet above the ground.

• TLO'S: Targeted Learning Objectives - your planned free fall exercises.

• WAVE OFF: A large, sweeping movement of the arms overhead, done before initiating your main parachute opening. 

• THE ARCH: The free fall body position you assume, immediately and the moment you exit the aircraft. The Arch, provides stability in free fall and during the opening phase of main parachute deployment.

• TRACKING: A body position assumed in free fall, that creates high speed forward movement.

•  POISED EXIT: Exiting the aircraft feet first, head up.

• DIVING EXIT: Exiting the aircraft head first, feet up.

• BREAK OFF: The act of turning 180 degrees away from other Skydivers in free fall - at an agreed upon altitude and "Tracking" away for a period of 5 seconds. This creates distance from other Skydivers, before deploying your main parachute. This prevents entanglements with other Skydivers.

• JUMP RUN: The agreed upon flight path between the pilot and Skydivers, that the pilot will fly over the ground and at the designated landing area. 

• SPOTTING / SPOT: The act of opening the aircraft door, looking down at the ground to determine ground speed and track and decide when to exit the aircraft.  

• EXIT ALTITUDE: The planned exit altitude for a given Skydive. 

• HOP AND POP: A lower altitude skydive, where you exit the aircraft and open your main parachute within 3 to 5 seconds.

• PLF / PARACHUTE LANDING FALL: A body position you assume, when a hard impact with the ground is expected; where you impact with the balls of your feet first and spread the force of the impact throughout the body.

•  AFF HAND SIGNALS: The free fall hand signals used by your Instructor, to correct body position, or get a procedure started.