Becoming a parachutist – AFF training
The sky is yours
Congratulations on your decision! You’ve decided to try probably the craziest experience of your life! Skydive Spa offers candidates wishing to become occasional or regular skydivers the most modern and safest method of becoming a solo skydiver: the AFF method (Accelerated Free Fall).
The AFF progression has been designed to be as didactic and methodical as possible
The student first receives theoretical training, followed by 10 minutes in the wind tunnel and then a first tandem AFF jump.
After his or her first tandem jump, the student leaves the aircraft for his or her first jump with approximately one minute of freefall, accompanied by two instructors. The instructors, who are specially qualified, can intervene at any time to correct the fall position and ensure safety by opening the student’s parachute if necessary.
The seven levels of AFF training can be broken down into 7 jumps, after which the student is qualified to jump alone. It is therefore not uncommon for some students to obtain this qualification after three or four days of jumps, even if it is sometimes necessary, for safety reasons, to repeat one or two jumps.
Training starts with theory and ground training, followed by an AFF-tandem jump.
Every month we have AFF training courses (FR-NL-EN-DE).
Please note: it is not permitted to start aff training following a shoulder dislocation.
The windtunnel and the 7 levels
10-minute flight in the wind tunnel (equivalent to more than 10 parachute jumps): getting used to and familiarising yourself with the body position in freefall.
Level 1: AFF jump – Tandem: familiarisation with freefall, reading the altimeter and familiarisation with canopy flight and landing.
Level 2: Getting used to freefall, altitude awareness and opening the parachute.
Level 3: First release of the student by the Instructors, the student falls alone for the first time.
Level 4: Taking the axis in freefall. Accompanied by a single instructor from this level onwards.
Level 5: Study of tricks – Changes of level.
Level 6: Saltos – Horizontal movement (Drift).
Level 7: Qualifying jump. The student repeats in one jump all the previous exercises without physical contact with the Instructor: free exit from the aircraft, left and right turns, saltos, drift.
Once your parachute is open, after a few minutes under canopy, you will have to complete an approach circuit, previously established with your instructor before the jump, and land safely on our landing zone.
After the AFF
You have between 1 and 100 jumps
You’re still in formation
- Your theory course is valid for 1 month, so you’ll need to make the first training jump as soon as possible.
- The training jumps must follow on from each other, otherwise you risk having to do a ‘rejump’ of the last level.
Follow-up training – Skydive spa regulations
Formation not finished | Formation finished and less than 25 jumps | After 25 jumps | |
Between 3 and 6 months without jumping | Redo the questionnaire and repeat the training at level n-1 | Repeat the questionnaire and 1 jump 1 instructor n 7 | Assessment of the TD |
6 months or more | Follow theoretical training, questionnaire, repeat training at level 3 or n-1 | Repeat the questionnaire + 1 jump with 1 instructor n 4/7 of the instructor’s choice | Between 25 and 100 jumps + Refresh by an instructor |
- In all cases, you will have a safety briefing and a ‘field’ briefing.
You have more than 25 jumps:
- Take your ‘CSC’ certificate, which will allow you to jump with other experienced skydivers.
- You are advised to buy your own equipment: goggles, helmet, altimeter, gloves, etc.
- Hire equipment must always be packed by one of the centre’s packers.
- After the training course, you can buy your own harness; ask the TD or your Rigger for advice.
- Once you have acquired your own equipment, you must register it with the secretariat and have it checked by a Rigger or the TD.
- Don’t forget to take your various certificates: FAI, FF certificates, etc.
For everyone:
- The insurance and licence are valid from 1 January to 31 December. (one calendar year)
- On the first of January of each new calendar year, you must undergo a medical examination by your GP in order to obtain your medical certificate of fitness to practice skydiving.
- Jump limits are set for your safety and must be respected, otherwise you could be suspended.
- ALWAYS listen to the advice/remarks of the instructors throughout your skydiving ‘career’.
- Do not hesitate to ask an instructor a question if in doubt.
- You must be ready and checked 10 minutes before take-off.
> BEFORE BOARDING, ALWAYS HAVE IT CHECKED!
even if you have more than 1000 jumps and/or make several jumps during the day!
> IN THE PLANE, ALWAYS DO A FINAL SELF-CHECK BEFORE GETTING OUT!
Chest strap, main parachute pin, reserve pin, the 3 handles (hand deploy, release and reserve).
> COMPULSORY RESCUE PROCEDURE BEFORE EACH JUMP,
even if you have more than 1000 jumps and/or make several jumps during the day!
The licenses
FAI-FWCP
A
25 jumps, ability to pack the parachute, landing accuracy (50m) (holders of the ‘A’ licence may only take part in training jumps under the effective supervision of an instructor or after passing the CSC licence and the approval of the TD).
Obligation to make the first 25 jumps alone
B
50 jumps, having taken and passed the freefall safety course (the skydiver is then authorised to jump in formation -VR) For freefly jumps, refer to the specific conditions for these jumps.
C
Must have completed a flying course (FWCP level 1) 200 jumps, 50 formation jumps including 10 with a minimum of 4 participants, 1 hour of freefall, must have completed the course and passed the FWCP brevet C exam.
Authorised to make helicopter and hot-air balloon jumps + landing in the confirmed zone, authorised to follow a tandem and AFF (with the agreement of the TD and instructor), camera allowed (with the agreement of the TD).
D
500 jumps / 180 minutes freefall time
CSC (VR) / Mandatory for multiple jumpers (formerly warp)
As soon as you have completed 25 solo jumps and jumped at <<low altitude >>, the CSC certificate will allow you to jump in an RV with other skydivers.
This certificate is awarded after 5 to 15 jumps with a CSC instructor.
The aim of this certificate is to teach you :
- move horizontally and vertically.
- land someone without taking risks.
- make a separation at a reasonable safe distance.
The CSC teaches you to jump safely with other people.
> Without this certificate, multi-jumping is not permitted.
Freefly licences / Mandatory for multiple jumps
Freefly jumps increase the speed of the fall and therefore the risks involved.
The aim of these certificates is :
- to ensure that beginners progress safely, in a seated, head-down position.
- only allow freeflying with appropriate and compliant equipment.
- to limit the size of groups (1 to 2 people) until participants are capable of joining larger groups.
- to improve communication between experienced freeflyers and beginners regarding freefly technique.
It is forbidden to freefly without at least the FF-A licence.
There is a big difference between :
- Learning a new body position (stability);
- Learning to fly and stop in this new position (movement);
- Total mastery of this new position, whatever the size of the group (total control).
A specific check of the equipment and a briefing before each new position are essential.
The FF-A certificate is awarded after the equipment check and briefing. FF-B to FF-E certificates may be awarded on the basis of video evidence.
If the candidate does not have video proof, a jump test will be required, with or without the FF-F licence.
The full certificates can be downloaded from this site: www.freefly.be
Film a tandem
Conditions:
-
500 jumps (Brevet ‘C’)
-
the agreement of the technical director to be able to follow and film a tandem.
-
make 100 training jumps
-
the agreement of the tandem instructor you will be following for your training
Instructor license
It will enable you to pass on your passion for the sport and its safety to young novice skydivers.
Conditions:
- Minimum age: 21.
- Be a member of a club/centre affiliated to the FWCP.
- Hold the appropriate certificates and minimum qualifications at the time of application.
- Provide a request from the centre manager
Basic instructor qualification:
Conditions:
- 21 years old
- 500 jumps minimum
- 3 years skydiving with the FWCP
- Have satisfactorily completed the theoretical (70%) and practical (if applicable) courses + have completed one year’s training in a centre.
Brevet instructeur tandem
You’ll have 5 jumps to show what you’re capable of, so don’t take this licence lightly – it’s harder than you think. Don’t forget that the name Tandem PILOT means that you are responsible for your passenger (the same as a pilot in a plane, bus, taxi, etc.).
Conditions:
- Successful completion of the instructor theory course
- Proof of a minimum of 8 hours in the air and 1,000 jumps
- Successful completion of the tandem course under the supervision of an FWCP-approved examiner
AFF instructor
You will have 5 jumps to prove that you are capable of catching a student in difficulty, who may be in any position. There are no bad students or bad instructors, there is a way of learning that is unique to each student, it’s up to you to find it.
Conditions:
- Successful completion of the instructor theory course
- Proof of a minimum of 8 hours in the air and 1,000 jumps
- Successful completion of the AFF course under the supervision of an FWCP-approved examiner
Instructor:
Conditions:
- Hold a tandem instructor licence
- Hold an AFF instructor licence
- Take and pass the instructor course under the supervision of an examiner approved by the FWCP
- One year’s training in a centre under the supervision of the Technical Director
- 6 years’ practical experience and 4 years as an instructor with the FWCP
Center chief
Conditions:
- Have held an instructor licence for at least 4 years
- Have ‘worked’ a minimum of 75 jump days under the supervision of the current TD.
- Be presented by his club and pass an interview with the FWCP Board before taking up his duties.
Rules and regulations
Rules
- The Skydive Spa asbl promotes by its activities the practice of sport parachuting in each of its disciplines (Initiation jump – Relative flight – C.R.W. – Voltige – Free style – P.A. or any other new discipline).
The parachutes (main and reserve) used by the club for the training are of the wing type and all the materials are equipped with an AAD. No initiation on round parachutes is planned. - Every skydiver, member of the Skydive Spa, must have read, at the time of his registration to the club, the present internal rules and regulations and be committed to comply with them. To this end, a copy will be posted visibly at the valves of the Para-club.
Parachutists passing through the club must comply with these rules in the same manner. - All skydivers participating in the activities of Skydive Spa agree to respect the regulations of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (F.A.I.) and the Fédération Wallonne des Clubs de Parachutisme.
- a)Since its inception, Skydive Spa has been managed by a Board of Directors (BOD) made up of members elected at the General Assembly. b)A General Assembly (G.A.) will be held annually before March 31. During this meeting, a report will be made on the results of the past season, on the situation of the club at the sporting and financial levels and on the projects and future prospects of interest to the members.c)To have the right to vote at the AGM, it is necessary to be a member in good standing of both Skydive Spa and the Walloon Federation of Skydiving Clubs and to have made at least one jump as part of the club’s activities during the past season or to participate actively in the life of the club.
- The Skydive Spa is a purely sports club and no political or religious discussions or propaganda are allowed.
- The Skydive Spa being located on a domain of the Walloon Region, the members of the club will respect the installations and will conform to the directives and remarks emanating from the persons in charge of the site.
Any infraction will be severely sanctioned by the Board of Directors. - In order to be allowed to make one or more jumps as part of the activities organized by Skydive Spa or supported by it, the parachutist must be in good medical order as well as in terms of insurance, license and club membership.
He/she must comply with the regulations in force concerning the progression and the attribution of the different certificates of aptitude for skydiving. - A parachutist may not report for boarding for the purpose of jumping if he/she has consumed alcoholic beverages, drugs, or if he/she is under the influence of medication that may impair his/her physical and/or mental abilities.
- The Chief Instructor (or his substitute) must prohibit from jumping or exclude from the current session the parachute that meets the description in point 8 of these rules.
- The Chief Instructor (or alternate) may suspend or stop the jumping session when he/she
The Chief Instructor (or his/her designate) may suspend or stop the jumping session when he/she deems that circumstances warrant it.
The Chief Instructor (or his/her replacement) may prohibit the use of any material and/or equipment by any parachutist when he/she deems that the parachutist’s ability to use such material and/or equipment is not in conformity with the safety conditions required for skydiving.
All equipment must be inspected at least once a year by a recognized Rigger.
The reserve parachute must have been opened, vented and repacked by a qualified person before the repacking deadline (1x/year).
A parachutist whose reserve parachute is not in packing order will not be allowed to use this equipment.
Every user of a personal parachute commits himself to use equipment that has undergone the annual inspection by a recognized Rigger and a reserve parachute in packing order, in accordance with the regulations of the Federation that issued his license.
He must be able to provide documents proving the respect of these conditions.
Any exchange of parachutes between parachutists must be approved by the Chief Instructor (or an Assistant Instructor) who, if necessary, will have the parachutist adopting the new equipment tested or retrained in the use of the new opening system.
The Chief Instructor (or his/her designate) may prohibit a parachutist from jumping or exclude him/her from the current jump session if the parachutist’s behavior endangers his/her safety or the safety of others.
Any jump ban or exclusion from the jumping session may, if necessary, be followed by a temporary or permanent exclusion from the club’s activities. - Tout para possesseur d’un parachute personnel est sensé connaître le pliage de celui-ci et être à même de le plier de manière à pouvoir l’utiliser en toute sécurité.
- Les parachutes réserve des équipements club ne peuvent être pliés que par le chef-moniteur, les aides-moniteurs ou par toute autre personne jugée apte à le faire et désignée à cette fin par décision du chef-moniteur.
- L’équipement club est remis contre caution à l’utilisateur par le chef-moniteur, un aide-moniteur ou toute autre personne désignée à cet effet.
L’utilisateur d’un équipement club est responsable en cas de perte ou dégradation si celle-ci est due à sa négligence ou à sa volonté manifeste. Il devra, dans ce cas, assurer le remboursement des éventuelles réparations à effectuer sur le matériel. - Smoking is strictly prohibited in the packing area.
- The price and conditions of jumping are fixed at the beginning of the season but can be reviewed by the Board of Directors during the season.
- Payment for jumps must be made before boarding.
- In the interest of safety, any damage to club equipment should be reported immediately to a club officer.
- The packing of club parachutes must be done by certified packers.
- Any parachutist who has completed his or her progression is expected to be able to release on his or her own.
Students may only be released on automatic by an instructor or by a parachutist approved by the Board of Directors who is familiar with the safety system used in the club and its use. - The type of progression will be determined by the Board of Directors.
It may be modified at any time according to the same procedure. - The points specifying the conditions of admission to the Skydive Spa, the type of progression imposed on the students, the safety rules to be respected will be included in the annexes to the Internal Regulations.
- The Board of Directors may, at any time, make changes to these Internal Regulations.
- All cases not provided for in these rules shall be decided by the Board of Directors.
One rule: be safe!
Safety on the ground
- It is forbidden to smoke in the hangar and near the canopies and parachutes.
- It is forbidden to consume alcohol or any other substance that could be harmful to the jump
- register your jump at least 10 minutes before the departure of the plane
- 10 min call = fitting, equipment check (by an instructor if you have less than 20 jumps), verification, descent to the boarding (preparation of the exit order)
- once you land, never cross the runway, you must go around it. Also keep a distance of 50 meters from the runway.
- after landing, you are not alone, look up so as not to interfere with another skydiver’s landing.
- Before crossing the Taxiway, look left and right to make sure the taxiway is clear (priority to aircraft)
- if you are the subject of a remark by the TD or a member of the staff, please comply. The TD or staff will give reasons if necessary.
Safety in the plane
- Set the exit order before the aircraft arrives
- Know the drop axis and the landing direction before getting on the plane
- Group jumps (from 2): check qualifications (WARP, FF license…)
- Sit in the exit order unless necessary to place in the third line next to the tandems
- Mandatory : helmets on and seatbelt up to 500m
- Know the safety rules during an emergency exit :
> Below 500 m: Crash position,
> From 500 m to 900m: exit and activate reserve,
> From 900m to 4000m: normal exit - Be ready 2-5 minutes before the jump (goggles, helmet, altimeter, gearcheck)
- Mandatory emergency/cutaway drill before the jump
- Beginners : check with a qualified instructor for exit timing
- If you notice that there are large cloud masses, adapt the groups to ensure safety in freefall
- Red light : open the door
- Green light : exit directly (remember that you are not alone on the plane)
- At the exit, do not jump up towards the tail of the aircraft
Safety in freefall
- Check your altitude regularly
- Pay attention to the differences in speed that can be generated by certain body positions
- Passage of clouds in freefall: stay in place to avoid collision, no greater horizontal displacement. If no visibility before 1200 m, track and pull.
- Break-off altitude between 1500 and 1200m to allow for sufficient separation.
- Higher break-off is always possible! Open your parachute by 1000 m (some parachutes require more than 300 m to open)
→ We never open directly above or below other jumpers!
Safety under canopy
Attention, you are not alone under your parachute!
Always keep an eye out for other jumpers and be prepared to steer clear.
- APO: Altitude – Position – Orientation
- If you need to avoid another jumper: steer to the right
- Check the position of other parachutists before entering the landing pattern
- Always respect the designated landing direction