Accelerated Free Fall

AFF evolved from concept to reality in 1982, developed as a faster and more efficient way of training skydivers than the common method of the day, using a static line attached to the aircraft to deploy the student's parachute shortly after exit. 

From your first AFF jump, you will experience first-hand the indescribable feeling of human flight.

The AFF "First Jump Course" is intended to provide each student with the necessary skills to safely complete their first solo skydive, with some in-air instruction from two AFF Instructors who are along for the ride.

You will again make a team exit from the aircraft between 9,500 and 13,000 feet, with your instructors holding on to each side of your parachute harness.  Both Instructors maintain their hold on your harness until the parachute opens, using hand signals to guide you through a stable free fall, periodically monitoring your alititude, practicing main parachute deployment, and offer you a smile and a thumbs up as you open your own main parachute at about 5,500 feet.  Although you are trained to land on your own, your first few jumps include radio guidance from your Canopy Flight Instructor in the landing area below.

Each AFF skydive is progressive in nature, building on skills previously learned.  This instructional framework is adapted from the United States Parachute Association's Integrated Student Program (ISP), which breaks down your student progression into categories.  After successfully completing the learning objectives for each jump, you move on to the next skill set, progressing through the AFF Categories to your ultimate objective - independent solo free fall! 

You will jump with two Instructors early in your training, developing basic skills such as a relaxed free fall body position, heading and altitude awareness, and unassisted main parachute deployment.

Once you have mastered these basic skills, you will shift to jumping with one Instructor, who trains you on different types of exits, forward movement, controlled turns, and free fall acrobatics.

After completing the final jump in your AFF progression, you move on to the more advanced Categories, where you fine tune your skills through independent free fall and free fall formation jumps guided by a USPA Coach.  The final jump in your student training is your USPA "A License Check Dive," after which you will be a licensed skydiver.

The USPA ISP is designed to take you from the First Jump Course through 25 jumps and completion of your A License, and includes the most recent advancements in AFF instruction and Coaching techniques.

AFF students will be encouraged to purchase a logbook, to serve not only as an official record of their training, but also as a personal skydiving diary.

All AFF Students will be asked to join USPA before making their Category C skydive.