The Basics
First, you will need to find a skydiving school with a good
reputation.This is a fairly easy thing to do.The internet, phone
book, and local airports are full of them.Next, you will need to
check your pocket book.Skydiving is one of the more expensive
sports to learn.Then, you will need to decide how you want to
learn.There are three methods of training: tandem, static line,
and Accelerated Free Fall (AFF).All of these methods have their
benefits and drawbacks, but we will touch more on those a little
later.
What’s First?
Health and Safety.
First, you must consider health and safety.Know the risks
involved before you get involved.Skydiving is not chess;
you will not be sitting on an uncomfortable concrete bench
moving your pieces around a game board.You are going to step out
of an airplane and, in freefall, will reach speeds of up to 250
feet per second… that is 110 miles per hour!!If you have a bad
ticker, unregulated high blood pressure, or any number of other
health problems, speak to an instructor and discuss your options
in detail.Also keep in mind, even the best of the best in this
sport sometimes hit the ground a little harder then they intend
to.So, bad knees may also be a consideration.DO NOT be afraid or
embarrassed to discuss these things with your instructor before
making that first jump. It is always preferable to hit the
ground safely then to plant yourself in it.Truthfully though,
with the proper preparations and instruction you would be more
likely to develop cataracts from reading this article then
suffer a serious injury from skydiving.Listen to your
instructors, know your equipment, and never assume you know how
to do something just because you saw it in a movie.
Which Training Method To Use?
Training Methods
As I researched information, I discovered that there are three
approved methods of training to become a licensed skydiver, the
Tandem jump, the Static jump, and the
Accelerated Free Fall (AFF).
Tandem
The tandem jump is the easiest and quickest method to get into
the air.With ground training typically lasting about 30 minutes,
you will then jump out of an airplane while strapped to the
chest of a professional Tandem Instructor. After three or four
of these jumps and completion of the approved First Jump Course
(ground school), a student may then move on to the next
level.
Tandem jumping, however, does provide an opportunity for the
adventurous spirit who may not quite meet the physical or
proficiency requirements for the static line or accelerated free
fall jumps. By relying on tandem instructor's skills, it may
still be possible to experience the extreme thrill of
skydiving.
Static Line
Static line skydiving was developed by the military as a safety
measure for paratroopers.It is used for instant and reliable
deployment of parachutes at a relatively low altitude, about
2000 – 3000 feet.Basically what happens is a specially designed
cord is attached to the plane and to your parachute. As you step
away from the plane, the cord immediately deploys your parachute
for you. No fuss – no muss. After about two of these jumps the
student begins demonstrating mock-pulls of a dummy ripcord.After
about three of these jumps the student is then ready for their
first free fall.
Accelerated Free Fall
This is the way to go for the adrenalin junky out there. Why?You
get to free fall from jump one!!Of course this method is a
little more expensive due to the fact that you will have two
instructors jumping with you, and, although you will be
in free fall, the instructors will maintain hands-on contact at
all times during free fall.After a few jumps like this, you will
begin doing it on your own with a single instructor giving more
advice and training.This method will get you your class a
license a little faster.
Training Completed!!Really?
After Class
After you have completed 4 to 5 hours of ground school training
and have made 25 jumps, you are qualified for a license and can
keep going all the way to your D license, requiring 500
jumps.But once you have your license, are you really done?The
answer to that question is no.As with any skill, you never learn
everything.There is always going to be that next skill level to
work towards.New equipment and techniques are being developed
every day.So the only thing left to do now is to get
started!Have fun and good jumping!
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