AFF Explained - What do I get?

Outline of the Accelerated Freefall Course

Each level is designed to introduce you to new and essential skydiving skills, and after only 8 jumps and approval from your instructor you will then be required to do 10 solo Consolidation skydives. After these are completed you can jump all by yourself, anywhere in the world. It is Air Supply policy that each student is assigned their own personal instructor who will stay with them for the duration of their course. This we believe is very important, it prevents large groups of students and ensures 'one-on-one' tuition. It also provides better instruction as your instructor can tailor the tuition to suit your strengths and weaknesses as the course progresses.

Ground School

Before you are allowed to take to the air you must complete a whole day of groundschool with your instructor. Groundschool covers all aspects of the course that cannot be taught in the air. You will be introduced to your equipment and taught how to inspect it and put it on correctly. You will be taught how to fly your parachute safely to the ground and make comfortable 'stand-up' landings. Also included in the syllabus are emergency procedures/survival skills, aircraft exit drills, and how to communicate with your instructor in the noisy environment of free fall.

Level 1

AFF Level 1 is your first real skydive. You will jump with two instructors holding onto you and keeping you in control. They will assess your body position as you fall and give the appropriate hand signals required to make sure your position is correct. You will practice pulling your ripcord, maintaining stability and altitude awareness. You will deploy your own modern 'square' parachute at 5500 feet after approximately 45 seconds in free fall. They will help with this if you don't get it right the first time!

An AFF Student leaves the aircraft whilst learning to skydive with Phil Curtis and Ian 'Milko' Hodgkinson over Langar airfield, UK.
Photo taken by Gary 'Swoop' Wainwright

Level 2

This is very similar to level one in most respects. If your instructors are happy with your progress, one instructor will release and fly in front of you. You will also practice turning and more altitude awareness. You will again deploy your main parachute at 5500 feet.

Level 3

On this level you will again be jumping with two instructors, however, once they are happy with your skills they will both release their grip on you and fly close at hand. You will then be falling under your own control for the first time. You will practice 'hovering' on the spot, maintain a heading and altitude awareness. Deployment will again be at 5500 feet.

Level 3 - Both instructors let go and you hover on your own!
Photo taken by Gary 'Swoop' Wainwright

Level 4

From now on there will be one instructor jumping with you. You will practice 90 degree turns on your own, altitude awareness, and maintain your new found stability as you fall at around 120mph with your instructor right next to you! Finally, you will deploy your main parachute at 5500 feet.

Level 5

On this level you will perform alternate 360 degree turns in both directions, and practice forward movement across the sky. Deployment is at 4500 feet.

Level 6

Now you really are learning! You will perform a solo 'dive exit' as you leave the plane head-first diving out of the door toward the rear of the aircraft. Then you will be required to perform a 'back loop' - this is the skydiving version of a back somersault. The aim of the back loop is to throw you unstable and show your instructor that you can regain stability at freefall speeds. Next, you will practice 'tracking', this is fast horizontal movement across the sky -an essential skill in skydiving. Deployment is at 4500 feet.

Another soft landing on level 6. Learning to fly and land a modern, square parachute is all part of the course. Ground to air radio is used until the student is confident and safe under canopy
Photo taken by Gary 'Swoop' Wainwright

Level 7

This is where you bring together all of your new found skills in preparation for jumping alone. After a solo exit your instructor will accompany you as you perform a back loop, alternate turns, and tracking with a turn included. You must maintain good stability throughout and pull at 4500 feet.

Level 8

This is the final jump you will make with your instructor accompanying you. You must exit the aircraft solo at 6000ft, get stable and pull within 5 seconds, after which you have finished your training and move onto consolidation.

Consolidation jumps

These are 10 solo jumps to be completed after level eight. They are designed to build confidence and allow you to practice your new skills.

After successfully completing 8 levels and 10 consolidation jumps, you'll reach qualified skydiver status!
Photo taken by Gary 'Swoop' Wainwright

...And that's it! After successfully completing all eight levels of AFF and ten consolidation jumps you are eligible to apply for your first international skydiver's license. This allows you to jump at any drop zone in any country with the minimum of fuss. You can also begin learning new techniques, such as Formation Skydiving (FS), or free flying (the funky upside-down and standing up stuff), or maybe even skysurfing!

Read what previous AFF students have to say about their experiences
Who knows? - maybe one day you could become a champion skydiver or an instructor yourself and teach other people this sport that we all love so much!

If you have read all of the information above and you think this might be the course for you then CLICK HERE to express an interest in an AFF course with Air Supply. Once we have received your details we will contact you personally to discuss the pricing and arrangements for your course. You are under no obligation to book/purchase a course, and no deposit is required at this stage.