AFF Skydiving:

The Ultimate Thrill For Adrenaline Junkies


A lot of people would eagerly concede that most of their childhood recollections are peppered mostly with a certain fascination with flying. Indeed, it is not uncommon to see children run around with their red Superman capes, pretending to fly at the speed of the bullet. However, this attraction to flying is not solely limited to superheroes but to all other flying objects and contraptions.

Interestingly enough, this seeming enthrallment with being airborne is not outgrown by many. This explains why adults are frequently looking for ways to defy gravity and simulate the sensations of flying through various forms. Skydiving is one undoubtedly one of the most popular sports that provides people the adrenaline rush and the liberating feeling of flying thousands of feet off the ground, albeit for just a few minutes.


If you have the penchant for thrills and have always dreamed of flying, the skydiving will give you the thrill of a lifetime. Unless you suddenly sprouted wings just like one of the mutants in X-Men, skydiving will provide the closest excitement of flying. You may think since its one of the extreme sports, it is practically the surest way to find yourself six feet under the ground. However, contrary to the popular belief, skydiving is a relatively safe sport, provided of course all the safety and precautionary measures are followed with strict diligence. So if you looking for the ultimate adventure to test your mettle, then you have certainly met your match in skydiving!



A Crash Course in Skydiving

Once you have finally summoned up the nerve to give skydiving a try, the next step would be to find a competent drop zone or a skydiving facility near your locality. The important key here is to find a highly reputable school since you will literally put your life in their capable hands. At first blush, every website of skydiving schools are equally competent. Don't get easily lured with the usual false claims and promises. The best thing to do here is to by reputation - ask around for recommendations from people who have actually done skydiving or from people who have a close connection with the said sport. After finally locating a skydiving school that met all your standards, you are now a few hours closer to the grandest adventure of your life.

Predictably, you will be given choices as to which skydiving course would you wasn't to take up. There are traditionally three alternatives – the tandem jump, the AFF or accelerated freefall and the static line. However, most skydiving schools mainly offer the first two courses, narrowing your choice between tandem jump and AFF. The former would require 30-45 minutes of ground preparation and instruction, while the latter would normally require 4-5 hours of training before the actual jump

So what's the difference between the two, you ask?

Well, for one the tandem jump is designed for people are not quite sure whether they will actually go through skydiving or not. Meaning this is designed for people who are not quite adventurous enough and cheat their way through their very first skydiving jump. Why? The whole time, the person is fully strapped with the tandem instructor/master, which mean they merely taking an easy ride and a nice excuse of not having to worry about crucial things such as deploying the parachute and making a maneuver for a soft landing.


The daredevil in you would certainly want a more challenging experience, right? The AFF or the Accelerated Freefall will certainly give you the dose of adrenaline rush you need and give fill rein to your adventurous spirit. So what's the catch? In AFF, you will be freefalling along with two instructors at approximately 12, 500 feet off the ground. You will not be strapped with an instructor, you will get to experience a solo freefall with the assistance of the instructors every step of the way. The jumpmaster will maintain a firm grip all throughout the freefall. Sound exciting enough? It definitely is!

AFF Training Levels

AFF actually consist of 7 level programs. The first three levels will require the student two jumpmasters to accompany him/her to give assistance. The dives will be more concentrated on learning the basic safety skills, which includes:

Level 1 – Introduction to skydiving and learn how to monitor altimeter, deploy parachute
Level 2 – Learn to make turns and heading awareness
Level 3 – Hovering and leg and arm awareness
Level 4 – Putting into practice the lesson learned in the first 3 levels
Level 5 – Making 360° turns and docking
Level 6 – Consolidation Dive, unassisted climb out and solo exit, forward movement
Level 7 – Backloops and Tracking
It is important to note that each AFF level would require one successful jump and 45 minutes of training for the student can actually move up to the next level. After completing the last level, the student has a choice of entering a free format program called ‘Level 8', where they will be given a chance to practice and hone the specific skills. One has to complete 20 freefalls to qualify for a license.


While the tandem jump can be likened to a quick dip in the pond, The AFF is like taking the full plunge and learning the rudiments of the sport.

AFF Course Details

• 1 day ground school training
• 1 Tandem jump
• 7 AFF jumps
• Freefall Video of 7 AFF levels
• Personalized instruction
• Briefing before and debriefing after each jump
• Equipment rental
• All lifts to altitude
• Freefall supervision by 1 or 2 instructors
• Radio communication under parachute
• Instruction in basic canopy flight
• Skydiving Log book

The average rate of an AFF skydiving course can range from $ 1, 300 – $ 2,000.

General Risks and Requirements

Traditionally, in order to skydive the person has to be at least 18 years old. Even if a minor will be able to obtain an explicit permission from a guardian or parent, it is against the skydiving policy for minors to be allowed to make even a tandem jump. This is because of the high risks involved.

Of course, you are quite curious as to the extent of danger you will actually be facing, right? Although one cannot claim that skydiving is as safe as playing ten pin bowling, safety is attainable. Otherwise, everyone would think professional skydivers as suicidal considering the number of jumps they make every single day. According to the USPA, there is an average of 35 skiving fatalities over a ten-yea
period in the United States. Nothing to be alarmed about considering there are thousands of skydiving jumps are made per day. Yes, the risks are all too real, but nothing short of a death wish or a suicide attempt. The truth is like any other sport accidents can be effectively prevented and mitigated with proper training and sound judgment. It is comforting to know that most of the recorder skydiving accidents are not related to equipment failures but more on human error.

Aside from the age restriction, the student should be physically fit and should be able to meet USPA's Basic Safety Requirements for medical health. It is not as prohibitive as you would initially think. The basic premise here is that you don't have any debilitating illnesses that can lead to accidents up in the air. People with heart conditions and those who have had an abnormal number of blackout episodes are not allowed to join.

What to Wear?

There is no particular dress code for student skydivers, mainly because they will be provided with skydiving jumpsuits that will improve aerodynamics and provide ‘grippers' for AFF jump instructors to hold on to. SO a basic shirt and a good pair of sneakers will do as long as it's not too baggy or floppy. For women, common sense would dictate you not to wear high hells and sandals. If you own footwear that has an ankle support feature this would certainly be more preferable to wear especially in making landings. What if you need to wear eyeglasses or contacts? There is no problem will that since you will be provided with a pair of goggles that you can wear over your spectacles. So you need not worry about having poor eyesight.

Last-Minute Tips for Beginners


Make sure you really have the desire to practice skydiving – yes, it is a very exhilarating sport but make sure it is what you really want to do and not because of coercion and a dare from one of your friends. Remember, you're older and wiser to cave in to peer pressure.

Get enough sleep – skydiving would require not just your physical skill but mental alertness and concentration too. Making bad judgments and decisions can be easily avoided if you had at least 6 hours of sleep.

Don't Drink – This is quite self-explanatory. Even professional and seasoned skydivers know better than to drink the night before a skydiving activity. The pros have adhered to this strict rule, why shouldn't you?

What's Next After AFF?

You might wonder, what is in store for you after completing the AFF course? Well, the most logical thing to do is to work your way towards attaining a license. This may sound too ambitious, especially when you did not even make your very first jump. But hey, everyone started as a neophyte. Here is a guide for license requirements:

A License

Persons with A license must know how to pack their personal parachutes, engage in basic group jumps, perform water jumps and should be well versed with the Skydiver's Information Manual. Aside from this, he should have complete the following:

§ 20 jumps
§ Completed requirements in the USPA A License Proficiency Card

B License

Persons with B license will be able to exercise all the privileges of an A license holder and also allowed to perform night jumps. Aside from this, a person should obtain the following requirements:

§ Level A License
§ Complete 50 jumps, with accumulated 10 minutes of freefall and landed within ten meters from the target center on at least ten jumps
§ Capable of performing individual maneuvers during freefall
§ Passed a USPA written exam

C License

Should naturally have the B license and must have the following:

§ Completed 100 jumps and at least 20 minutes of accumulated freefall time
§ Capable of landing 5 meters from the target area on ate least 20 jumps
§ Passed the USPA written exam

D License

Persons with D licenses are allowed to participate in demonstration jumps, eligible for USPA ratings and must have:

§ Completed 200 jumps and on hour of freefall time
§ Landed two meters from the target center on 25 jumps
§ Capable of performing individual maneuvers
§ Made two night jumps
§ Passed USPA written exam


This may take a couple of years to complete but it is certainly a very fulfilling sport to pursue. Some may say that one jump is no different from the rest. This is not true in the case of skydiving, mainly because it is a constant and ever-evolving learning process. Skydiving offers people a chance to get a way from the everyday stress and rejuvenate both mind and body. Enrolling in one of the skydiving courses may prove to be one of the most positive decisions in your life at the same time provide you a temporary escape from the humdrum or stressful day at work.