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