Starting with a Level 1 introductory course, you can then complete the remaining 7 AFF levels and 10 consolidation jumps required to gain your initial skydiving licence.
Students will be instructed in all aspects of skydiving and canopy control which will enable them to cope with the rigors of freefalling at 120mph, controlling their body in freefall and performing a set routine of drills, ultimately deploying their own parachute at 5,000 feet. They will also have been instructed in the theory of parachute control and after deploying their parachute, this knowledge will enable them to land safely on the drop zone, however, a radio communication back up is always used for safety reasons.
After you have completed your Level 1 you may then wish to continue to complete the whole course which consists of eight levels. Costs for subsequent levels will be a lot less than your original outlay as you have completed your “ground school” and will only require a comprehensive brief before subsequent descents. All jumps will end with a full debrief and a write up of the jump will be made in your personalised Logbook.
AFF Level 1 & Ground-school: £380
After the Level 1 you will be debriefed by your Instructors and the skydive will be written up in your personal logbook. Further levels will require an intensive brief session and “dirt dive” before manifesting for your place in the aircraft.
After completing the eight levels you are qualified as a Level 8 AFF student allowing you to jump out of an aircraft on your own, under supervision of a qualified Instructor.
The next step to achieving your full qualification is to complete ten consolidation jumps, following a set sequence for each skydive, practicing and honing the skills you have already learnt and introducing new features such as exit position and canopy skills. These jumps include kit hire, Instructor supervision and a parachute repack. Upon completion of the consolidation jumps and a Canopy Training (CT) exam you are now qualified as an “A” Licence Skydiver.
If you fail a level, it must be repeated before you can progress. A level can be failed due to lack of altitude awareness which is normally caused by enjoying the skydive so much that you forget to deploy your parachute! If this happens, excluding Level 1, and the Instructor has to pull for you, then you would fail that level and have to repeat it. You might also fail a level if you cannot remain in control and the Instructor has to stop you spinning or you have problems showing control in freefall. The vast majority of students very rarely fail more than one level if they show commitment to obtaining their licence and maintain their currency.
All AFF jumps, (Excluding Level 8), are done from 13,000 feet whenever possible. Occasionally it is possible to get more altitude but sometimes due to weather or London Air Traffic Control restrictions it may only be possible to jump from 11,000 feet. This exit height is perfectly acceptable; however, we will always try to get 13,000 feet when jumping AFF students.
LEVELS 1, 2 & 3
Levels 1, 2 and 3 consist of launching from the aircraft with your two Instructors holding you in the freefall position and staying with you until the parachute is opened. You will have drills to perform on each of these jumps. On Level 3 you will be released by one Instructor at a time providing you are in a stable position.
LEVELS 4 & 5
Levels 4 and 5 are made with one Instructor only with a linked exit and you will then be released to fly on your own. There are a number of in air drills to perform during freefall before deploying your parachute.
LEVELS 6 & 7
Levels 6 and 7 again with one Instructor only but this time it will consist of a “solo” exit although the Instructor is with you all the way down until the main parachute is open. These skydives introduce new skills to complete and end with you putting all the manoeuvres together on the Level 7 skydive.
LEVEL 8
Level 8 is a short freefall delay from 5,000 feet, deploying your parachute in a stable position within ten seconds after exit, and is your final qualifying descent.
AFF course students are far more successful if they have some continuity on the course. This normally means you will have to show a level of commitment to completing the course by dedicating your free time to jumping. Remember that each person will progress at their own rate, and it may take longer to complete the course due to repeat jumps or poor weather conditions.
Once the AFF phase is completed, your consolidation jumps will enable you to practice what you learnt on the course as in most cases you would only get one attempt at the skills.
Once these consolidations are completed you are the master of your own destiny, free to decide what the next challenge is going to be and where your newly acquired skydiving skills will lead you…
All rejumps are at a lower price – consolidation jumps @ £50 each.
All students are required to have a British Skydiving provisional membership which is included in the cost of the Level 1 course. This paperwork will be completed on arrival at the centre.
Students who wish to continue their course beyond Level 1 will have to upgrade their British Skydiving provisional membership to a FULL British Skydiving membership before they can continue. Costs of upgrades are on a downward sliding scale as the season progresses.
A self-declaration medical form British Skydiving form 115C is required by all students and can be filled in on arrival at the centre.
Where there is doubt or where existing medical conditions require clarification then British Skydiving form 115D should be used.
This form must be stamped and signed by a doctor and brought with you on the day of your skydive. This form will be attached to your booking confirmation.
Any persons under 18 must be accompanied on the day of their Ground-school by a parent or guardian to countersign their paperwork.
The minimum age for parachuting is 16 years and the maximum age for this course is 54 years.
The maximum weight limit for all courses is 15 stone (95 Kilos).
Following the successful completion of the ground-school you can book your initial AFF Level 1 and further AFF progression levels through the AFF school directly. A text-only number will be provided on the front of your manuals issued on your ground-school which you can contact the AFF team to advise when you are next able to attend the centre to jump.
As currency is of high importance at this early stage in your path to become a skydiver we advise that you maintain your currency by regularly attending the centre and aiming to ideally leave no more than 4 weeks between the date of your last refresher training and certainly no more than 3 months at most.
Levels 1, 2 & 3 consist of launching from the aircraft with your two Instructors holding you in the freefall position and staying with you until the parachute is opened. You will have drills to perform on each of these jumps. On Level three you will be released by one Instructor at a time providing you are in a stable position.
Levels 4 & 5 are made with one Instructor only with a linked exit and you will then be released to fly on your own. There are a number of in air drills to perform during freefall before deploying your parachute.
Levels 6 & 7 again with one Instructor only but this time it will consist of a “solo” exit although the Instructor is with you all the way down until the main parachute is open. These skydives introduce new skills to complete and end with you putting all the manoeuvres together on the level 7 skydive.
Level 8 is a short freefall delay from 5,000 feet, deploying your parachute in a stable position within ten seconds after exit, and is your final qualifying descent.
AFF course students are far more successful if they have some continuity on the course. This normally means you will have to put aside either a full week or keep 3 – 4 weekends clear to complete the course. Remember that each person will progress at their own rate, and it may take longer to complete the course due to repeat jumps or poor weather conditions. Once the AFF phase is completed, your consolidation jumps will enable you to practice what you learnt on the course as in most cases you would only get one attempt at the skills.
Once these consolidations are completed you are the master of your own destiny, free to decide what the next challenge is going to be and where your newly acquired skydiving skills will lead you…