The AFF Course is designed to suit the needs of each individual. The course normally runs over a complete week, starting on a Monday and (weather permitting) finishing on the following Friday. However, we are happy to vary the start day to suit the customer, if required. AFF jumping continues seven days a week, so you can also jump over the weekend.
You will progress through the AFF Levels at your own learning pace. The skills required to exit the aircraft, then maintain stability and control in freefall, are practiced and developed through intensive ground training prior to jumping, and enhanced by direct in-air supervision.
All the necessary freefall manoeuvres are taught, as well as overall awareness, the use of instruments (altimeter), spotting (placing the aircraft over the correct 'spot' on the ground), safety procedures and the basics of Formation Skydiving to enable you to jump with other experienced skydivers world-wide.
The first day of the course is dedicated to Ground School: the bulk of the training, both theory and practical. We aim to make your Level I skydive on the second day, as long as training is complete!
AFF Levels 1 through 7 take place from a minimum altitude of 12,000 feet at Langar. The first jump, your Level I Skydive, is with two instructors and is designed to teach you the basics: exits, stability, altitude awareness and control of the parachute canopy. Practice ripcord pulls, altitude awareness and the actual pull, are all part of this jump. The Instructors hold on to you throughout the freefall portion of the dive, as they will on your Level II jump. Radio assistance is given when needed during the parachute descent and landing.
The remaining Levels are discussed and practised in detail prior to each jump. On Level III, you will be ready for your first 'release', when the instructors allow you to fly on your own, but stay in close proximity, only re-gripping to provide assistance should you need it.
On Levels IV to VII, you will be one-to-one with a single Instructor, learning how to turn, achieve controlled forward movement, perform backloops, and how to 'track' - move through the air forwards fast!
The Level VIII jump entails a solo exit, followed by deployment of your canopy within a few seconds. This is to familiarise you with a lower exit altitude and a faster pull. On completion of this jump you graduate from AFF.
With a permitted maximum of three jumps per day it is possible to graduate early on Thursday following a Monday start!
Following graduation you must make ten further post-graduation or 'consolidation' jumps at BPS Langar under the guidance of an AFF Instructor. These are charged to you at just £30 each and allow close supervision whilst giving you the chance to practice, on your own, the things you have learnt. On completion of your consolidation jumps you qualify as a Category Eight Skydiver and you can then join in with our regular skydivers - and start to have some incredible fun!