British Parachute Schools Skydiving Centre - RAPS the basic skydiving course

Information for beginners

BASIC SKYDIVING COURSE
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For the greatest personal achievement and the satisfaction of knowing that you did it - all by yourself - go for the Basic Skydiving Course!
This course, using the British Parachute Association Ram-Air Progression System (RAPS), takes place over two days, training you in the skydiving techniques required to jump from an altitude of over 3000 feet, with an automatically opened 'square' parachute. If you think skydiving may be the sport for you, then this is your first step: you can be opening your parachute yourself by your sixth jump - you pull the ripcord! You can become a fully qualified solo skydiver in as few as sixteen jumps using this training system.
The number of people on the Basic Skydiving Course is kept low, ensuring that each participant gets personal tuition. During the course, you will learn safety regulations (top priority in our sport!), and be instructed on the skydiving techniques required to exit the aircraft and fall in a controlled manner. You will be taught how the equipment operates, and how you must control the open parachute to steer it down to a safe arrival in the landing area. The course involves both theoretical work and the physical practice necessary to make the most of your skydive. The jump is planned to take place on the day after the course, weather permitting.
The equipment used for student skydiving is the very best available. The 'square' parachutes we provide are the technically advanced gliding parachutes as used by all experienced skydivers worldwide. Each of our student parachute systems includes a 'Main' parachute and a 'Reserve' parachute, both mounted comfortably on your back. Your training will fully cover the method of use for both! The main parachute is automatically opened when you jump. After your main parachute is open, we can help you during your descent by providing instructions via a radio mounted on your parachute harness. Should it be necessary, the Reserve may be manually operated (and is also fitted with automatic backup systems). All the procedures you will be taught will be practised on the ground until your Instructors are completely satisfied with your performance.
In addition to a parachute system and radio, you will be provided with a helmet and jumpsuit to go over your clothes. You should wear comfortable clothing, such as a track suit, and a pair of good training shoes are essential - no heavy boots or street shoes.

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Basic Skydiving Courses are held every Saturday - book early: places are limited!

IMPORTANT: Your weight (fully clothed) must not exceed 16 stone (102 Kg) for this Course. Midweek courses (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) are available by prior arrangement. Basic Skydiving courses cannot be arranged to commence on Sundays or Mondays.

Please note that the Course takes place regardless of the weather. The course takes all day - from around 9 a.m. until early evening. Student Jumping takes place on the expected day weather permitting.

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SIX JUMP COURSE
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Our Six Jump Course is a package comprising a Basic Skydiving Course along with the additional training, practice and the minimum six jumps required to train you to use a 'ripcord-deployed' (manually-opened) parachute system.
The initial course and first jump is as for the Basic Skydiving course, and you may undertake your subsequent jumps whenever you like - and it's cheaper than undertaking a Basic course and paying for the extra jumps one by one! Additional training 'briefs' are given whenever your Instructor clears you to move onto the next training stage. Clearance is based on your performance: you will be appraised on your abilities and progress during each jump - see below for more details.

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Booking details are as for the Basic Skydiving Course.

**Please note that progression onto freefall depends solely on your skydiving ability.**

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HOW TO BECOME A FULLY-FLEDGED SKYDIVER...
This is how it works following your Basic Skydiving Course. For every jump, your Instructors will assess your performance both as you skydive, and as you fly and land your parachute. This assessment is entered on to your Log Card (the record of your jumps). What you do on each jump depends on your previous performance - when your Instructor considers that you are ready, you will be moved on to the next training exercise.
Once you have demonstrated that you are switched-on and in control while falling, you will be trained to perform 'Dummy Ripcord Pulls' (or 'DRP's). These involve further drops using an automatically opened main parachute, during which you must pull a dummy ripcord (while also remaining in control). Each time your Instructor clears you for a new exercise, you undergo additional training and practice prior to the next jump. After a minimum of five descents, including three good consecutive DRP jumps, you can be cleared for your first fully free-falling descent!
Initial freefall jumps take place from an altitude of between 4,000 to 5,000 feet - and after that, every two jumps, we take you a little higher and allow you to fall a little longer. Later jumps, taking place from up to 10,000 feet or so, teach you controlled manoeuvres in freefall (turns, backflips, and 'tracking' - fast movement across the sky). After a minimum of sixteen jumps, and having achieved a satisfactory performance at each level, you will gain 'Category Eight' status - and be awarded your first International Skydiving Licence! After that, the sky's the limit: you'll buy your own parachute gear and start to learn Formation Skydiving, Freestyle, and eventually even Sky Surfing or Freefall Photography - and you could even become an Instructor yourself!
Whether you want to try just one jump, or you want to take up the most exciting sport off(!) the planet, book yourself onto a Basic Skydiving Course right away!