AFF First Jump Course

Introductions 2 Your name What do you do during the week? Have you skydived before? Why do you want to get certified?

Course Objectives: 3 Equipment Altitude Awareness Freefall Body Position Pull Priorities Canopy Control Landing Landing Hazards Equipment Problems Emergency Procedures Dive Flow Written Exam

United States Parachute Association (USPA) Official organization recognized by the FAA to oversee skydiving activities in the U.S. according to FAR 105. USPA develops:  Standardized Instruction  Safety Standards  Licensing and Ratings Membership: provides 3 rd party liability insurance and monthly magazine 4

Equipment Overview 5 Harness/Container, including leg straps and chest strap Reserve parachute and closing pin Main parachute and closing pin Deployment handle 3 ring release Cutaway handle (RED) SILVER Reserve ripcord handle (SILVER) RSL – Reserve Static Line AAD – Automatic Activation Device

Equipment Overview Main Deployment handle/pilot chute (activation) Main closing pin Deployment bag (begin deployment phase) Lines Slider (begin inflation phase) Main Canopy Risers Toggles/Brakes

Personal Equipment 7 Helmet Altimeter – reads in thousands of feet Jumpsuit Goggles Radio (one way) Shoes (no boots with hooks or sandals)

Altitude Awareness Skydivers fall 1000 ft every 5.5 seconds! Check your altimeter:  After every maneuver  When encountering difficulty  When uncertain of altitude  Every 3 – 5 seconds PULL! If you don’t know your altitude – PULL! 8

Equipment Checks All equipment will be checked 3 times 1. Before putting the equipment on 2. Before boarding aircraft 3. Before exiting the aircraft Ask if you do not receive them!

Freefall Position Belly-to-Earth or Arch position: 1. Most stable position to learn Leaf versus badminton birdie 2. Best (but not the only) position for deployment

Freefall Position: “Arch” Pelvis forward Legs shoulder width apart Legs 45 o at the knees with toes pointed towards the sky Arms 90 o /90 o with relaxed, floppy hands Chin up Relaxed 11

Hand Signals Pelvis Forward/Arch Extend Legs until you see a thumbs up Circle of Awareness (Heading, Altitude, Reserve side, Main side) Toe Taps/Bring knees together 12 Practice Touch Check Arm Position Relax – show floppy hands in response Pull – Arch, Reach, Throw, immediately! ***finger can be pointing in any direction

Other Signals Shaking on exit – ARCH! Instructor is slapping your wrist (either side) – check altitude Instructor is tapping your chin – get your chin up Thumbs up – you are doing well

Main Deployment/Pull Sequence 14 Wave off “Arch! Reach! Throw!” As the right hand reaches for deployment handle the left hand stretches in front of your head to maintain balance. Deploy the pilot chute and return to neutral position “Check Right! Check Left!” Time to practice!

Pull Priorities 15 In the following order: 1. Pull 2. Pull at appropriate altitude 3. Pull with stability at appropriate altitude Most importantly Most importantly: PULL!!!

Loss of Instructors If you lose one instructor: keep going with the dive flow If neither instructor is in physical contact with you: PULL!

Controlling the Parachute Half–brake setting requires you to “release your brakes” Toggles up = full speed Pulling one toggle will cause the canopy to turn Look first Parachute continues to turn while the toggle is held down Speed of the turn is directly proportional to how far down the toggle is pulled Pull both toggles = flare Time to Practice!

Effect of Wind Speed on Ground Speed Assume your canopy has a forward speed of 28 mph. What is your ground speed when you are traveling with a 9 mph wind? 18 mph 9 mph Ground speed? 9 mph + 28 mph = 37 mph = Ground speed +

Effect of Wind Speed on Ground Speed Assume your canopy has a forward speed of 28 mph. What is your ground speed when you are traveling against a 9 mph wind? 18 mph 9 mph Ground speed? 28 mph – 9 mph = 19 mph = Ground speed +

Left Hand Landing Pattern ’ Base leg Downwind leg 1000’ Remain upwind before entering pattern (Holding Area) Flare at 15 ft. (wind sock height) 300’ Final leg Straight In Approach

DZ orientation from 13,000 ft 10/20/2015 4:46 PM 21

Time to practice! 22 Downwind leg Final leg 600’ Base leg 300’ Holding Area 1000’

Time to practice! 23 Downwind leg Final leg 600’ Base leg 300’ Holding Area 1000’

Final Approach <200’ Fly straight, only small corrections Canopy seems to fly slowly…until near the ground on final approach Look at 45˚ angle Put feet and knees together, prepare for PLF 3 second canopy flare at ~15 ft. Flare converts forward speed into lift Letting the toggles up after a flare causes a steep dive. If flaring too high, hold the toggles where they are and finish flare at appropriate height

Parachute Landing Fall (PLF) Before landing 1. Look ahead, 45 o to the horizon. 2. Feet and knees together (slightly bent) 3. Flare the canopy, both hands together in the front of your body Upon ground contact 1. Feet First 2. Lay onto the side of one calf 3. Roll onto your thigh 4. Roll onto your hip (side of butt) 5. Roll diagonally across your back to the opposite shoulder (throw legs overhead if necessary) 25

Landing Priorities Land with Wing Level 2. Land in a clear and open area 3. Flare to at least half brakes 4. Always be prepared for a PLF ONLY SMALL CORRECTIONS WHEN <200’ Landing into the wind is NEVER a priority

Landing Obstacles AVOID THEM! “Only fly over things that you would want to land on” 1000’ and below Gently steer away, give slight corrections 27

DZ from 13,000 ft – identify landing hazards 28

You did not avoid the obstacle Remember your landing priorities and always wait for competent help: 1. Land with Level Wings 2. Land in a clear and open area 3. Flare with at least half brakes 4. Always be prepared for a PLF 29

You did not avoid the obstacle Trees: protect your face while flaring, aim for the strongest part (generally the trunk) Water: loosen chest strap, land close to something if possible Power lines: drop anything metal, do not touch more than one wire at a time Buildings: Landing into the side: Protect your face while flaring Landing on top: Disconnect RSL. After landing, may need to cutaway

Off Field Landings “Half way down, half way back” 2,500 ft. Decide if you can make it back by 2,500 ft. Find clear area to land small corrections below 200 feet! Look for and avoid obstacles – small corrections below 200 feet! Transpose landing pattern to new spot, if possible Prepare to PLF Wait for assistance or further instructions Respect property and be polite to property owners 31

High Winds 32 Once safely landed, pull in one toggle hand over hand Stand up and run towards back of canopy RED If you are still being dragged, disconnect RSL and pull RED

Normal Canopy Safe Canopy Criteria:  Square (symmetric)  Stable  Straight lines  Slider completely down  Steerable 33

Steerability/Controllability Check 1.Unstow Toggles/Release Your Brakes. 2.Look Left, Turn Left. Look Right, Turn Right. 3.Practice Flare. Head for the airport and your holding area. Time to practice!

Equipment Problems 35 If the parachute fails criteria you must make the decision to initiate emergency procedures by: 2,500 ft. Decision Altitude = 2,500 ft. IS IT THERE? IS IT SQUARE? IS IT STEERABLE? There is a parachute out. Parachute is inflated, rectangular, and regular in shape. You can turn left and right and flare.

Emergency Procedures Look RED 2. Grab RED SILVER 3. Look SILVER SILVER 4. Grab SILVER 5. Peel, Pull RED (down), clear SILVER 6. Peel, Pull SILVER (down), clear 7. Arch SILVER IF BELOW 1,000 ft. WITHOUT A LANDABLE PARACHUTE, IMMEDIATELY PULL SILVER

Problem: Pilot Chute Hesitation 37 Pilot chute stays within the burble created by your body traveling in free fall Check over each shoulder to change airflow, allowing pilot chute to clear burble and initiate activation

Canopy is Not There Missing or Stuck Deployment Handle:  Slide hand across the bottom of the pack from one side to other and feel for the handle  Two attempts, Two seconds, then execute Emergency Procedures 38

Canopy is Not There 39 I f you can see the bag, an inflated pilot chute, and/or lines, but no canopy, execute Emergency Procedures

Canopy is Not There Two tries, Two seconds to deploy main parachute If you cannot locate the deployment handle, execute Emergency Procedures If deployment results in a malfunction initiate emergency procedures 40

Canopy is Not Square Wait two seconds to see if it is a normal deployment If not initiate emergency procedures 41

Canopy is Not Square Asymmetric Canopy may begin to turn on its own Initiate emergency procedures 42

Canopy is Not Controllable 43 More than two broken lines:  Initiate emergency procedures Hole as large as your head:  Initiate emergency procedures Broken steering line (lost toggle):  Initiate emergency procedures Broken riser:  Initiate emergency procedures

Problem: Line Twists Very common Pull risers apart and bicycle kick to correct 2,500 ft. If not corrected by 2,500 ft. initiate Emergency Procedures 44

Problem: End Cell Closure Common – especially for smaller people under large canopies While releasing brakes, hold toggles at waist a few seconds then return toggles to full up position. May require several attempts to inflate end cells If canopy is not controllable by 2500’, execute Emergency Procedures 45

Problem: Stuck Slider Smoothly pump toggles (after releasing brakes). Repeat as necessary until the slider works its way down If canopy is not controllable by 2500’, execute Emergency Procedures 46

Problem: Good canopy, but turning Try releasing the brakes If canopy is not controllable by 2500’, execute Emergency Procedures

Both Parachutes Deployed Bi-plane 1. Do not cut away 2. Gently steer front canopy with rear risers 3. Do not flare and perform a PLF Side-by-Side If two canopies are not entangled: Cut away the main If main canopy is not clear of the reserve: 1. Gently steer the larger canopy using the rear risers 2. Perform a PLF Downplane  Cut away the main canopy immediately 48

Canopy Collision Avoid!  Look before you turn If approaching a head-on collision:  Both jumpers turn RIGHT If below 1000ft and canopies are entangled:  Both jumpers should deploy their reserves 49 “Keep your head on a swivel”

Aircraft Procedures 1. Approach, enter, and move about the aircraft, engine running or not, only when accompanied by your instructor. 2. To avoid contact with the propeller, always approach fixed- wing aircraft from the rear. 3. Be mindful of the size of the parachute equipment and location of handles when moving about the aircraft. 4. The pilot and the jumper are jointly responsible that seat belts are worn during taxi, takeoff, and landing (if landing with aircraft).

Aircraft Emergencies Listen to your instructor If you see anything that you think is odd (pilot chute or canopy is out), tell your instructor loudly and immediately.

Dive Flow 52 Set up in the door Check in – get O.K. from instructor Check Prop, up, down, arch COA (Heading, Altimeter, Reserve side, Main side) 3 practice touches (Arch, Reach, Touch) COA (HARM) “Short” circles (Heading, Altitude, Arch, Legs, Relax) 6,000 ft. = Lock on 5,500 ft. = wave off, arch, reach, throw, check, check

Relative Wind You should exit the aircraft in your arch position, hips pointing into the “relative wind.” Expect to feel like you are standing up for a bit You will transition to belly to earth orientation within a few seconds.

Exit Cadence/Exit Count No matter which aircraft you are exiting, the exit cadence is important for both you and your instructors. Your exit cadence establishes the tone of the entire skydive.

How to pass the Cat A skydive 1. Be stable during at least the second half of the jump 2. Be aware – respond to hand signals 3. Have at least an assisted pull

Important Altitudes 6,000 ft = Lock on 5,500 ft = wave off, arch, reach, pull 2,500 ft = Decision altitude for emergency procedures and finding an alternate landing area 1,000 ft = Do not cut away 1,000, 600, 300 ft – landing pattern 10/20/2015 4:46 PM56

Questions? Time to take the test. 57