AFF course
Accelerated Free Fall is the most popular education. It was developed in USA for civilian jumping. If you chose the week course you are a skydiver in five days (weather permitting).
The first day is for ground training and theory. The practical part consists of seven jumps (level 1–7). Already on the first jump you will jump together with two instructors exiting the aircraft at 12500 feet (4000 meters). In a safe environment you will now execute what you before practiced on the ground, a controlled freefall lasting 40–50 seconds. In freefall the instructors holds on to you and communicate using hand signals. At the appropriate altitude you deploy your parachute and steer your canopy down towards the landing aera.
During the course it is required that you do 3 approved levels with 2 instructors, and then 4 approved levels with 1 instructor. This totals 7 approved levels. On two of the jumps your freefall will be filmed by a skilled skydiver with a camera attached to his⁄her helmet. Being able to watch your performance shortly afterwards the jump and debrief you bodyposition etc. is highly beneficial for your progression.
When done with all 7 levels you will become an independent student. The rest of the progression towards the A–license (11 jumps) will be done by jumping by yourselves. After 18 jumps you can have your license and be able to jump with your own gear and with other skydivers.
