AFF Levels 1 through 7

Level I

• Basic orientation
• Equipment
• Main pilot chute - Right back
• Cutaway handle - Right chest
• Reserve ripcord - Left chest
• Aircraft procedures
• Seatbelts on until 1,500 ft.
• Listen to your jumpmasters
• Body position "ARCH"
• Climb Out and Exit
• Left foot forward - Pelvis forward - Head out
• Hotel Check
• "Prop" - "Out" - "In" - "Out" Exit and "ARCH"
• Flow Of The Skydive
• Circle Of Awareness (COA)
• 3 Practice Ripcord Pulls (PRCP)
• Toe Taps
• Short COAs
• 5.5 - Wave-off - PULL
• Canopy Check
• Is It There?
• Is It Square?
• Can I Control It?
• Canopy control
• 1/2 down in altitude be 1/2 way back to the airport.
• Stay Upwind of the airport.
• Landing pattern at 1,000 ft.
• Landing
• AVOID OBSTACLES
• Land facing INTO the wind.
• Feet and Knees together - legs bent.
• Flare smoothly at 10-12 ft.
• Flare to waist height.
• Hold the flare if you flared too high.

Level II

• Review the level I.
• Goals are stable controlled movements.
• Flow of the Skydive
• COA
• 2 PRCPs
• Toe Taps
• Short COA
• Left turn 90 degrees (drop shoulder 6-8")
• Right turn 90 degrees (drop shoulder 6-8")
• Forward motion
• Arms/Elbows back to sides - Legs all the way out.
• Short COAs
• 5.5 - Wave-off - PULL.
• Follow the canopy control and landings as above.

Level III

• Review the level II.
• Goals are heading maintenance and solo unassisted pull.
• Flow of the Skydive
• COA
• 1 PRCPs
• Toe Taps
• Short COA
• Heading maintenance (with jumpmasters release)
• Maintain a heading but if control problems occur, correct and pick up a new heading,
• Continue with short COAs.
• 5.5 Wave-off and solo pull by 4,500 ft.
• Advanced canopy control introduction during the debrief.
• Collision avoidance
• Braked turns
• Rear riser control

PLEASE NOTE THAT: Students must become USPA members prior to the Level IV.

Level IV

• Review the level III.
• Goals are stable controlled turns on heading and forward motion to re-dock with single jumpmaster.
• Jumpmaster instructs how to properly conduct personal gear checks. Review while donning equipment.
• Same poised exit as with levels 1-3 except no check out.
• Flow of the skydive:
• COA (check right only).
• Jumpmaster transition to front then release.
• 90° Left turn
• 90° Right turn (line up with Jumpmaster).
• Forward motion to re-dock (only Jumpmaster takes grips).
• Repeat as altitude permits
• Signal no more turns at 6,500 feet.
• 5.5 optional
• Wave-off at 4,500 feet pull by 4,000 feet.

Level V

• Review the level IV.
• Goals are stable controlled turns on heading and forward motion to re-dock with single jumpmaster.
• Jumpmaster instructs how to properly conduct personal gear checks. Review while donning equipment.
• Same poised exit as with level IV.
• Flow of the skydive:
• COA while Jumpmaster release and immediately transition to the front
• 360° Left turn and line up with Jumpmaster.
• Forward motion to re-dock (only Jumpmaster takes grips).
• Repeat as altitude permits
• Signal no more turns at 6,500 feet.
• Wave-off at 4,500 feet pull by 4,000 feet.
• Spotting introduction during the debrief.

Level VI

• Review the level V.
• Goals are stability control and tracking on heading.
• Jumpmaster instructs how to properly conduct personal gear checks. Review while donning equipment.
• Have student in the doorway indicate the aircraft progress across ground for spotting instruction.
• Solo poised exit similar to level V except jumpmaster does not take grips.
• Flow of the skydive:
• COA Jumpmaster lines up in front.
• Jumpmaster demonstrates proper a backloop,
• Student performs a backloop.
• Student performs a Barrel Roll.
• Repeat if altitude permits.
• Student performs Delta Track position while maintaining heading.
• Wave-off at 4,500 feet and pull by 4,000 feet.

Level VII

• Review the level VI.
• Goals are stable unassisted exit, stability control and tracking on heading.
• Jumpmaster instructs how to properly conduct personal gear checks. Review while donning equipment.
• Have student in the doorway indicate the aircraft progress across ground for spotting instruction.
• Diving exit.
• Flow of the skydive:
• Front loops.
• Sequence of maneuvers selected by the jumpmaster.
• At 7,000 feet student performs delta track position while maintaining heading.
• Wave-off at 4,000 feet and pull by 3,500 feet.
• CONGRATULATIONS at the end of a successful Level VII skydive you will have completed the AFF progression method and be cleared for self jumpmastering. Be careful, the learning process has simply just begun.

Your progression at this point should continue with several solo jumps followed by Relative Work (RW) coaching dives. Please see the DZ staff and the Safety and Training Advisor (S&TA) for further assistance.