LEVEL 1:

 

            Jump pre-brief:

                        Review – PTs (Practice Touches) (Arch – Reach – Touch)

Review – THROW the handle (back of hand towards earth)

Review – Two tries for handle then emergency procedures

Review – Bridle wrapped on arm – two tries to shake/brush off then emergency procedures (cutaway and pull reserve)

Review – Horseshoe malfunction – due to bridle pull or open container (pull BOC handle, and prepare for malfunction)

 

 

Free Fall:

                        Exit and Arch within 10 sec. – TLO

                        Relax

                        COA (full) – TLO

3 PTs

Toe Touches

COA (short) – TLO

COAs  continued

5-5 signal

Wave-off

Pull by 4500’ – TLO

 

Canopy:

            Land within 60° of wind line with assistance - TLO

            Land within 100 M (330 feet) of target with assistance


UNITED STATES PARACHUTE ASSOCIATION@ publications

 

                     FREEFALL COMMUNICATIONS

 

 

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Some common AFF hand signals.

Note: The distraction of a video camera flyer may cause the stu­dent to lose track of altitude. Students must pay extra attention to altitude when a videographer is present. Nonetheless, the benefit of video is recognized for all training jumps.

a.

 
Text Box: 1. Using one or more of the following signals the AFF jumpmaster may coach the student for a better body position during freefall and to improve awareness:

a. thumb down:  hips forward/pelvis thrust


b. first two fingers straight in a “V”:  extend legs


c. monkey paw (half fist thumb on top):  practice touches


d. an “O” formed with one hand or a tap of the altimeter:  circle of awareness


e. index finger extended, typically pointed at the student:  PULL!


f. shake limp hand:  relax



Other Signals not shown:


g. Little finger extended, half closed fist with thumb down to form a 90° signal:  check your arms


h. Tapping fingers and thumb together:  toe taps

b.

 

c.

 

d.

 

e.

 

f.

 
 

 

 



Required Reading: 

            FAR Part 91.107 (seat belts)

            SIM 4.19 (jumper responsibilities under canopy)

            SIM 2- 1.05-.09 (Student jump requirements)

            SIM 8-3.15-.18 (malfunctions and procedures)

           

Jump pre-brief:

·       Review emergency procedures (to adequately show skill retained with additional training if required)

·       NEW – Open canopy in aircraft

·       Review – Two tries for handle then emergency procedures

·       Review – Horseshoe malfunction – due to bridle pull or open container (pull BOC handle, and prepare for malfunction)

·       Review – Pull Priorities

·       NEW – Broken lines and holes in canopy

·       NEW – Steering with Rear Risers (note: will be covered in detail and demonstrated in Level 4)

·       Review – Decide by 2500’ if canopy not functioning (HARD DECK)

·       NEW - Down plane emergency - Discuss briefly RSL operation (will be covered in detail later in level 5) in reference to Racer rigs.

·       NEW - How to release RSL

·       NEW - Canopy Control: (clearing turns) Look in direction before turns under canopy

·       NEW - Runway headings

·       REVIEW – Runway avoidance (look for aircraft)

·       Landing pattern review –  pattern leg nomenclature

 

Free Fall:

·       COA – Full – TLO

·       2 PTs – TLO

·       Toe Touches

·       COA – Short – TLO

·       Forward Motion (Legs out 3sec.) – TLO

·       COA – Short – TLO

·       Repeat leg out drill and COAs as altitude permits

·       Stop by 6500’

·       5 –5

·       Wave-off

·       Pull by 4500’ unassisted – TLO

 

Canopy:

·       Land at airport – TLO

·       Land within 30° with assistance


Required Reading:

FAA FAR 91.107

SEC. 91.107 USE OF SAFETY BELTS, SHOULDER HARNESSES, AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS

A. Unless otherwise authorized by the Administrator—

1. No pilot may take off a U.S.-registered civil aircraft (except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola, or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987) unless the pilot in command of that aircraft ensures that each person on board is briefed on how to fasten and unfasten that person’s safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness.

2. No pilot may cause to be moved on the surface, take off, or land a U.S.-registered civil aircraft (except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola, or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987) unless the pilot in command of that aircraft ensures that each person on board has been notified to fasten his or her safety belt and, if installed, his or her shoulder harness.

3. Except as provided in this paragraph, each person on board a U.S. registered civil aircraft (except a free balloon that incorporates a basket or gondola or an airship type certificated before November 2, 1987) must occupy an approved seat or berth with a safety belt and, if installed, shoulder harness, properly secured about him or her during movement on the surface, takeoff, and landing. For seaplane and float equipped rotorcraft operations during movement on the surface, the person pushing off the seaplane or rotorcraft from the dock and the person mooring the seaplane or rotorcraft at the dock are excepted from the preceding seating and safety belt requirements. Notwithstanding the preceding requirements of this paragraph, a person may:

a. Be held by an adult who is occupying a seat or berth if that person has not reached his or her second birthday;

b. Use the floor of the aircraft as a seat, provided that the person is on board for the purpose of engaging in sport parachuting; or

 

SIM 4.19

B. Under canopy: Once the jumper is under an open para-chute, the student should:

1. Locate the intended landing area.

2. Select an open area free of obstacles in which to land:

a. It may be necessary to select an alternate landing area if the jumper is unable to steer the parachute to the originally intended landing area.

b. It is the jumper’s responsibility to continually estimate the probable landing point and make appropriate adjustments to land in a clear area.

C. Canopy control: The task of steering the parachute is called canopy control. Specific procedures may vary depending on the type of equipment and the drop zone being used. The jumper should consult the owners manual for specific procedures on his or her canopy. In general:

1. There are two steering toggles or handles, one on the back of each rear riser.

2. The canopy is turned by pulling down one of the steering toggles:

a. Pulling the left toggle will make the canopy turn left.

b. Pulling the right toggle will make the canopy turn right.

3. The canopy will continue turning as long as the toggle is held down; letting the toggle all the way up will stop the turn.

4. Pulling both toggles down at the same time will cause the canopy to slow its forward speed.

5. Pulling both toggles down and holding them may cause the canopy to stall. This should be avoided at low altitudes. The only exception is that both toggles re pulled down when landing a ram-air canopy.

D. Canopy maneuvers—full flight: The parachute canopy can be steered to a landing area because of its air speed and steering ability. It travels forward through the air at speeds up to 30 mph depending on its size and type. The jumper can select from three basic flight modes:

1. Running—the canopy is facing downwind; the for-ward speed of the canopy is added to the wind speed to yield the fastest possible ground speed when the canopy is in full flight.

2. Holding—the canopy is facing upwind; the for-ward speed of the canopy is subtracted from the wind speed to yield the slowest possible ground speed when the canopy is in full flight.

3. Crabbing—also called quartering, the canopy is faced at an angle to the windline. The canopy will drive forward across the windline and at the same time it will drift downwind, resulting in a flight path across the ground that is diagonal to the windline.


SIM 2-1.05 -.09

2-1.05 STUDENT SKYDIVERS

A. All student training is to be supervised by a USPA Instructor until the student is issued a USPA A license.

B. All student skydives must be directly supervised by an appropriately-rated USPA Jumpmaster aboard the aircraft or in freefall, according to the requirements of that student’s training discipline outlined in the USPA Integrated Student Program, until the student has met all the advancement criteria through Category F.

1. All students must complete all the Advancement Criteria of each Category in Categories A-D of the USPA Integrated Student Training Program before advancing to the next Category.

2. A student must meet all advancement criteria of the USPA Integrated Student Program before obtaining a USPA A license.

C All jumps must be made under the direct supervision of the USPA instructional rating holder specified in the USPA Integrated Student Program until the student obtains a USPA A license.

D All students making training jumps to meet the advancement criteria in Categories G and H of the USPA Integrated Student Program must be accompanied in freefall by a USPA Coach.

E. Foreign non-resident Jumpmasters and Instructors appropriately and currently rated by their national aero club may train students from that nation in the U.S., provided the instruction is conducted in accordance with Skydiver’s Information Manual Section 2-1. Appropriately and currently rated U.S. Jumpmasters and Instructors may assist in this training.

F. No skydiver will simultaneously perform the duties of Jumpmaster and pilot-in-command of an aircraft in flight.

G. All student jumps must be completed between official sunrise and sunset.

2-1.06 WINDS

Maximum ground winds:

A. For all solo student and novice skydivers:

1. 14 mph for ram-air canopies.

2. 10 mph for round reserves.

B. For licensed skydivers are unlimited.

2-1.07 MINIMUM OPENING ALTITUDES

Minimum container opening altitudes above the ground for skydivers are:

A. Tandem jumps–4,000 feet AGL

B. All students and A license holders–3,000 feet AGL

C. B license holders–2,500 feet AGL

D. C and D license holders–2,000 feet AGL

2-1.08 DROP ZONE REQUIREMENTS

A. Areas used for skydiving should be unobstructed, with the following minimum radial distance to the nearest hazard:

1. Solo students and novices–100 meters

2. A license holders–100 meters

3. B license holders–50 meters

4. C license holders–50 meters

5. D license holders–Unlimited

B. Hazards are defined as telephone and power lines, towers, buildings, open bodies of water, highways, automobiles and clusters of trees covering more than 3000 square meters.

C. Manned ground-to-air communications (e.g., radios, panels, smoke, lights) are to be present on the drop zone during skydiving operations.

2-1.09 PRE-JUMP REQUIREMENTS

The appropriate altitude and surface winds are to be determined prior to conducting any skydive.


SIM 8-3.15 -.18

8-3.15 TYPES OF MALFUNCTIONS

All malfunctions can be classified as one of two types:

A. Total Malfunction: Any malfunction in which nothing is deploying.

B. Partial Malfunction: Any malfunction accompanied by full or partial deployment.

8-3.16 TOTAL MALFUNCTIONS

A. A total malfunction includes deployment handle problems (unable to locate or extract the main parachute deployment handle), pack closure, and a pilot chute in tow.

B. There are currently two common and acceptable procedures, both of which have pros and cons. An instructor should be consulted prior to gearing up, and each skydiver should have a pre-determined course of action.

1. Pull the reserve immediately. All three types of total malfunctions are associated with a high descent rate and require immediate action. the chance of a main-reserve entanglement is slim, and valuable time and altitude could be lost by initiating a cutaway prior to deploying the reserve; OR

2. Cut away, then deploy the reserve. Because there is a chance the main parachute could deploy during or as a result of the reserve activation, a cutaway might be the best response in some situations.

8-3.17 PARTIAL MALFUNCTIONS

Two methods of reserve deployment are recognized for partial malfunctions. In order of preference, they are:

·       Cutaway (breakaway); and

·       Canopy transfer.

A. The cutaway method is recommended because:

1. It is a single procedure that applies to all partial mal-functions, fast or slow.

2. Partial malfunctions are more common than totals and frequently result in spins. The rotation of the jumper beneath the canopy during reserve deployment may easily result in entanglement of the reserve and main canopies unless it is released.

3. It is necessary with high-performance main canopies, whose malfunctions often include rapid rotation.

4. It is necessary for skydivers using a piggyback reserve system.

5. The decision to cut away should be made by an altitude of 1,800 feet AGL; the cutaway should begin by 1,600 feet AGL. With high speed malfunctions, rate of descent may be 120 mph or faster, leaving seven seconds or less to take corrective action to allow time for a normal deployment.

Note: Students are trained that the “hard deck” or decision altitude is 2,500 feet AGL with the cutaway to be performed by 2,300 feet AGL.

6. LOOK at the reserve handle before cutting away and keep your eyes on it until the reserve has been pulled.

Note: Skydivers should be equipped with single-point riser releases (one handle releases both risers) for easy and rapid dis-engagement from the main canopy.

B. The canopy transfer method may be necessary if jumper is too low to cutaway safely. The reserve is deployed without releasing the main.

8-3.18 RESERVE STATIC LINE

All skydivers should consider using a reserve static line device (RSL):

A. This is a lanyard that is attached to a main canopy riser, which activates the reserve ripcord so that reserve deployment begins immediately and automatically after separation of the main risers from the harness.

B. Full deployment can be achieved within 100 feet after cut-away, although it may take longer.

C. An RSL may not be desirable when engaging in canopy relative work (CRW).

D. When using a reserve static line device, a cross connector should not be attached when using piggyback equipment unless the manufacturer’s instructions require one.

 

Important: When using a reserve static line device, the skydiver must not depend on the static line device—immediately after the cutaway, manually pull the reserve ripcord.

 

 


Required Reading: 

                        FAR Part 105.43 (Parachute equipment and packing requirements)

                        SIM 2-1.11 (Parachute equipment)

                        ISP CAT C: on flying canopy in turbulence

 

Jump pre-brief:

·       Review off-field landings (emphasis on where not to land and courtesy to land owner)

·       Review downwind landings (PLF)

·       Review landings in light to no winds

·       NEW - Discuss (Angle of Attack) AOA

·       NEW - Discuss wing loading and canopy selection (possible downsize for student canopy)

·       NEW - Discuss turbulence (buildings, trees; turbulence could be up to 20X height of obstacle; thermals, dust devils)

·       NEW - Stability recovery: Altitude – Relax – Arch – Check Legs & Arms – Heading Control – Altitude

·       Review pattern with different winds

·       NEW - Student suggest landing pattern (Flight Plan and use flight planner cards)

·       NEW - tongue out signal (legs out)

·       NEW - No pull if alone (provided stable and in control)

·       NEW - Stability recovery (inverted – roll out of bed)  relax – arch – check alt – check body position

 

Free Fall:

·       COA (full)

·       1 PT

·       Toe Touches

·       Reserve JM Release with Main side concurrence and Main maintains grips

·       COA (short) - TLO

·       RT 90° - TLO

·       LT 180° - TLO

·       Reserve JM return to slot no grips (unless necessary)

·       Wave-off at 5000 -TLO

·       Pull by 4500 (unassisted ) – TLO

 

Canopy:

·       Pattern with minimum assistance

·       Flare with minimum assistance


Required Reading:

FAA FAR Part 105.43

Sec. 105.43 Use of single-harness, dual-parachute systems.

No person may conduct a parachute operation using a single-harness, dual-parachute system, and no pilot in command of an aircraft may allow any person to conduct a parachute operation from that aircraft using a single-harness, dual-parachute system, unless that system has at least one main parachute, one approved reserve parachute, and one approved single person harness and container that are packed as follows:

(a) The main parachute must have been packed within 120 days before the date of its use of a certificated parachute rigger, the person making the next jump with that parachute, or a non-certificated person under the direct supervision of a certification parachute rigger.

(b) The reserve parachute must have been packed by a certificated parachute rigger

(1) Within 120 days before the date of its use, if its canopy, shroud, and harness are composed exclusively of nylon, rayon, or similar synthetic fiber or material that is substantially resistant to damage from mold, mildew, and other fungi, and other rotting agents propagated in a moist environment; or

(2) Within 60 days before the date of its use, if it is composed of any amount of silk, pongee, or other natural fiber, or material not specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section.

(c) If installed, the automatic activation device must be maintained in accordance with manufacturer instructions for that automatic activation device.

 

SIM 2- 1.11

2-1.11 PARACHUTE EQUIPMENT

A. Each skydiver is to be equipped with a light when performing night jumps.

B. All students are to be equipped with the following equipment.

1. A rigid helmet (except tandem students)

2. A piggyback harness/container system that includes a single point riser release and a reserve static line

3. A visually accessible altimeter

4. A functional automatic activation device that meets the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule

5. A ram-air main canopy suitable for student use

6. A steerable reserve canopy appropriate to the student’s weight

7. For freefall, a ripcord-activated, spring-loaded, pilot chute-equipped main parachute (except tandem students) or bottom of container (BOC), throw-out pilot chute

C. Novices must receive additional ground instruction in emergency procedures and deployment-specific information before jumping any unfamiliar system.

D. For each AFF jump, each AFF Jumpmaster shall be equipped with a visually accessible altimeter.

E. Students, non-licensed skydivers, and all skydivers wearing a round main or reserve canopy shall wear

flotation gear when the intended exit, opening, or landing point is within one mile of an open body of water (an open body of water is defined as one in which a skydiver could drown.)

 

FB


USPA – ISP – Flying Canopy in Turbulence

USPA – ISP – CAT C – Flying a Canopy in Turbulence

 

1. Jumpers sometimes encounter turbulence in the landing area.

a. Anticipate turbulence 10-20 times the height of an obstacle on the downwind side.

b. The effects and likelihood of turbulence increase with wind speed.

c. Turbulence often occurs—

(1) near runways

(2) alongside roads

(3) where two areas of different colors or textures meet

(4) behind other canopies (wake turbulence)

(5) over irregular terrain

(6) downwind of the propeller wash of a taxiing aircraft

 

2. When flying in turbulence—

a. Maintain the desired heading using smooth but effective toggle input.

b. Fly with minimum brakes or as directed in canopy owner’s manual.

c. Prepare for a very hard landing.

 

 


 


 

 

 



Required Reading:

                        Review Level 3 material

 

 

Jump pre-brief:

·       Review – Discuss (Angle of Attack) AOA

·       Review – Discuss wing loading and canopy selection (possible downsize for student canopy)

·       Review – Stability recovery: Altitude – Relax – Arch – Check Legs & Arms –  Heading Control – Altitude

·       Review – Discuss turbulence (buildings, trees, turbulence could be up to 20X height from obstacle; thermals dust devils)

·       Student suggest landing pattern (Flight Plan and use flight planner cards)

 

Free Fall:

·       Stable exit within 5 sec. with 2 JMs (gripped)

·       COA – Full

·       1 PRCP

·       COA – Short – TLO

·       Both JMs Release – TLO

·       Heading Maintenance – TLO

·       Wave-off at 5500’

·       Pull by 4500’ – no contact – TLO

 

Canopy:

·       Clearing Turns

·       Pattern entry for left hand pattern selected correctly in flight – TLO

·       PLF – If not done yet – TLO