Either you're looking at this page thinking about signing up to a uni club (DO IT!!) or you've already signed up... well this is the place where you can learn all about all the different ways to start skydiving. Details of each training method are below, be it just a tandem for the experience, or RAPS - a course suited to the uni student that fits around your time and money constraints, or AFF - the fast track route to skydiving!
Do A SkydiveAll training through the clubs takes place at Langar Airfield in Nottingham, and is conducted by BPA qualified instructors.
RAPS (Ram Air Progression System):With Raps you start off on static line which means on your first jump all you have to do is push yourself out of the plane and the parachute is deployed for you. The previous day (after a fun night in the bar!) you will be trained in how to exit the aircraft and guide your parachute safely down to earth as well as ways to deal with anything that may happen.After the 2 first static line jumps, you then progress to dummy ripcord pulls which prepare you for pulling for your own parachute. After 3 consecutive successful dummy ripcord pulls, you have your first solo freefall and these continue for longer and longer amounts of time before you're taken all the way to altitude and the fun begins!! In order to progress you are taught different skills to learn on each jump and have to demonstrate these before being cleared to move onto the next level. You can get qualified in a minimum of 18 jumps however the average is around 25.
Click here for more info from BPS Langar..AFF (Accelerated FreeFall):This is the quickest and most popular way to get into the sport. It differs to RAPS in the way that all the jumps take place from 15,000ft, so that's 1min freefall on your first jump. For the first three jumps you have 2 instructors in freefall with you and for the remaining 5 only 1. Once again, you are taught different skills to learn on ech jump and must demonstrate these before moving onto the next level. After you've completed the 8 levels of AFF you have to do 10 solo consolidation jumps and then you're free to come and jump with us!
Click here for more info
Tandem:The quickest way to experience freefall, you get strapped to a very qualified instructor who guides you down in freefall and under canopy. A good idea if you're unsure whether the sport is for you or not.
Getting Qualified:To become a qualified skydiver, you have to complete the series of jumps, either through RAPS or AFF to get to your level Cat 8 . After reaching Cat 8 you have to perform 3 CH1 (Canopy Handling) jumps (increasing the travel of your canopy using the steering toggles, complete flat turns and display a safe landing pattern) and a written open-book test on canopy handling. On completion of this you are awarded your 'A Certificate' which qualifies you to jump solo anywhere in the world!
After Qualifying:From your A certificate, you can aim for a B, then a C and then finally a D. There are also individual gradings which allow you to become a better skydiver and parachutist.
To gain a B certificate, you need to have a packing certificate, JM1 (Jump Master 1), CH2 (Canopy Handling 2) and 50 jumps.
To gain a C certificate, you need all of the above plus 200 jumps and a further individual rating (such as FS1, see below).To gain a D certificate requires all the above plus 1000 jumps.Other individual ratings include:FS1 (Formation Skydiving 1) which teaches you how to jump safely with other people and the basic skills needed for formation skydiving. After gaining this qualification you are free to go and jump with your friends, so long as they have FS1 too!FF1 (Free Flying 1) which teaches you the basics of freeflying in a head up position and teaches you to safely freefly with others. Once you have FF1 you are allowed to freefly with other FF1 holders in a head up orientation.There are a number of other gradings including, skysurfing, canopy piloting, head-down freefly, and style- with the number of options available the sky really is the limit!