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AFF Skydiving: Parachutes, Training, AFF Courses, Safety And Prices
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Published: November 21, 2007
For those who value a fast-paced, adrenaline filled lifestyle, skydiving may become a common pastime. After all, what better way to spend an afternoon than plummeting downwards towards the Earth from over 10,000 feet in the air? However, for those more inclined to stay planted with two feet on the ground, skydiving may seem like an act of pure insanity.
Skydivers tend to disagree with this notion. They are always looking for more exhilarating, faster ways to feel that rush. With AFF skydiving, any potential skydiver will be on the fast track to free falling in no time at all.
AFF is an acronym for accelerated freefall, which refers to a method of skydiving training. With AFF skydiving, the student jumps with one or two instructors who teach them the basics of skydiving techniques and safety. AFF skydiving is the fastest way to learn how to solo freefall. This accelerated learning technique actually provides the skydivers with an opportune chance to experience real skydiving while being taught the ropes.
AFF skydiving, in its most basic form, involves the students and instructors exiting the aircraft at between 10,000 and 14,500 feet. The freefall lasts for between 30 and 50 seconds total, before the parachutes are opened at approximately 4,000 feet. Students release their own chutes, however, if they forget or become too nervous, the instructors will respond to any distress. Instructors will first point to the pilot chute, reminding the students to deploy. If this fails, instructors will place the students' hands on the chute, or ultimately deploy the chute themselves. If any kind of crisis occurs midair during AFF skydiving, there is an automatic activation device (AAD) that deploys the parachutes once the students have reached a certain altitude. This safety feature is devised so the students are protected while AFF skydiving, regardless of extraneous circumstances.
There are eight levels to complete during AFF skydiving. During these various AFF courses, certain targeted learning objectives, or TLOs, must be honed. The AFF skydiving instructors help teach students proper body positions and other skydiving techniques during training. For more advanced students, instructors teach aerial stunts and maneuvers such as twists, turns and flips. During AFF courses, students are also taught how to lose and regain control while skydiving. All of these TLOs must be reached and perfected before graduating from AFF courses.
AFF skydiving does not come cheap, so only those serious about the sport should invest in the discipline. Prices for the first jump range from $225-$355, depending on whether one chute is shared between the student and instructor or if two separate parachutes are used. Considering there are eight levels of AFF skydiving, the costs per jump add up quickly. Prices total upwards of $3000 for a complete AFF skydiving experience.
Avid skydivers may contest that no price can be put on heart-pumping, adrenalizing excitement. However, before any action can take place thousands of feet above the ground, proper skydiving lessons must be accomplished. AFF skydiving is the best of both worlds in this aspect, as the realistic training can be completed in a relatively short amount of time. AFF skydiving also puts safety as a number one priority when skydiving. No matter how tough and edgy a given skydiver may be, the freefaller must know how to properly execute a jump. If not, plunging towards the ground at the speed of light does not seem so exhilarating.
Sources:
"Solo Freefall (USPA Accelerated Freefall)." USPA. 2003. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.uspa.org/about/index.htm#aff.
"Accelerated Freefall." Wikipedia. 24 Sept. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Freefall.
"Repeat Skydive Information." Skydive Orange. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.skydiveorange.com/repeat.htm.
AFF is an acronym for accelerated freefall, which refers to a method of skydiving training. With AFF skydiving, the student jumps with one or two instructors who teach them the basics of skydiving techniques and safety. AFF skydiving is the fastest way to learn how to solo freefall. This accelerated learning technique actually provides the skydivers with an opportune chance to experience real skydiving while being taught the ropes.
AFF skydiving, in its most basic form, involves the students and instructors exiting the aircraft at between 10,000 and 14,500 feet. The freefall lasts for between 30 and 50 seconds total, before the parachutes are opened at approximately 4,000 feet. Students release their own chutes, however, if they forget or become too nervous, the instructors will respond to any distress. Instructors will first point to the pilot chute, reminding the students to deploy. If this fails, instructors will place the students' hands on the chute, or ultimately deploy the chute themselves. If any kind of crisis occurs midair during AFF skydiving, there is an automatic activation device (AAD) that deploys the parachutes once the students have reached a certain altitude. This safety feature is devised so the students are protected while AFF skydiving, regardless of extraneous circumstances.
There are eight levels to complete during AFF skydiving. During these various AFF courses, certain targeted learning objectives, or TLOs, must be honed. The AFF skydiving instructors help teach students proper body positions and other skydiving techniques during training. For more advanced students, instructors teach aerial stunts and maneuvers such as twists, turns and flips. During AFF courses, students are also taught how to lose and regain control while skydiving. All of these TLOs must be reached and perfected before graduating from AFF courses.
AFF skydiving does not come cheap, so only those serious about the sport should invest in the discipline. Prices for the first jump range from $225-$355, depending on whether one chute is shared between the student and instructor or if two separate parachutes are used. Considering there are eight levels of AFF skydiving, the costs per jump add up quickly. Prices total upwards of $3000 for a complete AFF skydiving experience.
Avid skydivers may contest that no price can be put on heart-pumping, adrenalizing excitement. However, before any action can take place thousands of feet above the ground, proper skydiving lessons must be accomplished. AFF skydiving is the best of both worlds in this aspect, as the realistic training can be completed in a relatively short amount of time. AFF skydiving also puts safety as a number one priority when skydiving. No matter how tough and edgy a given skydiver may be, the freefaller must know how to properly execute a jump. If not, plunging towards the ground at the speed of light does not seem so exhilarating.
Sources:
"Solo Freefall (USPA Accelerated Freefall)." USPA. 2003. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.uspa.org/about/index.htm#aff.
"Accelerated Freefall." Wikipedia. 24 Sept. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Freefall.
"Repeat Skydive Information." Skydive Orange. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.skydiveorange.com/repeat.htm.
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