Parachute Courses

There are three different ways you can make your first parachute jump. You can do either a RAPS or an Accelerated FreeFall course, to learn how to skydive by yourself, or you can do a one-off tandem skydive with an instructor. All of these course are organised by the YUSPC and are done at our local dropzone (Target Skysports) in Hibaldstow.


Ram Air Progression Systems (RAPS) Course

The RAPS course is the course that most people take to get into parachuting and skydiving. This course starts off with a static line decent from around 4,000 ft. As you continue to jump, you will start to progress up the BPA Category System until you are a Category 8 (qualified) skydiver. To progress up the category system, you need to show that you can perform the previous level correctly. Theoretically, you can complete the RAPS course within 18 jumps, with the sixth jump being your first solo freefall jump. To be honest though, not many people get every level perfect, and tend to do more than the minimum jumps on some levels (e.g. a lot of people have problems with dummy pulls). Each of your jumps are subsidised by the YUSPC and all the extra training and maneouvres for subsequent levels is given by instructors completely FREE!


The RAPS training takes a full day to complete, and includes a simple test at the end to make sure you know the information given to you (NOTE: don't panic about the test, as it is very simple, and if you do get something wrong, the instructor will cover it again quickly to make sure you understand it). You may or may not be able to jump the same day as your training (depending on the weather and time of year (in the summer it stays light a lot longer). You will be using modern square canopies for this course, which allows for soft landings. The stories of broken bones you might hear of people jumping with round parachutes are a thing of the past!


Check out a couple of pictures of people doing jumps on the raps course. Also check out a full description of each jump you will do on the BPA Progression page.


Visit the prices page for more information on the costs of the RAPS system.


Accelerated FreeFall (AFF) Course

The accelerated free fall course is an 8 level course which throws students "in at the deep end." Your first three levels will be with 2 highly qualified instructors, who will hang on to you as you exit the plane from the maximum altitude (at Target Skysports this is around 12,000-15,000 ft). The instructors will then hold onto you while you are in free fall, and you will deploy your own parachute by pulling a ripcord around 5,000 ft.


Each level in this course will introduce new skills and movements until you eventually graduate from the course. After graduation, you are then required to do 10 solo consolidation jumps, after which you will be awarded your Category 8 skydiving licence. The 10 consolidation jumps you do can be classed as fun jumps, as you can do nearly whatever you want on them. For instance you could use then to do your throwaway conversion (this conversion allows you to downsize your canopy when you are qualified), or you could just mess about in the air doing turns and front and back loops. Details about the 8 different AFF levels can be found on the BPA Progression page.


AFF, as the name suggests, is the "fast track" way to get your Cat-8 licence, but it also costs a whole lot more (currently it is around £1200), and that doesn't guarantee that you pass each level on your first go. As with RAPS, an instructor might decide that you didn't perform well enough at a certain level, and you will need to pay extra to retake that level.


Check out a couple of pictures and movies of people doing their AFF jumps. Also check out the BPA Progression page for more information on each of the 8 AFF levels. Also check out the AFF page over at Target Skysport for more information on this course.


Due to the high cost of the AFF course, the YUSPC is unable to subsidise this method of training. Please contact a member of the committee, or email the club for more information on this method of training.


Tandem Skydive

A tandem skydive is a decent made from up to 15,000ft while you are securely strapped to the front of an experienced skydiving instructor. You will exit the plane straight into freefall for up to 60 seconds before the parachute is deployed by the instructor at about 5,000ft. At this point, you will have about 5 minutes of a canopy ride which will end in a nice soft landing.


This is a quick, easy and great way to experience the thrill of skydiving while within the safe hands of an experienced instructor. Furthermore, at a slight extra cost, you can have the entire experience videoed to keep forever.


Here is a link to a couple of pictures of a tandem skydive: Tandem Pictures


Please contact a member of the committee, or email the club for more information on the price of a tandem jump.


Parachute Levels

The following information has been taken directly from the BPA Operations Manual (October 2002 Rewrite) and explains how the BPA classifies parachutists. This information can also be found on the BPA webpage The following information is available:


Designation of Parachutists

  • Student Parachutist - Below FAI 'A' Certificate (Red)
  • Intermediate Parachutist - Holds an FAI 'A' Certificate (Red) and above, but below FAI 'B' Certificate (Red)
  • Experienced Parachutist - Holds an FAI 'B' Certificate (Red) and above

FAI (Brtish Standard) Certificate (Red)

  • 'A' Certificate - Category 8
  • 'B' Certificate - FAI 'A' Certificate, 50 descents and at least 'IC-Grade 1'
  • 'C' Certificate - FAI 'B' Certificate, 200 descents and at least one further 'Grade 1'
  • 'D' Certificate - FAI 'C' Certificate, and 1000 descents

Ram Air Progression System (RAPS)

Category 1

Has received a minimum of six hours ground training and has been cleared to make a first static line descent.

Category 2

Has demonstrated the ability to fall in a stable position counting throughout.

Category 3

Has demonstrated the ability to perform three consecutive stable Dummy Ripcord Pulls (DRP's), counting and maintaing a positive arch throughout.

Category 4

Has demonstrated the ability to perform two consecutive stable delayed openings, counting throughout, of between three and five seconds.

Category 5

Has demonstrated the ability to perform two consecutive stable delayed openings of ten seconds, maintaining a heading and counting throughout.

Category 6

Has demonstrated the ability to perform the following:
  • Two consecutive delayed openings of fifteen seconds
  • Use an altimeter in freefall

Category 7

Has demonstrated the ability to perform controlled 360° turns in both directions.

Category 8

Has demonstrated the ability to perform the following:

  • An unstable exit
  • A dive exit
  • Back loops
  • Tracks, including a track turn as an avoidance manoeuvre
  • A back loop, 360° left turn, 360° right turn, a short track and wave off from a minimum of 8,000ft AGL

Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) Levels

The following 8 levels along with 10 consolidation jumps need to be completed before cat-8 is awarded.


Additional possible excercises may be introduced at the instrcutor's discretion at a level indicated at any subsequent level.

Level 1

Has completed 'Ground School' and has acheived the following:
  • Heading awareness
  • Awareness of altimeter and instructors
  • Resonably co-ordinated Practice Pulls
  • Pull on instructor's signals
a) Solo pull on own altitude awareness
b) Heel clicks
c) Free arm time

Level 2

  • Free arm time
  • Practice Pulls
  • Resonable body position
  • Solo pull on own altitude awareness
a) Turns (instructor attached)
b) Tracking (instructor attached)
c) Secondary instructor release

Level 3

  • Leg and arm awareness
  • Heading maintenence (whilst totally released)
a) Spotting

Level 4

  • Start and stop turns
a) 360° turns
b) Solo exit
c) Tracking
d) Wave off

Level 5

  • Turns left and right
a) Dive exit
b) Sub-terminal control

Level 6

  • Solo exit
  • Sub-terminal control
  • Attempt back-loop(s)
  • Tracking
  • Wave off
a) Front loop(s)
b) Unstable exit

Level 7

  • Dive exit
  • Alternate 360° turns
  • Back loop(s)
  • Track and track turns
  • Wave off

Level 8

  • Solo exit and pull stable within 10 seconds

N.B. Student Parachutists cannot progress more than one level per descent
N.B. Levels 1-3 require 2 AFF instrcutors and levels 4-8 require 1 AFF instrcutor


The Grading System

Once a parachutist has obtained Category 8, that parachutist's continuation training will continue via a choice of various disciplines:


Individual Canopy (IC1)

To obtain Grade 1 in Individual Canopy (IC1) the parachutist must, be introduced to IC by a CCI nominated IC1 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven IC instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Control the canopy using risers
  • Achieve five consecutive, pre-declared landings within 10 metres of a target
  • Spot from at least 10,000 ft AGL

The parachutist must also:

  • Receive a full safety brief (given by an instructor) on, be familiar with and be able to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a Jumpmaster and has received an introduction to the BPA Operations Manual.
  • Receive a full safety brief (given by an instructor) on, be familiar with and be able to carry out flight line checking on other parachutists of Category 8 and above.
  • Receive a full brief (given by a CCI nominated IC1 Grade parachutist) on, and be able to undertake, packing and basic maintenance on a ram air canopy.

Formation Skydiving (FS1)

To obtain Grade 1 in Formation Skydiving (FS1) the parachutist must, be introduced to FS by a CCI nominated FS1 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven FS instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Control fall rate.
  • Control horizontal movement, (forwards, backwards and sideways).
  • Achieve 'docking' techniques.
  • Turn in place.
  • Dive and approach a target.
  • Complete four points of 4-way FS.

Canopy Formation (CF1)

To obtain Grade 1 in Canopy Formation (CF1) the parachutist must, be introduced to CF by a CCI nominated CF1 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven CF instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Approach a target canopy.
  • Control 3D movement, in relation to other canopies (up, down, forwards, backwards and sideslip).
  • Achieve 'docking' techniques.
  • Pilot a 4-stack/plane.
  • Dock 4th on a 4-stack/plane.
  • Spot for CF from at least 8,000 ft AGL.

Individual Style (IS1)

To obtain Grade 1 in Individual Style (IS1) the parachutist must, be introduced to IS by a CCI nominated IS1 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven IS instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Complete a 'Full Series' with precision within 16 seconds.

Freestyle/Freeflying (FF1)

To obtain Grade 1 in Freestyle/Freeflying (FF1) the parachutist must first demonstrate (in a belly to earth position) the ability to:

  • Control fall rate.
  • Control horizontal movement, (forwards, backwards and sideways).
  • Achieve 'docking' techniques.
  • Turn in place.
  • Dive and approach a target.

The parachutist may then be introduced to FF (for FF1 training) by a CCI nominated FF2 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven FF instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Fly in a controlled sit/stand position.
  • Control fall rate in a sit/stand position.
  • Control forward and backward movement in a sit/stand position.
  • Control turns in both directions in a sit/stand position.
  • Fly relative to others in a sit/stand position.

Note: Once FF1 has been obtained, the parachutist must not make FF descents with others without CCI approval, (a log book endorsement will suffice) and initially only small groups (e.g. 2-3 ways)


Freestyle/Freeflying (FF2)

To obtain Grade 2 in Freestyle/Freeflying (FF2) the parachutist must be Grade 1 in FF (FF1) and be introduced to FF2 by a CCI nominated FF2 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven FF instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Fly in a controlled head down position.
  • Control fall rate in a head down position.
  • Control turns in both directions in a head down position.
  • Fly relative to others in a head down position.
  • Display independent body movement in a head down position, e.g. hand claps.

Skysurfing (SS1)

To obtain Grade 1 in Skysurfing (SS1) the parachutists must first be an FAI 'C' Certificate (Red) holder and demonstrate the ability to:

  • Control fall rate.
  • Control horizontal movement, (forwards, backwards and sideways).
  • Achieve 'docking' techniques.
  • Turn in place.
  • Dive and approach a target.
  • Maintain a 'stand up' position for 15 consecutive seconds.
  • Perform a controlled 360 degree turn in both directions whilst in a 'stand up' position.
  • Perform a straight body position forward and backward loop starting and returning back to a 'stand up' position.
  • Return back to a stable (belly to earth) position within 3-5 seconds from a fast side or back spin of at least 2 revolutions per second.

The parachutist may then be introduced to SS (for SS1 training) by a CCI nominated SS2 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven SS instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Jump a board of at least 3 feet in length and deploy in a 'stand up' position.
  • Perform a stable 'surfing down the slipstream' type exit.
  • Perform a controlled 360 degree turn in both directions whilst upright on the board.
  • Perform a controlled back or front loop on the board.
  • Demonstrate forward movement by tracking whilst upright on the board.

Note: Once SS1 has been obtained, the parachutist must not make SS descents with others without CCI approval, (a log book endorsement will suffice) and initially only small groups (e.g. 2-3 ways).


Skysurfing (SS2)

To obtain Grade 2 in Skysurfing (SS2) the parachutist must be Grade 1 in SS (SS1) and be introduced to SS2 by a CCI nominated FF2 Grade parachutist or equivalent of proven SS instructional ability, have received a full safety brief and demonstrated the ability to:

  • Perform a controlled seated turn of 720 degrees (sit spin), starting and stopping on heading.
  • Perform a controlled 'helicopter' spin, rotating a minimum of 3 x 360 degrees but not exceeding 6 complete revolutions.
  • Perform a full 360 degree backloop or frontloop with a half twist from a standing position, under control.

Note:

  • The award of a Grade in any of the disciplines may only be made by an Advanced Instructor.
  • Grades are awarded by the placement of a discipline specific stamp in the parachutist's FAI Certificate.
  • FAI 'D' Certificate (Red) parachutists wishing to take part in the above disciplines (except Skysurfing) may do so without first taking part in the various Grading System training requirements, though they are recommended to do so.

Student Tandem Parachutists

A Student Tandem Parachutist is a person being introduced to parachuting, including instruction prior to and during the descent, by a Tandem Instructor.