By Angie Aragon, AFF-E

USPACourses.com 

If you are signed up or are about to sign up to an AFF Instructor Rating Course (AFFIRC) then you are at the right place.  First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on deciding to take the next step in your skydiving career.  Here you will learn how to prepare yourself for one of the most memorable experiences of your life!  Decide.  Commit.  Act.  Succeed.  

Remember that it’s all about the journey…enjoy.    

Are you Ready to Register?  Register Now!

Once started, the AFFIRC moves at a rapid pace.  Our courses include a minimum of 10 jumps, which is a combination of practice & evaluation jumps over a 5-7 day period.  We will be adding a minimum of 3 new skills per training jump.  It is absolutely necessary to prepare ahead of time and be ready to start learning all the relevant parts of being an AFF Instructor.   

Book stuff to read before you start practice jumps:  

You eventually need to read the entire AFF section of the Instructor Rating Manual for the exam, but when it comes to practicing maneuvers in the sky the following sections will give you enough of an introduction to get started.

Instructor Rating Manual:  Read section A-3: AFF Method in the IRM.  Here you will learn about Routine Procedures (section 3-1), Problem Solving (section 3-2), and Emergencies (section 3-3).   

Skydiving Information Manual:  The exit and diveflow you will be using during training will be from Category C & D, which can be found in section 4 (Integrated Student Program).  In preparation for jumps you should memorize these basic diveflows, read SIM section 4-C & 4-D.  You should also watch the videos and become familiar with both the instructor and student expectations.  Videos can be found on the USPA website: Rating Holders and S&TA/ Resources/ ISP Category Diveflows OR click this link: diveflows.  

Safety for training jumps: 

Exit 

• It is not advisable to do tumbling exits for practice, remember that if you are tumbling you are picking up speed.  You also haven’t been trained for rollover recovery of a tumbling exit so you can possibly dislodge or pull an emergency handle if done incorrectly. 

Freefall 

• It is not advisable to do rollover drills in freefall until you have been properly trained.  You risk dislodging or pulling an emergency handle if the procedure is done incorrectly.
• Spin stop drills should have a maximum speed of 2 seconds per revolution while in freefall.    
• You should NEVER be doing any AFF training drills below 4k feet.  
• It is not advisable to do live pulls for your acting student until you have been properly trained. 

Automatic Activation Device 

• All participants involved in even the most basic AFF training jumps should have an AAD.

Exit drills:

You can have your acting student give you a bad count or momentarily de-arch on exit.  When practicing your exits focus on the Set Up in the door, the timing of your Launch and your presentation during the Flyaway (on the hill).  For safety, hold off on tumbling exits or roll recovery drills, this is part of the training you will receive in the AFFIRC.  

Freefall Drills:  

The following section goes into detail about the maneuvers which you can work on during freefall training.  I have numbered them in order of importance.  You should NEVER be doing any AFF drills below 4k feet.  It is not advisable to do live pulls for your acting student until you have been properly trained.  Show up to the course capable of slot flying and staying on level during the Bottom End Sequence.  If you show up able to do that then you will be doing live pulls by the 3rd training jump.  Don’t jump the gun, just show up prepared!

1. MOST IMPORTANT: Slot fly, Slot fly, Slot fly  

I can not emphasize enough how important it is for you to have strong slot flying skills.  Slot flying is the foundation of the AFFIRC!!  You should be able to stay within arms reach and be able to get back into that position within 5 seconds.  Jump with different sized people and have a couple of jumpsuit options, if you normally sink then get yourself some drag, if you normally float then get yourself a weight belt.  Whatever your configuration is, you should have full range and be able to fully extend your legs for drive as well as fully extend your arms to give hand signals.  It’s important that you can do these two basic things without sinking or floating.  Dress for success!! 

You can also start to collect your arsenal of dependable gear, i.e. comfortable helmet (full face is recommended), a low profile camera set up, a visible altimeter and audible, various jumpsuits, a weight belt, etc.  I have seen it time and time again that people end up with delays and a lot of frustration during the course because they did not show up with the right gear.  The AFFIRC is a challenging course, delays due to not having the right gear is costly, stressful and COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE.  

2. Level, Slot, Dock

Remember that flying level is necessary so you don’t end up over or under your student.  Slot fly, get close, as if you are going to grip with your teeth.  Be purposeful with your docks.  Identify the location where you plan to take a grip and fly your hand onto that grip.  

3. Release Sequence 

There are two release sequences, one for Cat C and one for Cat D.  You will need to be familiar with both.  This release sequence can be found in section A-3 of the IRM.  You can also see it in the dive flow videos. Click this link: diveflows.  Before doing these drills in the sky have them become muscle memory with sufficient creeper practice, do it over and over again. You can then practice this in the sky with your acting student.

4. Eight Second Dance (main & reserve)

To pass the AFFIRC you will need to perform the Bottom End Sequence each and every time.  The procedures for this can be found in section A-3 of the IRM.  Within the Problem Solving section see Deployment Problem Sequence for Category C and Deployment Problem Sequence for Category D.  I recommend that you memorize the procedure and do ALOT of practice on the ground so that you become accustomed to the flow and timing of the procedures.  If you choose to do this in freefall then simply use a firm TAP TAP on the acting student to simulate deployment.  You should NEVER be doing any AFF drills below 4k feet.  It is not advisable to do live pulls for your acting student until you have been properly trained.  Again, don’t rush the process, you will be pulling for people in no time.

5. Spin Stops Drills

This is easy to practice with an acting student.  Start by practicing on the ground.  For safety reasons, spin stop drill should have a maximum speed of 2 second per revolution.  Spinning creates a lot of speed and momentum.  We will build up to faster spin stops in the AFFIRC.  Focus on technique, slot flying, and observing the spin, be able to drive in quickly.  Docks taken during spin stop drills should be between the knee and torso for leg grips; and between the elbow and shoulder for arm grips.  Leg grips between the knee and foot for arm grips OR between the elbow and hand do not constitute proper spin stop technique.  

6. Roll Over Drills

It is not advisable to do rollover drills in the sky with an acting student outside of the AFFIRC.  As part of the course you will be trained on the correct rollover technique.  You risk dislodging or pulling an emergency handle if you do this maneuver incorrectly. 

Canopy preparation:

• Do all the canopy dive flows that are in the ISP, section 4 of the SIM.  Read the canopy section within each Category which explains basic canopy education for a student.  Start with Category B and run through each canopy drill all the way to Category H.  This is easy to do but takes a bit of planning, do these drills during your normal jumps.  Follow the dive flow standards.
• Observe ground to air instruction of real students, the more the better.

Ground training:

Try and use your Coach Rating for belly jumps as much as you can.  If your dz isn’t allowing you to use it with non-licensed individuals then do coaching jumps with jumpers that have 50 jumps or less.  And, shadow as much ground training as you can.  Be a fly on the wall, observe & learn.  In addition to the proficiency card items, I advise you to observe/assist in a minimum of two harness room review sessions and two recurrency training sessions.  

Mentorship:

When you get your AFFI Rating you are essentially getting a license to start learning.  You will want to find yourself a good mentor.  Your progression will be much better if you are eased into the more challenging jumps versus being thrown into the job and expected to do all the categories or levels straight out of a course.  It’s just like any other trade in that regard, there will be lots of “on the job training”.  If you know that you will be working at a particular dz then you should study their diveflows and canopy progression.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns or need further explanation.  But, before you reach out please read the “Book stuff before you start practice jumps” that is mentioned above as that will most likely answer your questions.

About the Author:  Angie Aragon is a USPA Coach, Tandem, and AFFI Examiner with 7K+ jumps.  She proudly serves as your USPA National Director and is an advisor to the Safety & Training Committee.  Her home base is Skydive Perris & Skydive Chicago, but you can find her and her 3 animals traveling around the country during her summer tour!!

Are you Ready to Register?  Register Now!

UPCOMING AFF INSTRUCTOR RATING COURSES: 

When it comes to skydiving products, buy from the best! UPT Vector, Larsen & Brusgaard, and don’t forget to ask me about my sexy Cookie Helmet!  MEOW!