Uspa AFF rating cursus

The AFF rating is our most popular rating. Being able to teach someone the sport that we all love so much is rewarding and fun. The AFF rating course is the most challenging and rewarding course we offer. Our goal is to teach you the skills necessary to pass the AFF rating course before we test you so you can be a confident AFF Instructor ready to train students.

Requirements:

To participate in a USPA AFF rating course you need the following:

• be 18 years old
• USPA membership
• USPA C-license. Starting January 1, 2013 USPA only accepts USPA Licenses.
  We can help you with the USPA License application.
• be a USPA coach or Instructor from another discipline(IAD, S.L or USPA
  Tandem)
• if you hold the Coach rating for less than 12 months you need to have at least 500 jumps
• Documentation of 6 hours of accumulated free fall time
• Have the pre-requisites of the USPA AFF proficiency card signed off.

Foreign candidates need to show an FAI C License. The FAI logo must be on your license. If your license does not have this, you need to contact your national organization and ask for an FAI License. Most countries will issue them on request.

If you are not able to get an FAI license you can do the USPA license tests when you get with us. To obtain the C-license all previous license requirements need to be met as well and the previous license tests need to be made. USPA requires a copy of your FAI license with the AFF Instructor application.

Preparation:

The course books for any USPA rating course are the SIM and IRM which can be ordered from USPA. You are required to arrive at the course with the IRM written exam for that specific course completed. The IRM exams are open book tests.A score of 80 % is required to pass the exam.

The USPA AFF Proficiency Card:

The AFF proficiency card is in the back of the IRM or if you send us an email we will send you one .This card needs to be signed off at the pre-requisites before the course starts If you are already an instructor you can skip the starred numbers. The signatures are valid for 24 months so don't worry about starting too early.The numbers on the back of the card are signed during the course by the Instructor Examiner. This is all marked on the card itself and is pretty much self explanatory.

Equipment concerns:

For your and our safety we ask you to remove all sharp objects from your helmet for the practice and evaluation jumps. Things like brackets and camera housings etcetera. Because there is head to body contact on exit and sometimes during the skydive as well, smooth helmets are a must. Full face helmets are allowed during the course.

Bring a jumpsuit that you are comfortable with. Bootie suits are a great help because in AFF aggressive flying is sometimes necessary. For a larger range in fall rate weightbelts and baggy shirts over a normal jumpsuit are very helpfull. The pre-course is the time to try out new suits and get comfortable with your suit.

AFF pre-course training:

We start our AFF courses with AFF pre-course training. SkydiveRatings has developed a pre-course program which has proven since 1993, to prepare candidates to be succesful in the AFF rating course. During AFF pre-course you will receive coaching in the specific AFF in-air skills:

• flying hard exits,
• slot flying with a moving student
• reading the students body position
• properly presenting handsignals,
• stopping spins,
• rolling over an inverted student
• assisting with deployment including pulling for the student.

The pre-course will prepare you 100% for the evaluation jumps. After each jump you will receive a recommendation from your evaluator.If you like we can organize windtunnel training for you as well (Florida courses) If you would like to receive our AFF pre-course modules, just send us an email and ask for AFF course info. (info@skydiveratings.com)

The Course:

After the first day of Pre-course there is a full day of class. Once the class is completed we can start with evaluations. However we allow candidates to continue to make practice jumps if they are not ready for the "hot jumps" yet. On average an AFF rating course takes 4-5 days to complete depending on the size of the group and weather conditions.

To pass the course you need to score satisfactory on:

• Category C main side evaluation jump
• Category C reserve side evaluation jump
• Category D evaluation jump
• Category C and D ground preparation
• score 80 % on the IRM written exam

To score satisfactory on an evaluation jump you have to score 75 % satisfactory on the AFF in air evaluation form. You can find the evaluation forms in the IRM. The scoring will be explained to you during the AFF pre-course and you will know exactly what we are looking for.