AFF Courses 2011 with Infinite skydiving Solutions Ltd

Do you want to learn to skydive?

Then AFF is one way to be trained to become a licensed skydiver in the UK, static line parachuting or the progression system as it is more professionally referred to is the other available method. In the opinion of Infinite Skydiving Instructor Andy Ford AFF is the only way to seriously train to become a skydiver. “I trained on static line back in the day and spent a lot of time sat on the ground because of unfavourable weather conditions, I became a static line parachute Instructor over 11 years ago and watched 1000’s of students try to progress from static line to freefall with dummy pulls being the hardest point to get past” (A dummy pull is a fake handle that the student has to reach for and pull a second after exiting and maintaining an arched position whilst the parachute opens automatically)

1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, check canopy

 

 

 

Andy goes on to say “The dummy pull was a toughest part of the progression,I have seen maybe 4 or 5 students carry out the three consecutive perfect jumps to progress without having to repeat the process multiple times, very frustrating to get the 2nd perfect jump done only to have to start again after messing up the dummy pull on the 3rd attempt”. In the worst case I watched a student on one dropzone spend a year and 70 dummy pulls getting onto freefall (good effort Graham!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arch position right of the sill of the plane

The static line progression system or R.A.P.S (Ram. Air. Progression. System.) is a very laborious way of getting to A license and i believe few make it without changing to AFF or giving up and missing out on the wonderful world of freefall.

So if you fancy having a fun and challenging day out then a R.A.P.S.  S/L course is a nice introduction to parachuting. At about £225 for a day’s training and one static line jump it is the cheapest solo way of doing a parachute jump.

A quick breakdown of the course cost:

Initial S/L course £225.00

Progression Jumps £30.00 – £40.00 (minimum jumps required 17 to reach category 8 )

Even though for a skydiving school the S/L course is a more lucrative way of introducing people into the sport at a ratio of 1 instructor to 12 students, Infinite Skydiving have decided not to train static line parachuting as we feel it is not an efficient use of our instructors. We want our students to be skydiving solo and enjoying the sport in a few weeks not a few months. All of our instructors have taught static line parachuting over many years. (Andy Ford and Andy Scott started on the traditional round parachute static line parachute courses in the late 80’s)

AFF or Accelerated Free Fall is without doubt a better system if you are serious about getting into skydiving. A day of ground school much the same as the R.A.P.S system but with some specific lessons about freefall/ in air signals/ Ac emergencies/ freefall emergencies as the aircraft will fly to 13,000ft and not 3,500ft and we are exiting into FREEFALL!! not just instant canopy ride.

Once the ground school and check of understanding are finished we generally pack up for the day to give the student a break, a lot of information is taught during the lessons and the students are generally a little tired and still processing all the information, Infinite Skydiving have found that the general performance is much better waiting to jump the next day. AFF levels one to four can easily be achieved within a day with some of our students completing five and six before retiring for a well earned beer. The AFF course and 10 consolidation jumps can be done within a week or a few weekends of fair weather

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infinite skydivings AFF course is a full package containing the following:

• All lessons, parachute equipment and briefings required to attain ‘A’ license
• 8 levels of AFF with world class Instructors (all of our Instructors are world record holders, current or ex world champions & national champions in our excellent sport)
• 1 month membership to the British Parachute Association (B.P.A. the UK governing body for all civilian parachuting)
• 10 minutes flight training in the Airkix wind tunnel at milton Keynes coached by our AFF Instructors (£175.00 if booked separately through Airkix)
• Every level videoed to assist with de-briefing, imperative to see your progression (Available on DVD at the end of the course for a £50.00 donation to a charity we support)
• Free equipment loan throughout consolidation jumps (I.E. helmet/goggles/altimeter/Jumpsuit/parachute system)
• Free coaching and briefing for all consolidation jumps (10 jumps in total)
• Professional coaching and on hand advice throughout skydiving progression with briefings/parachute packing lessons as you approach ‘B’ license (50 jumps)
• Free logbook for you to keep a perfect log of all your descents (up too 200 in a book)

All of the above costs you £1,400.00 with no hidden extra’s (unlike many European courses we won’t mention) If you like we offer a level one only package for £375.00 if you wish to try the sport without committing to the full 8 levels (you can always carry on after you have completed level 1)

Check out some levels of AFF on our website

if you wish to take up this amazing sport then give us a call on 07876500515 or drop us a line on Info@infiniteskydiving.com and feel free to call just to discuss the course.

See you for an adrenaline packed 2011

regards

Infinite Skydiving Team

Wind Tunnel flying?

Welcome to Infinite Skydiving Solutions Ltd

 

Who we are?

  Infinite Skydiving are involved in many areas of the Sport, with the core of the business providing the military with a Parachute Rigging Service for their sports parachute centre at RAF Weston On The Green. We also provide Accelerated Freefall courses and Tandem jumps for every day people who wish to experience probably the most exhilarating experience of their life, our goal being to see every one of our students land with a huge smile on their face and the desire to jump again as soon as possible.

 

Our team consists of incredibly experienced Skydivers whom have worked hard to gain the necessary ratings in the British Parachute Association (B.P.A) to be able to take our customers safely through the different courses. Alongside the ratings held, we feel you would be hard pressed to find a team with more experience across the board than at Infinite Skydiving, Multi medal winning World Champions, National champions in many of the various disciplines, including Formation Skydiving, Skysurfing, Freeflying, Vertical Relative Work V.R.W to name some of them, all passionately involved in a sport they love.

 Why form Infinite Skydiving Solutions?

Having Spent years taking Aerial Images and Aerial videography for teams and individuals only to see them used to promote someone else, watched countless student parachutists wandering aimlessly without guidance, Agency prices far above what we really charge the customer off the street and a general lack of customer service in our industry, I felt it would be a good idea to try and get a small skydiving team growing that would provide quality and experience for not only the first jump, but all the way through the customers career as a skydiver. Our first time skydiver is treated the same as our experienced skydiving buddies, as part of the sport, not as a one off cash cow and then discarded.

   

So, if you are an experienced Skydiver with a question about a skydiving discipline or looking for that first all important set of parachute equipment, an inexperienced jumper wondering how to progress using the vertical wind tunnel training program or one on one in air coaching to get to the elusive FS1 qualification, or some one who has very little idea about the Sport of parachuting, we can help, ask questions and we will do our best to provide you with a researched factual answer based on years of experience…

Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid times to ask them… As we climb out of the airplane to make a jump comes to mind…

 

Regards

 

Andy Ford 

Skydiving Glossary

I have amassed the terms below to help the newbie skydiver to get acquainted with the unusual terminology in skydiving.…All suggestions are very welcome.

A

AAD

Automatic Activation Device. A device that senses rate of descent and altitude. Set to automatically activate the reserve parachute if the skydiver passes below a set altitude at a high rate of descent. Mandatory for all student parachute systems. (Also see Cypres, Vigil, Mars, Astra, FXC).

A/C

Aircraft

Accuracy

Also known as Precision Landing, this is a competition discipline in which the skydiver attempts to land on an established target. At the National level the target is 3 cm in diameter, about the size of a ten pence piece.

AFF

Accelerated Free Fall. An AFF student receives training on free fall jumps of 40 seconds or longer, accompanied by a qualified Instructors who teach in air via hand signals. Course involves eight levels. Up to 5 times faster progression than traditional static line parachuting.

AGL

Above Ground Level. Altitudes are in reference either to Ground Level of Sea Level (see MSL). Skydivers always use AGL when referring to altitude.

Airspeed

The speed of a flying object through the air, commonly used in reference to aircraft or canopies. (Also see groundspeed)

Altimeter

A device indicating altitude AGL. Generally worn on the wrist for easy visual reference.

Altitrack

Electronic altimeter with analogue face

Angle of attack

The angle at which the wing is presented to the apparent wind. With square parachutes this changes when the brakes are applied.

Apparent wind

The wind perceived by an observer. See relative wind.

Artistics

The disciplines of Freeflying, Freestyle and Skysurfing.

Astra

An AAD made by FXC Corporation.

Aspect ratio

The ratio of a canopies span (side to side) to chord (front to back). Seven cell canopies typically have an aspect ratio of about 2.2 to one, while nine cell canopies are usually between 2.8 and 3.0 to one.

Audible Altimeter

A small electronic device that fits into the skydivers helmet, pre-set on the ground to beep loudly in freefall at a certain important altitude i.e break off, deployment.

B

Backslide

To move backward in freefall relative to a neutral reference. Usually unintentional and undesirable, caused by poor body position.

Bag

The deployment bag in which the canopy is packed.

Bag Lock

A malfunction of a freefall system where lines have deployed but canopy is still trapped in bag.

Base

The core around which a formation skydive is built. Can be a single person or a group of people, depending on the number of skydivers involved.

B.A.S.E. Jump

A jump made from a fixed object rather than an aircraft. BASE is an acronym for Building, Antenna, Span (bridge) Earth (cliff).

B.C.P.A.

British Collegiate Parachute Association- A group run by and for college students, associated with the BPA. Runs regional and annual competitions for BPA members still undertaking education.

Beech

Short for Beechcraft, an aircraft manufacturer. Usually used in reference to a Beech D-18, a.k.a. Twin Beech. At one time these were common skydiving planes, but they are becoming obsolete.

Belly flying

Freefalling in a belly to earth position i.e. formation skydiving

BI

Basic Instructor

Blade running

Swooping under canopy through a series of wind blades along the ground.

Blind-man

Freestyle move use by canopy pilots at swoop competition.

Booties

Lower leg of jumpsuit that hook over the front of the shoe creating more powerful leg drag.

BOC

Bottom of Container. Refers to the location of the pilot chute. An increasingly common position for main deployment devices, as opposed to belly or leg mounted.

Body position

Ones freefall body posture. Variations in body position are what make a wide range of freefall maneuvers possible.

Boogie

A gathering of skydivers, usually focused on fun rather than competition. Big drop zones host several boogies a year, often on long holiday weekends.

Bounce

To land at unsurvivable speed. Also to frap, or go in.

Box man

A neutral, face to earth body position in which the arms form right angles at shoulder and elbow, and the legs are spread at about 45 degrees from the long axis and bent 45 degrees at the knees. Generally considered the basic position for Formation Skydiving.

B.P.A.

British Parachute Association – The governing body of sport parachutisting in the UK. run by an elected Council of 15 sport parachutists, with a number of full-time employees fulfilling technical and administrative tasks

Brakes

The brake lines of the canopy are synonymous with steering lines or control lines. Used together, they slow the parachute. Used independently they result in a turn.

Break off

To cease formation skydiving by tracking away from the formation prior to deployment.

Bridle

The thin webbing strap from the pilot chute to the top of the canopy. Part of the deployment system which consists of pilot chute, bag and bridle.

Bum spot

An error of judgement by the jumpmaster, in which parachutists have been despatched at a point at which they will probably find it difficult to fly back to the PLA.

Bungee

Rubber band used for stowing suspension lines onto the deployment bag.

Burble

The area of turbulence behind an object going through the air, whether a person in freefall or a canopy in flight.

C

C.A.A.

Civil Aviation Authority – the body responsible for air standards, safety and operations in UK airspace

Call

The time remaining until you are to board the aircraft. For example, a fifteen minute call means you will board in fifteen minutes.

Category

A stage of progression from 1-8, with a specific set of guidelines for achievement, laid down by the STC.  Followed by all students undertaking training at BPA Affiliated Parachute Clubs.  Category 1-8 jumpers are classified as student parachutists

Canopy

The construction of fabric and lines used to land safely after a freefall. Usually used in conjunction with a type reference (round, square, zero-p, main or reserve).

Cascade

The point where two lines join together so they run smoothly into one. Cascading the suspension lines results in reduced bulk and drag.

C.C.I.

Club (or Centre) Chief Instructor- Advanced instructor (or Advanced Instructor/Examiner) nominated as the person in charge of a parachute operation.

Cell

Square canopies are made up of pressurized cells, usually seven or nine. Each cell consists of a load bearing rib at each side to which the suspension lines are attached. A third, non load bearing rib runs down the middle of the cell. The cell is pressurized through the open mouth at the front and also through cross ports in the ribs. Adjacent cells share load bearing ribs.

Center point

The point around which movement takes place. In an individual the center point is considered to be in the middle of the torso. In a group, it is the point that the formation centers around.

Cessna

An aircraft manufacturer. Single engined Cessnas such as 180s, 182s and 206s are the workhorse of smaller drop zones, carrying four to six jumpers.

C.F.

Canopy Formations- Formation Work with 2 or more square canopies.  Used to be known as CRW (Canopy Relative Work)

CF1

Canopy Formation qualification, Grade 1

Chute assis

French for sit flying, or freefalling with one’s seat presented to the relative wind.

Classics

Style and accuracy

Closing loop

The small loop that holds the flaps of the container closed once the pin has been guided through the loop.

Coach

A skydiver with some formal training in the art of instructing freefall technique.

Comps committee

A committee of the BPA which runs competitions

Container

The element of the parachute that houses the canopies. Technically, the Harness/Container but usually just referred to as the container.

Crabbing

A canopy is crabbing when it is flown at an angle sideways to the ambient wind, resulting in a path across the ground that is sideways as well as forwards.

Creep

To creep is to practice formation skydiving sequences while laying prone on a creeper.

Creeper

A board equipped with wheels on which a skydiver lays to simulate freefall maneuvers.

Cross ports

Holes in the ribs of a cell that allow air to flow from one cell to another.

Cross braced

A diagonal bracing between the ribs in a high performance wing, adds rigidity to the wing surface to aid in higher wing loaded canopies.

C.S.I.

Category System Instructor, qualified to teach static line students through the free fall progression system.

Current

To “be current” is to have jumped recently enough to retain proficiency in the sport. Uncurrent skydivers, depending on their experience, must be supervised to some degree when they resume jumping. See Op’s manual.

Cut

Command given to the pilot to slow the aircraft speed for exit.

Cut away

To release the main parachute, cutting away is a standard emergency procedure prior to deploying the reserve. More properly known as a breakaway, the technique involves using a simple release system activated by pulling a handle. (see 3 ring release).

CReW

Canopy Relative Work, now officially known as Canopy Formations C.F.) CRW involves flying open canopies in close formation, where the pilots actually take grips on each other’s parachutes.

CYPRES

A type of AAD. Made by AirTech of Germany, this is the most common type of AAD and the first modern design to be widely adopted by expert skydivers.

D

Dacron

A common construction material for canopy suspension lines. Dacron lines are thicker and softer than so called “microlines”.

Data card

Every parachute carries a data card with information on the reserve parachute, including type, last date packed, owner, serial number, etc.

De-arch

To flatten out or reverse one’s body position from the normal arched position. A de-arch results in a slower fall rate than an arch.

D.C.

Dead Centre – top score in accuracy competitions

Debrief

Post skydive analysis

Delay

The period of time in freefall (used in category system I.e 10 second delay)

Demo

A parachute jump performed as a demonstration at an event (Also known as a display)

Decision altitude

The altitude at which a skydiver is trained to begin execution of emergency procedures. Usually 2,500 feet AGL for students, and 1,800 feet for expert skydivers.

Deployment system

The components of the parachute that control deployment of the canopy. Includes pilot chute, bridle and bag.

Dive

One of the methods of exiting the aircraft and can be short for skydive

Dirt dive

To rehearse a skydive on the ground by walking through each formation and grips, also using creepers to get correct visual references.

Dive floater

A dive floater is a skydiver who is inside the airplane in the exit line up, but leaving prior to the base. This configuration only occurs on large formations.

Dive loops

Many advanced skydivers have loops or “blocks” on their front risers to make it easy to grip the front risers for steering purposes. Also called front riser loops.

Diver

Anyone diving out of the plane during a formation skydiving exit.

Dock

Take up a grip on a freefall formation or the linking of one canopy to another

Downplane

CF formation with 2 jumpers linking linking legs and flying their canopies pointing towards the ground. This can also occur to a single skydiver with both main and reserve deployed

Downwind

Pointing the canopy in the direction the wind is blowing

Drag matt

Individual packing mat that container rests on during packing.

D.R.C.P.

Dummy-pull (also known as DRCP Dummy Rip Chord Pull). Training stage, as part of preparation for freefall

Dump

Slang for Deployment of a Canopy

Door jam

To practice an exit in the aircraft door of a mock up of it prior to the skydive.

Drop zone

Common slang for a skydiving center, also DZ.

Dytter

An older brand of audible altimeter.

D.Z.

Drop Zone – a notified portion of airspace within which skydives/ parachute descents are made

E

Elliptical

A wing shape characterized by a tapering leading and trailing edge so that the middle of the canopy is wider, front to back, than the ends. This configuration is typical of many high performance canopies.

End cell

The cell furthers out on a canopy.

Exit weight

The total weight of the jumper and all equipment and clothing.

F

F-111

A fabric common in mid range canopies, F-111 is slightly permeable to air and wears faster than zero-p fabric. Pronounced “F one eleven”.

FAA

Federal Aviation Administration – US equivalent of the CAA, who set standards for many items of parachute equipment

FAI.

Federation Aeronautique Internationale – the International Governing Body for all air sports.

FAI License

A ladder of qualification, starting at ‘A’ up to ‘D’

FARs

Federal Aviation Regulations, the laws governing aviation in the U.S.A.

Fall rate

The speed at which a skydiver falls. Matching fall rate is essential to successful formation skydiving. This is done with jumpsuits, weights and body position.

FF1/2

Freeflying Qualification, grade 1 and 2

Finger trap

A method of installing a loop in a brake line without producing rough spots on the lines, the finger trap is accomplished by sliding one line into the other. The loop serves as a method of setting brakes in the desired position for the parachutes deployment.

Flare

The act of pulling down the brakes of the canopy in order to slow it down, resulting in an increased angle of attack and reduced descent rate.

Flat line

Continuous high pitched beep emitted from an audible altimeter when the lowest set decision height has been reached.

Floater

Skydivers who leave the airplane before the base are called floaters since they must use a slow fall rate to get up to the base. Floating also refers to an exit position outside the airplane.

Formation

1) A freefall skydiving formation of more than one jumper. 2) A flight of more than one jump plane.

FS

Formation Skydiving, formerly known as relative work. In FS, skydivers attempt to go through a predetermined sequence of freefall formations.

Free bag

Deployment bag the reserve canopy is packed into, inside reserve container

Freefly

A freefall discipline of any orientation other than flat flying.

Freestyle

A type of skydiving characterized by acrobatic individual flying, reminiscent of gymnastics.

F.S.

See FS

FS1

Formation Skydiving, grade 1

Funnel

A funnel occurs when one or more skydivers find themselves in an unstable body position and end up in a skydivers burble. The resulting loss of stability for the other skydivers usually causes the formation to break up.

FXC

A company manufacturing AADs. Older FXC design was common on student equipment but considered by many to be unsuitable for expert skydivers. A new FXC design, the ASTRA, went on the market in the spring of 1996 and is relatively unknown.

G

G.A.T.W.

Acronym often used in student logbooks, meaning “Good All The Way”

Glide ratio

The distance a canopy flies forward compared to down. A canopy with a 3:1 glide ratio flies three feet forward for every foot of vertical descent.

GPS

Global Positioning System. By picking up signals from satellites, a GPS receiver can tell the user position over the ground. Used in skydiving aircraft to aid the jumpmaster to spot the exit.

Grand prix

Regional competition organised by the BPA

Grips

Using the hands to hold onto another skydiver in freefall or during the aircraft exits. In formation skydiving, the formations are scored as complete when every skydiver has taken the correct grips.

Grippers

Hand holds built onto formation skydiving jumpsuits to make it easier to take grips.

Groundrush

The illusion of the ground appearing to accelerate towards you.

Ground speed

The speed of an airplane or skydiver over the ground, as opposed to through the air.

H

Half series

A succession of manoeuvres, two alternate turns and a back-loop.

Hand deploy

To activate the parachute by manually deploying the pilot chute as opposed to pulling a ripcord.

Harness/container

The webbing and fabric holding the main and reserve canopies to the skydiver.

Heading

The direction an aircraft, skydiver, or parachute is facing. The ability to recognize and maintain heading is crucial to jumping with others successfully. “On” or “off” heading are terms commonly used to describe exits and deployments.

HMA Line

Line used on high performance swoop canopys.

Holding

When a parachute is flying directly into the ambient wind, it is said holding. See running and crabbing.

Hook knife

A small knife carried in the jumpsuit or on the parachute harness, the hook knife is designed to cut lines or webbing. A small razor blade is recessed in a hook shaped handle to prevent unintentional cuts.

Hook turn

A turn of 90 degrees or more executed close to the ground. Because of the high risk associated with this maneuver, hook turns have an unfavorable connotation.

Hop & pop

Slang for a very short freefall delay.

Hot fuel

When the airplane does not shut down during fueling. Do not board the aircraft while fueling is in progress.

I

IC1

Individual canopy qualification, grade 1

IS1

Individual style qualification, grade 1

In date

A reserve packed within the previous 180 days is said to be “in date”. If more than 180 days have elapsed since the reserve was packed it is”out of date” and illegal to use. (120 days in U.S.A.)

Instructor

Holder of a BPA rating or overseas equivalent

IPC

The International Parachuting Commission oversees sport parachuting. It is a committee of the FAI.

J

JM

Jumpmaster – an experienced Skydiver, or Instructor, responsible to the CCI and pilot for the parachutists on each lift.

J.S.P.C.

Joint Services Parachute Centre. Centres around the world. skydiving for service personel

Jumpsuit

Coverall type garment with grippers used in various skydiving disciplines i.e F.S. and freefly

Jumpmaster

The nominated jumper on each load responsible in case of an aircraft emergency, also designates exit order, spotter. Jump run. The flight path taken by the jump plane to put the skydivers in position over the airport.

K

Key

A signal to move on to the next formation in a skydive.

King Air

A turbine aircraft made by Beechcraft and common in medium sized drop zones.

Kill line

A line through the bridle which collapses pilot chute after canopy opens to reduce drag

L

Launch

Two or more jumpers leaving the aircraft together (stable)

Line of flight

An imaginary line corresponding to the jump plane’s path over the ground, the line of flight is a useful reference line on larger formation skydives. Also, during the jump run the skydivers will be distributed along this line of flight.

Log book

Like pilots or sailors, skydivers log their activity and achievements in order to document their experience.

M

MSL

Mean sea level. Used by pilots when defining altitude, MSL refers to feet above sea level as opposed to above the ground. Pilots always use MSL when referring to altitude.

Main

The primary parachute.

Manifest

1) The list of skydivers on the jump plane. 2) The act of going to the office where this list is maintained to put yourself on a plane. 3) The location where manifesting takes place.

Microline

A modern type of suspension line considerably smaller than Dacron line. (also see spectre line)

N

Nationals

British Open National Championships, an annual event organised by the BPA

N.C.S.O.

National Coach and Safety Officer – an employee of the BPA responsible to Council for the safe conduct of parachuting in the UK, and the training of Instructors

O

Oddysey

Popular container from Sunpath inc.

Organizer

Someone with leadership skills and skydiving expertise who plans formation skydives.

Otter

The DeHavilland Twin Otter, a very popular (U.S.A) turbine jump ship carrying up to 23 jumpers.

Opening shock

The force felt due to sudden deceleration as the canopy opens

Optimum

A reserve manufactured from very low bulk material (Performance designs)

Optima

An audible device used by canopy pilots to help set up for swoop landings.

Out landing

Landing off target.

Out of date

See in date.

P

Packing data card

See data card.

Peas

Pea gravel, used in the landing area as a target reference and because it is forgiving of hard landings.

Pin

1) The skydiver who first gets to the base. Base/pin are the two people around which many formations are built. 2) The act of docking on the base. 3) The closing pin of the main or reserve container, which should both be checked prior to jumping.

Pit

The pea gravel area.

Pilot chute

A small, round parachute that acts as a drogue to extract the main parachute from the container and deploy it.

PLA

The area where it is intended skydivers/parachutist will land (sometimes mistakenly called the DZ).

PLF

Parachute landing fall. A technique used to minimize injury during rough landings, a PLF distributes the landing.

Porosity

The amount of air that will pass through a given area of canopy material

P.O.P.S.

Parachutists Over Phorty Society; an association for the more mature skydiver

Porter

A single engined turbine aircraft carrying up to ten jumpers.

Pro-dytter

A type of altitude warning device which gives additional freefall speed and distance information

Pro-pack

A way of folding a square canopy whilst standing up.

Pull

Deploy main parachute (also dump)

Pull out

A type of hand deploy pilot chute where the pilot chute is packed inside the container and pulled out using a handle with a lanyard to the pilot chute.

Pull up cord

A piece of cord or line used to pull the closing loop through the grommets of the container.

Pud

Slang for the handle on a pull out pilot chute system.

Q

R

RAeC

Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom – the UK representatives on and of the FAI

R.A.P.S.

Ram-Air Progression System –  A programme for beginners using static line deployed square parachutes from jump one.

Regionals

Regional championships, also known as Grand Prix.

Relative wind

The apparent wind felt by a jumper in freefall, relative wind is the result of the skydiver’s speed through the air.

Reserve

The auxiliary parachute carried on every intentional parachute jump.

R.D.S.

Removable deployment system, used by canopy swoopers to help remove drag after the canopy is open to aid forward speed.

Rip cord

The deployment system on all reserves and most student parachutes. The ripcord is a piece of cable with a handle at one end and a pin at the other. When pulled, the pin comes out of the closing loop holding the container shut, and the pilot chute is released.

Rig

Skydiver slang for the entire parachute, including main and reserve canopies and the harness/container.

Rigger

Someone with a certificate from the FAA stating they have successfully met the requirements to be a parachute rigger.

Rigger’s certificate

The certificate possessed by a rigger as proof of competence. Parachute riggers may make minor repairs and pack reserve and main parachutes. Advanced riggers may make major repairs and alterations as well as packing parachutes.

Risers

The webbing that connects the harness to the suspension lines. At the bottom of the risers will be a mechanism for attaching and releasing the risers and harness, usually in the form of a three ring release. On the rear risers are the brakes/steering lines. The suspension lines attach to the top of the risers with connector links, also known as rapid links.

Round

1) A formation where each skydiver has grips on the arms of those next to him, also known as a star. 2) A round parachute, as opposed to a modern ram-air “square” parachute.

RSL

Reserve static line. This is a line from the main risers to the reserve cable. In the event the main is cut away, it may pull the reserve pin. Note: this system is only effective in malfunctions where the main is at least partially deployed.

Running

When a canopy is flying with the ambient wind it is said to be running. This produces the greatest possible ground speed.

Run-in

Final line that the aircraft flies to reach the pre determined spot for jumpers to leave. Also called the jump run

RW

Relative work, the term used to describe formation skydiving until a change in nomenclature made by the International Parachuting Commission in the early 90s. (see F.S.)

S

SIM

Skydiver’s Information Manual. Published by the USPA, the SIM is a comprehensive manual on USPA policies and training methods. It also includes FARs pertinent to skydiving.

Skydive University

a world-wide training system for formation skydiving

Skyhook

New type of RSL that uses the cutaway main canopy as the drag to open the reserve, designed by Bill Booth of Uninsured relative Workshop.

Skysurf

Skydiving on a surfboard

SOS

Single Operation System. This system simplifies emergency procedures by combining the functions of the cut away and reserve handles in a single handle.

Seal

Reserve parachutes have a small lead seal on a piece of red thread around the closing pin. This seal indicates the reserve has not been opened since it left the riggers hands.

Sentinel

An older type of AAD.

Sitfly

Skydiving in a seated head up orientation

Single operation system

See SOS.

Skygod

Although on the surface this term refers to a superior skydiver, in drop zone use skygod is a derogatory term for a skydiver whose ego has grown faster than his skydiving ability.

Slider

A rectangular piece of nylon fabric with a grommet at each corner through which the canopy’s suspension lines are routed. Packed at the top of the lines, the slider controls the opening of the canopy by preventing the parachute from expanding too rapidly.

Slot

A position in the skydive or on the plane. Uses: “dock in your slot”, or “two slots left on the next Otter”.

Snivel

Part of the canopy opening sequence before the inflation has taken place.

Spectra

A material from which microline is made.

Speed star

A competition where jumpers build a formation as quickly as possible

Spot

The position of the aircraft when the jumpers exit. Spotting (selecting the spot) is done by a skydiver and may be aided by the pilot.

SS1/2

Skysurfing qualification, grade 1 and 2

Square

A ram air parachute as opposed to a round parachute.

Stabilizer

The vertical strips of material beneath the end cells of the canopy. Stabilizers improve the canopy’s ability to fly straight ahead and enhance efficiency by reducing tip vortices.

Star

A basic FS formation, with 3 or more skydivers linked in a circle by their arms

Stack

A group of canopies in the sky stacked vertically above each other

Stall

When the angle of attack of a wing becomes too high to sustain lift, the wing is said to be stalled.

Stand up

Vertical freefall position, feet to earth, crucifix style. Also a type of landing

Static line

In static line deployments the parachute deployment system is attached to the airplane, with a cord ten to fifteen feet long, resulting in deployment immediately after exit.

Steering lines

The lines that run from the steering toggles on the rear risers to the trailing edge of the parachute.

Steering toggles

Handles attached to the end of the steering lines to facilitate their use. Toggles and lines are configured so they can be stowed in a partially down position to enhance the opening of the parachute.

STC

Safety and Training Committee (of the BPA).  A sub-committee of Council, made up by CCIs who make appropriate decisions on safety and training.

Stow

To neatly arrange suspension lines on the deployment bag or steering toggles in their keepers

Streamer

When the main canopy has left the bag but not inflated at all. Also sometimes a slang name for a WDI

Style

A type of freefall competition where an individual skydiver attempts to execute a predetermined sequence of maneuvers in the shortest possible time.

Suspension lines

The lines from the risers to the canopy. They are normally in four groups, labeled from front to back as A, B, C and D. They can be further divided into right and left or front and back riser groups, and by type of material.

Swoop

1) To dive down to a formation or individual in freefall. 2) To aggressively approach the landing area in order to produce a long, flat flare and an exciting landing.

T

Tandem

(1) An introduction to skydiving by a Tandem Instructor, in which the student is strapped to the Instructors front, and conducts a free-fall descent from altitude, and a long canopy ride under a very large parachute, remaining attached throughout!! (2) Another name for the piggyback parachute system, in which the main and reserve canopies are in the same container

Terminal velocity

The speed at which drag matches the pull of gravity, resulting in a constant fall rate. Typical terminal velocity for formation skydiving is in the 120 to 135 mile per hour range, but speeds as high as 300 miles per hour have been reached.

Three ring

A parachute release mechanism that utilizes three rings of separate size in a mechanical advantage system. Invented by Bill Booth in the late 70s, the three ring release is almost universally considered the best cut away system available.

Throw out

A deployment method in which the pilot chute is stowed in a pouch on the belly, leg of bottom of container.

Toggles

Handles on the steering lines.

Total

Type of malfunction where there is nothing out of the container

Track

To assume a body position that creates a high forward speed. Used to approach or depart from other skydivers in freefall.

T.O.

Technical Officer – an employee of the BPA responsible to Council for technical and overall running of the Association on a day-to-day basis

TSO

Technical Standard Order. A technical standard that all American parachutes must meet before they can be marketed. Unless specifically exempted by the FAA, a parachute must have a TSO placard to be legal.

Turn around load

When the aircraft does not shut down between loads, but lands and picks up skydivers for immediate departure.

U

Uppers

The upper winds, or winds at exit altitude. The “uppers” are often much stronger and occasionally from a different direction than ground winds.

USPA

The United States Parachute Association is a non profit skydiver’s organization. USPA offers guidance and assistance to skydivers in training, government relations, competition, and many other fields. Most drop zones require USPA membership of individual skydivers because such membership includes third party liability insurance.

V

Vectran

line used on high performance canopies, non stretching or shrinking

VGATW

Very Good All the Way

VRW

Vertical relative work, a competitive point competition on the vertical orientation, team members fly head up and head down whilst taking grips in various formations

W

Wave off

Prior to deployment a skydiver should make a clearly defined arm motion to indicate to others nearby that he is about to open his parachute. A good wave off is essential to the avoidance of deployment collisions.

WDI

Wind drift indicator. A paper streamer thrown from the jump plane to estimate winds under canopy and determine the spot.

Weights

Many lighter skydivers wear a weight vest to allow them to maintain a fast fall rate.

Wuffo

Skydiver slang for people who don’t jump, from “Wuffo you jump out of them planes?”

Wind line

An imaginary line from the desired landing area, extending directly along the direction the wind is blowing.

Winds aloft

See uppers.

Wing loading

The ratio of weight born by a wing to its surface area. In the US, divide your exit weight in pounds by the square footage of the canopy.

XY & Z

Zero-p

Common slang for a type of fabric relatively impermeable to air. The less air that flows through the fabric wing of a ram air parachute, the more efficiently it flies.

ZOO

A jump that didn’t go quite as planned!   If you have any suggestions to add to the above then please add them in comments so I can make this the largest most concise directory of skydiving terms available.    Andy Ford Infinite skydiving Solutions ltd