5 Shocking Truths About Skydiving You Need to Know!
Very recently, I had the chance to learn Skydiving. The introductory course to Skydiving is called the AFF (Accelerated Free Fall), which is a 7 level, introduction course, certified by the USPA. Once you clear your AFF, you are now eligible to pursue your A License, which will give you the freedom and license to jump anywhere in the world, as a solo jumper.
A visual dump, before I jump in!
Secrets Revealed: What They Don’t Tell You!”
- Keep a big fat pocket
I was initially told that Skydiving is a “Big boy sport” but on the contrary, it is a rich boy sport. It is a very expensive sport to pursue, and for varied reasons.
I was a bit juvenile when I decided to pay for my A license. I presumed, it was a one time cost, even though a substantial amount, that would be an end to end cost. But I couldn't be more wrong.
Now, as a student, you start with AFF which includes 7 levels and 8 jumps. Each level has a set of tasks to be performed and you have to hit it right. Every jump is recorded in a log book and signed by your instructor.
Having repeat jumps is a very normal, rather common, and even more common if you have decided to pursue it without prior wind tunnel experience. I had no such experience.
For instance, in level 4, I am supposed to jump with one instructor and then the instructor is supposed to leave me and I am supposed to be stable. I was sincerely struggling with this level, cause I would go into a spin.
Now, every repeat is a monumental cost and it just goes on and on. For instance, the repeat jump cost for my Level 4 was 9,000 Thai Baht.
It is almost like a spiral, once you get inside, you just got to keep going and you can really bleed money, if you have not planned on it.
Why is Skydiving so expensive? The cost of an aircraft, maintenance, fuel, pilot fees, ATC, licenses etc., the cost of investing in gear, maintenance of it, USPA certification etc. It is rather endless. In fact, an individual rig can cost close to a million Indian rupees and a tandem rig, upwards of 2 million Indian rupees.
So, if you ever decide to pursue Skydiving, first and foremost, please understand the different stages, be clear on your end goal, the USPA terms and conditions and the cost of repeat jumps and budget for an average of at least 3 repeat jumps in your AFF.
AFF is not the end, if you decide to move into an A License, you certainly can have repeat jumps there as well. Keep your end goal in mind. I went it to pursue and A License but then I figured that I do not wan to be a regular skydiver, neither an instructor and it made no sense for me to splurge over and above what I had already committed too and keep going. I wanted some thrill, a holiday and some skill based learning and I came back with it. Period.
2. Wind Tunnel training can be imperative
So, Skydiving is very similar to driving, but in air. There are ways and techniques to brake, move forward, backward, left and right. But the bedrock of skydiving, is a stable body position, which is the best position to deploy your parachute and it is at the very core of your training and more.
While you do learn all of this and the importance of it, on ground, you only get about 45–55 seconds in air to perfect it and that is not enough. Each jump pushes the bar and you need to keep going a few steps forward. I am sure, I would ace it but I only felt I needed more jumps for everything to come together; my arch, my leg positions, my practice touch, countering my spin etc.
It is natural to go wrong, to err, to miss a mark and that leads to a repeat jump and naturally so. This is an extreme sport and the instructor knows well enough, to let you progress or repeat till you get it right.
So, what I gathered from a lot of the folks I met, is how doing an hour or so in a wind tunnel is game changing. Most of them said, if you do a wind tunnel session, you cannot go wrong in air. It is almost like, once you learn to ride a cycle, you cannot unlearn it. In a wind tunnel, they simulate the air pressure, and the conditions you will experience in free fall. And in that environment, you learn body position, turns etc. And once you get that right, you execute the same in air. But I learned of this concept a bit too late and again it is a very expensive proposition.
But at the same time, I wonder, if someone does a wind tunnel, without an actual jump, would they even get the importance of what they are doing. I mean, if I do a wind tunnel, now, after 8 jumps, I would exactly know what to do and what to get out of it.
But if you are serious of wanting to be a solo Skydiver, deciding to opt for wind tunnel, is a good idea. You could pick a drop zone which has a wind tunnel nearby and if needed, in the middle of your course, you can choose to go there.
3. Tremendous amount of physical endurance
I was jumping with pain killers. Keep your body agile and flexible. I was far from it.
At present, I definitely am not the fittest, or the most athletic being. I have been leading a sedentary lifestyle. The ground training and the constant arching, really tired me out, so that, for the longest time, I woke up to really sore muscles. I was so afraid of failing my levels, thanks the soreness in my muscles, that on select days, I took a painkiller. Please make sure, your core is strong, your arms and legs are strong and mobile, and not locked and practice agility exercises, early on, before starting out. Please practice the arch long before you decide to arrive. It will put you at ease.
4. Learning Skydiving is extremely structured and safer than you think
Not once did I fear for my safety. Skydiving, at least statistically, has a very high safety record. Yes, the injuries and the possibilities are extreme and life threatening and there is something crazy about jumping out of a perfectly fine aircraft.
But let me give you broad idea of the safety protocols fed into the sport.
Every student rig, or even otherwise has a reserve canopy. Two, every rig has a small computer chip called, AAD, automatic activation device, that will deploy the reserve, if you are unconscious or falling below a certain altitude. Additionally, there is a Reserve Static Line, that deploys the reserve, if you cut away the main canopy, in case of an emergency.
The rigs and gears are thoroughly checked both by you and the instructor, multiple times, leading to your jump.
Additionally, in AFF, two instructors, jump with you, not physically attached to you but with you, to ensure you are stable, supervise you and for any other contingency.
And lastly, you are also radio assisted in your landings by your lead instructors.
The course is designed by USPA. It is very meticulously structured. Every jump has a dive flow, every jump is logged in by your instructor, and signed and stamped upon. Your instructor will also do a video debrief with you. So, it all adds up well.
5. Its’ not rocket science
The one thing I learned during my training was, Skydiving is a a lesson in physics. Everything, right from your body position, to the parachute opening, the deployment, air filling in, the landing pattern in association with the wind direction and everything in between, is all well thought through and laid out. Once you understand it for what it is, and practice enough, you can truly enjoy the sport.
I may pick it up again at some point in my life but whatever little I learned, I have tried and share it with you. Happy landings!
