The Jumping Place

So you want to be a…

SKYDIVER?!

ccelerated Freefall (AFF) is the way to go! Advanced Freefall & canopy Flight training combined with the United States Parachute Association (USPA) Integrated Student Program provides you with a guided method of training.

Broken into ‘Categories’, your training begins with a 4-6 hour ground school and first freefall jump. Each category advances your skill set and completes the steps required to become a licensed skydiver. It is designed to teach you to become a solo Freefall skydiver in just a few jumps.

The Ground School and training for the first jump is a half-day program, but the remaining jumps can be done at a much faster pace (up to 3 jumps per day).  Each category contains training in such areas as Equipment, Aircraft Procedures, Freefall, Canopy Flight, as well as other technical information you will need to advance through the sport and make you a competent and safe skydiver.

Category ‘A’ – the First Jump

Even if you have done a Tandem skydive with us, you will still need to complete a Ground School, about 4-6 hours, covering all aspects of the skydive. Usually in the same day, you will fly to 11,500 feet with 2 instructors. All 3 will exit the airplane together for a 42 second freefall. You will deploy your own parachute at 5,500 feet. We then can assist you with steering your parachute via radio and you can fly it in for a smooth and comfortable landing.

Each Category can be one or more jumps and will teach you more and more about freefall skydiving, flying parachutes and other aspects of the sport. When you graduate, you will have a fine set of skydiving skills enabling you to be self-supervised when you skydive.

All training, gear and the jump is included in the price

Radios to assist you under parachute

Friendly Staff with thousands of jumps

Great Equipment with all the latest safety features

Superb training Facilities and techniques

How Much? - $329 for Category A, all the training, equipment and the skydive.

What’s After That??

Well, READ ON… >>

What do I do after my 1^st Jump?

There are many ways to progress in the sport of Skydiving but we feel that Integrated Student Program (ISP) is the best!

With each ‘Category’ – even the First Jump; you will sign off and complete items to get your license.

There are 8 Categories in all – A through H, covering a planned 25 jumps total.

There is a mix of practical skills, like freefall and flying a parachute, as well as knowledge based skills, like equipment, aircraft procedures, spotting, emergency procedures, packing a parachute and basic gear assembly.

You can jump all the time or you can jump every week or two – there is no requirement to complete the program in a short time span. But we do have a “jump every 30 days” requirement in order to stay current in your training.

A typical progression might look like this:

Cat A First Jump Course and Jump – 1 day

Cat B through E – 2 to 4 days of jumping

First Solo Jump (E3) and the remaining coach and solo jumps in Cat F, G, & H – 5 to 7 days

Parachute Packing Lessons – 2 days ($40)

Fax or mail your License Progression Card to USPA- you are now a Licensed Skydiver!

We suggest you plan on 4 days of actual jumping to finish Category E (your first solo skydive) and plan on a total of 12-14 days to complete all the requirements for your ‘A’ license.

You will complete a minimum of 25 jumps to get your license.

Each Category is followed by a knowledge quiz to gauge your progress. Study materials are all written out in the USPA Skydivers Information Manual, which is available for purchase or online at the website:    www.uspa.org.

So How Do I Become A Skydiver?

Dear future skydivers:

We are glad that you are looking at The Jumping Place for your skydiving needs. This letter has a great deal of information about our AFF/ISP Freefall Program and a typical progression through to your USPA ‘A’ License.

You do need to be 18 years of age, and less than 240lbs and in good physical condition to jump at The Jumping Place. You have to sign a waiver of liability and a contract of defenses. We are affiliated with the United States Parachuting Association (USPA) and offer some of the best training in the world today.

The ISP (Integrated Student Program) Program consists of 8 ‘Categories’ of training. Each of these requires certain passing requirements before proceeding to the next Category. Most people complete Categories A through E in 8 jumps and begin to jump solo; typically 4 days to complete those first few jumps.

After that, you will complete solo and ‘Coach’ jumps with our instructors as you finish Category F through H, along with some study and knowledge based skills for your USPA ‘A’ license.

You can expect to do 2-4 jumps a day while training and more once you are cleared for solo jumps.

Each Category B through E jump takes about a half hour of preparation, plus the time for the jump and debrief, which only allows for maybe 4 jumps in a day. We try not to do many more than that, because you can get very tired and perhaps not learn as well as you would at a slower pace.

Once you finish Category E, you are cleared for ‘Solo’ status. You are safe to jump by yourself, but you are still a ‘Student Skydiver’. That means you do not yet have a license.

The ‘A’ license from USPA requires 25 jumps plus several other technical requirements, but the jumps get a lot cheaper once you finish the seven AFF levels. Coach jumps cost $99 each, including all gear and training. Solo skydives are only the cost of a jump ticket and gear rental ($30/jump).

Our Program is a mix of Coach and Solo Jumps until you get all of the technical requirements of the USPA license signed off. You can find out more specific information about the USPA license at www.upsa.org if you would like.

You will need to purchase a USPA Skydivers Information Manual from our Gear Shop (about $32) as this is required to complete your study material for your A license. Eventually you will join USPA as a full member, which we suggest you do by your 3^rd skydive.

The USPA license is recognized around the world. Other things required to get your license include packing a parachute, freefall maneuvers, equipment, aircraft procedures, as well as other skills and knowledge. Usually by the time you get to your ‘A’ license the total cost is about $2500. It can be done in a week and a half, but that is a tight schedule; 12-14 days would be more realistic.

You might be interested in one of our ‘Packages’, which include up to a total of 25 jumps, all gear rental and license fees, etc. These packages are designed to take you to Solo status or to your ‘A’ License for one price.

We have a great staff of Instructors, and you may find yourself working with one or several. We do take requests and  if you like the people you are working with, then we encourage you to continue working with them.

If you want video of your AFF dives, we have a couple of options from basic to the full package with DVD and still photos.

The Jumping Place has free tent camping, hot showers, a covered packing area, classrooms, and shuttle service to the major airports. Jacksonville International is the closest airport and we can get you a lift from Jacksonville for $50-$80.  We also have the latest in equipment, gear sales and service.

Visit our Web Page on the internet at www.thejumpingplace.com; we have maps and more information on the internet. If you need a place to stay, shuttle to the airports, please book well in advance as we are quite busy and need a lot of notice.

Please let us know if you are coming and when so that we can make a reservation for you.

Hope to see you here, and thanks again for enquiring about us – Packn Cathy   (packncathy@thejumpingplace.com)

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I have to sign a waiver?

Yes, everyone signs a waiver of liability for The Jumping Place. You must be 18 years of age or older to sign such a contract.

Should I do a Tandem Jump instead?

We think that ANY skydive is a good one to do! If you are not sure that you are going to become a licensed skydiver, then we suggest the tandem skydive. They are more of an introduction, but do count towards your total jumps. If you think you might become a regular skydiver and pursue the sport, then go for it!

What kind of clothes should I wear?

You should wear comfortable sneakers and clothes appropriate for the season; shorts and a T-shirt on a hot day are fine and if it is a colder day, long pants and a comfortable long sleeve shirt. We have jumpsuits, goggles, and all other equipment that you will need.

What about if I wear glasses or contacts?

No problem, we supply goggles that will fit over your glasses or keep your contacts in.

What if I am too old or in poor physical condition or heavy?

We look at people individually to assess their ability. We may not be able to take you if your weight exceeds 220lbs for tandem or 240lbs for AFF, or you are in poor health. We have taken people as old as 90 years of age and have some experience with paraplegics and quadriplegics. Skydiving is a very physical activity, and we will not let you jump if we do not feel that it is safe for you to do so.

How hard will I land?

‘Ram-Air’ (square) parachutes fly like a glider and sail through the air. They can slow down a great deal, and the student parachutes are quite large and forgiving. Very hard landings are extremely rare and injuries are even more rare, but they do happen.

Do you jump in all weather?

No, we will not be jumping when it is raining, very windy or when the clouds are lower than 9,000 feet, but we still can do your training. That way you can be ready to jump right away if you have to come back another day. Weather can cause unexpected delays, so please be patient; we are trying to get you in the air as quickly and safely as possible.

What other costs are involved?

None. Our prices include everything you need to make the jump that you are paying for. Also, there is no tax on jumps. The only optional extra cost item you may choose is video.

Why all the training when a Tandem takes so little time?

Our AFF/ISP program assumes that you will be making a solo freefall on your first jump, even though two Instructors jump with you. You need to know how to take care of yourself in freefall and throughout the parachute ride; so intensive training is required for that first jump. On a tandem jump, your instructor is with you from exit to landing.

Should I get a video of my jump?

Of Course! If it’s your first jump, then it is a no-brainer; you WANT a souvenir. But for training purposes, video is an indispensable tool for learning. After each AFF jump, we will take you through a thorough debrief of the jump using video, critiquing your performance and showing you the good and the areas for improvement. You can take it home and review it again and again. Any skydiver will tell you the same – “Video will save you money in the long run.”

What must I do to get a USPA license?

To get a USPA license to skydive takes at least 25 jumps, plus many technical requirements, and demonstration of specific skydiving skills. It does cost money, and your best bet is to discuss options with your instructor or simply call us. We have lots of information to help you! USPA’s website is www.uspa.org for the details on what is required to get the license. This document also details pretty much everything you need to do.