Basic Skydiving Course or Accelerated Freefall?
These two learning systems both have the same goal in view - to achieve British Parachute Association Category Eight - Qualified Solo Skydiver. The method used to get there differs, however!
The BASIC SKYDIVING COURSE is based on the British Parachute Association Ram-Air Progression System (RAPS), which involves attaining basic skills via 'static line' parachute jumps, where the parachute is automatically opened as the student falls away from the aircraft. After your first few static line jumps (if you progress satisfactorily), you move onto 'dummy ripcord pulls' - pulling a dummy deployment handle while the static line still operates the parachute. When you have performed successfully on three consecutive jumps, you will move onto freefall. Further progression is made by achieving a good exit, maintaining the correct freefall body position and pulling the ripcord within three seconds, then five seconds, then ten seconds, and so on, at progressively higher altitudes. If you perform perfectly throughout this system, you can gain Category Eight in a minimum of 16 to 17 jumps. Detailed information on the RAPS progression system is given elsewhere in this site.
The major advantage of the RAPS method is that the initial course is relatively cheap and so are individual jumps which are paid for one at a time, making RAPS an economical way to learn to skydive on a limited budget.
SENSORY OVERLOAD
Sensory overload is a phenomenon caused by the sudden rush of unfamiliar sensations in a new environment, overloading the system and distorting the perception. It normally lasts for around three to five seconds, so appreciation of events during that time can be patchy or even missing. Different people are affected by sensory overload to a greater or lesser extent and many find that they learn to overcome it with relative ease. With RAPS, basic skills must be learned during very short exposures to the freefall environment - on static line jumps the parachute is open within about four seconds. For some, it can take many static-line jumps to overcome their sensory overload let alone develop their skydiving skills, as the parachute is fully open long before the experience is fully appreciated!
ACCELERATED FREEFALL
While Accelerated Freefall (AFF) has a higher initial financial outlay, it has the great advantage that it allows you to be shown the correct freefall body position and practise it in freefall, during an extended time frame. Direct assistance and tuition are given during freefall by your Instructors. Thus, AFF alleviates the sensory overload problem by having the Instructors exit and fly with you through the period of overload, and on throughout your 50 second freefall. You may still experience sensory overload, but will have the time, confidence and assistance to overcome very quickly. With maximum exposure to your new environment, learning takes place faster, over fewer jumps and with progressive assistance and instruction.
Of course, another major advantage is that you go skydiving - for real, from 12,000 feet - right from your first jump!
The AFF programme involves a course of eight skydives under the direct supervision of your instructors. Ninety percent of our students graduate AFF in the standard eight jumps, but sometimes it is necessary to repeat an AFF level to ensure that skills have been properly learned. 'Rejumps', as they are called, are charged in addition to the course fee.
In order to gain Category Eight, you then undertake a further ten skydives, known as 'consolidation jumps', by yourself (you will be supervised in the aircraft, of course!) which cost just £25 each at Langar. Have a good look at the full breakdown of the course and jump fees given elsewhere - there are some major perks included in our AFF course fees.