AFF Training Resources

Training Aid Handbook

Complete Category B-H Solo Student Training Handbook

Category Quizzes

Category A Quiz

USPA Skydiver’s Information Manual

USPA A-License Progression Card

USPA Online Ground School for Solo Students

USPA A-License Written Exam Study Guide:

SIM Section 2-1 (all)
SIM Section 4, all ISP categories (A through H)
SIM Section 5-1 (all)
SIM Section 5-2, Recurrency Training
SIM Section 6-2
SIM Section 6-8
SIM Section 9-1, FAR 105

USPA A-License Oral Exam Study Guide:

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Solo Student Training Videos

Category A Freefall Skills

Cat A, B, & C Canopy Drills

Beyond the First Jump

Category B Freefall Skills

Category C-1 Freefall Skills

Category C-2 Freefall Skills

Category D-1 Freefall Skills

Category D-1 Canopy Drills

Category D-2 Freefall Skills

Category D-2 Canopy Drills

Category E-1 Freefall Skills

Category E Canopy Drills

Category E-2 Freefall Skills

Category F Tracking Skills

Category F Canopy Drills

Category G Solo Floater Exit

Category G Forward and Backward Movement

Category G Belly Backslide

Grip Taking Basics

Category G-1 Freefall Skills

Breakoff After Group Freefall

Tracking After Breakoff

Category G Canopy Drills

Category G Upward and Downward Movement

Category G-2 Freefall Skills

Category G-3 Freefall Skills

Category H Solo Diving Exit

Category H Diving and Docking Skills Training

Category H Front Riser Applications

Category H Canopy Drills

A-License Check-Dive

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Malfunctions and Emergency Procedures

Unable to Locate Main Deployment Handle

Unable to Pull the Main Deployment Handle

Horseshoe and Premature Container Opening

Pilot Chute Hesitation (Burble)

Pilot Chute in Tow (Container Lock)

Bag Lock

Streamer

Line Twist(s)

Premature Brake Release (Toggle Fire)

Slider Hang Up (Stuck Slider)

Tension Knots (Stabilizer Hang Up)

Line Over

End Cell Closure

Broken Line(s)

Canopy Damage

Pilot Chute Over and Under the Nose

Deflated and Partially Inflated Second Canopy

Main-Reserve Entanglement

Biplane

Side-by-Side

Down-Plane

h

Skydiving Abbreviations, Terms, and Colloquialisms

AAD	Abbrev. n, “Automatic Activation Device”. A altitude sensing device used to automatically activate the opening sequence for a parachute. Most commonly refers to their application to sport reserve parachutes, but also used in other non-sport scenarios such as ejection seats, etc.
AFF	Abbrev. n, “Accelerated FreeFall”. A training program for first jump students where the skydiving skills development rate is accelerated over that of the older static line program.
Boogie	n, A gathering of jumpers for the purposes of jumping and socializing. Typically, boogies will have large aircraft, unusual aircraft (balloons, helicopters), special events (record attempts), or some sort of competition as a focal point to attract jumpers from widely diverse regions.
Canopy	n, parachute.
CFS	Abbrev., “Canopy Formation Skydiving”. The new “official” term for a discipline of skydiving in which jumpers under canopy fly their parachutes together to form various formations. However, most skydivers still refer to it as “CRW”. (See CRW.)
CRW	Abbrev., “Canopy Relative Work”. Describes the maneuvering done by jumpers under canopy to fly their parachutes together to form various formations. Sometimes referred to as CReW (Crew). See CFS.
DZ	Abbrev. n, “Drop Zone”. A place where parachuting operations take place. This is may be a designated area, or frequently, a commercial business which supplies aircraft, instruction, gear sales and services.
Flare	v, to pull down on both of the canopy’s steering toggles in order to lower decent rate and forward speed just prior to landing. The forward speed is traded-off for lift. A flare performed too late has no effect, a flare performed too early can result in a stall in which the canopy looses forward speed and drops straight down. A correctly performed flare results in an exceptionally soft landing.
FS	Abbrev., “Formation Skydiving”. The new “official” term for a discipline of skydiving in which two or more jumpers fly relative to each other in freefall in order to form various formations. However, most skydivers refer to it as Relative Work, or “RW.” (See RW.)
Hook turn	n, A high-speed turn with either the steering toggles or the front risers performed at very low altitude in order to build up speed before landing. See “turf surf.”
JM	Abbrev. n, “JumpMaster”. A jumper trained and certified to supervise students and/or novices during their jump.
Main	n, the primary parachute.
Opening shock	n, The force experienced by the jumper due to the sudden deceleration from terminal velocity due to the deployment of a parachute.
RW	Abbrev., “Relative Work”. Describes the freefall maneuvering whereby two or more jumpers fly relative to each other in freefall in order to form various formations. See FS.
Reserve	n, the secondary, or backup, parachute.
Round	n, a class of parachutes designed to simply decelerate a body in a fluid medium. The classic parachute.
Square	n, a class of parachutes designed to inflate and take the shape of an airfoil. These are more accurately rectangular in shape and are semi-rigid wings.
Turf surf	v, (also, to “surf it”) a high-speed style of landing. The jumper builds up speed (see Hook Turn) and then flares mere moments before touchdown, resulting in a spectacular landing in which the jumper skims mere inches above the ground at 30-40mph, for up to 100 yards. Or, if the jumper flares too late, resulting in a spectacular landing in which the jumper impacts the ground, leading to medical bills, orthopedic surgery, and/or death. Attempt this maneuver at your own risk!
USPA	Abbrev. n, “United States Parachute Association”.
Whuffo	Colloquialism, n, A person who is not a skydiver (from the often-asked phrase “Whuffo you jump out of them airplanes?”).