tombin 0 #1 July 4, 2011 A few years ago, I did a tandem jump on the east coast and loved it. Now that I have some savings, I'm interested in doing AAF here in the bay area. I'm doing my research on different DZ's in the area and finding mixed feelings about them. I read about places having lawsuits for riggers using drugs and drinking while packing. I'm looking to get the safest and best instruction possible. Can anyone recommend what my best route may be towards an A license? Is seeking out private instruction an option? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 558 #2 July 4, 2011 There are a couple of independent instructors in the Bay area. They will cheerfully teach your ground school one-on-one, but you will still end up jumping at one of the regular drop zones. As for rumours about drugs etc. .... welcome on the on-line sport of bitching. Hah! Hah! Your best bet is to visit the United States Parachute Association's website and read the list of USPA Member Groups in the Bay area. Then drive out and observe operations at two or three of them and make your own decision. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #3 July 4, 2011 QuoteI'm interested in doing AAF here in the bay area. Which bay would that be? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tombin 0 #4 July 4, 2011 QuoteQuoteI'm interested in doing AAF here in the bay area. Which bay would that be? San Francisco Bay Area Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flashvortx 0 #5 July 5, 2011 Well we've got one of the best riggers in the sport right in the bay area - Mr. Pete Swan. Also in the bay area is Ed Pawlowski (www.westcoastwingsuits.com). Fantastic guy with tons of experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
base283 0 #6 July 5, 2011 What does "skydieve" mean? I googled it but had no luck. I thought you may have meant "skydive" and looked for adjacent letters that you could have done by accident but cannot find any. The actual post is free from spelling errors. Also, I dont no eny DZs in the Bay area that do "AAF"... The mind boggles. Take care, space ps, Just messin with ya. Good morning! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #7 July 5, 2011 Quote What does "skydieve" mean? I googled it but had no luck. I thought you may have meant "skydive" and looked for adjacent letters that you could have done by accident but cannot find any. The actual post is free from spelling errors. Also, I dont no eny DZs in the Bay area that do "AAF"... The mind boggles. Take care, space ps, Just messin with ya. Good morning! Eye new ewe wood dew that! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abedy 0 #8 July 5, 2011 Quote Eye new ewe wood dew that! How up do high knee OK, this one's very tough for folks who don't speak German The sky is not the limit. The ground is. The Society of Skydiving Ducks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
michelleaxyx 0 #9 July 5, 2011 How up do high knee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TiaDanger 0 #10 July 5, 2011 +2 for Ed Pawlowski. His instruction website is www.precisionskydiving.com. You can't go wrong with him. And for the record: the appropriate ranking of cool modes of transportation is jet pack, hover board, transporter, Batmobile, and THEN giant ant. D.S. #8.8 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #11 July 6, 2011 First, go to uspa.org and do some reading. Download the Skydivers Information Manual for some additional reading. Then get in your car and drive to each dz you are considering jumping at. Watch. Ask questions. Find out how much the training will cost, how many jumps are included, what aircraft you are likely to be jumping out of, who does the teaching, what is the dz's safety record (including aircraft safety). Find out if all the instructors are properly and currently rated by USPA for the type of instructional jump they are doing (to be a current rating holder, one must be a current member of USPA). All that said, there's a lot to be said for training at the dropzone that is closest to you geographically, as that will likely be where you will end up doing most of your jumping. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Divalent 89 #12 July 6, 2011 Quote First, go to uspa.org and do some reading. -- Download the Skydivers Information Manual for some additional reading. -- Then get in your car and drive to each dz you are considering jumping at. -- Watch. -- Ask questions. -- Find out how much the training will cost, how many jumps are included, what aircraft you are likely to be jumping out of, who does the teaching, what is the dz's safety record (including aircraft safety). Find out if all the instructors are properly and currently rated by USPA for the type of instructional jump they are doing (to be a current rating holder, one must be a current member of USPA). Oh yeah, like anybody's ever done that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #13 July 7, 2011 Quote Quote First, go to uspa.org and do some reading. -- Download the Skydivers Information Manual for some additional reading. -- Then get in your car and drive to each dz you are considering jumping at. -- Watch. -- Ask questions. -- Find out how much the training will cost, how many jumps are included, what aircraft you are likely to be jumping out of, who does the teaching, what is the dz's safety record (including aircraft safety). Find out if all the instructors are properly and currently rated by USPA for the type of instructional jump they are doing (to be a current rating holder, one must be a current member of USPA). Oh yeah, like anybody's ever done that. Um, some of us do/did.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyper 0 #14 July 7, 2011 Quote Quote Quote First, go to uspa.org and do some reading. -- Download the Skydivers Information Manual for some additional reading. -- Then get in your car and drive to each dz you are considering jumping at. -- Watch. -- Ask questions. -- Find out how much the training will cost, how many jumps are included, what aircraft you are likely to be jumping out of, who does the teaching, what is the dz's safety record (including aircraft safety). Find out if all the instructors are properly and currently rated by USPA for the type of instructional jump they are doing (to be a current rating holder, one must be a current member of USPA). Oh yeah, like anybody's ever done that. Um, some of us do/did. how many DZ did you visited before you decided where to take your first course? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 259 #15 July 7, 2011 QuoteOh yeah, like anybody's ever done that. Folks with such depth and breadth of experience in the sport as you have would of course know far more about such things than I... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dreaming13000 1 #16 July 7, 2011 Quote Quote First, go to uspa.org and do some reading. -- Download the Skydivers Information Manual for some additional reading. -- Then get in your car and drive to each dz you are considering jumping at. -- Watch. -- Ask questions. -- Find out how much the training will cost, how many jumps are included, what aircraft you are likely to be jumping out of, who does the teaching, what is the dz's safety record (including aircraft safety). Find out if all the instructors are properly and currently rated by USPA for the type of instructional jump they are doing (to be a current rating holder, one must be a current member of USPA). Oh yeah, like anybody's ever done that. I did. I felt like I could have taught my FJC. and I will have to say that it was refreshing to those who taught me how to skydive. I visited three different dz within my area and I went to the one I decided to jump at every weekend for a month leading up to my FJC, I watched the students land and briefing etc. It was well worth it."A man only gets in life what he is believing for, nothing more and nothing less" Kenneth Hagen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
