jspratt 0 #1 February 27, 2006 Ok, I've recently completed my AFF in SA and am now back home in the UK, where the weather is not favourable. I'm thinking of going out to Spain or Portugal to get more jumping in but am slightly confused as to what the next level would be. Should I go for the USPA A license, or I've also been told of ISPs and the BPA license? What is the most useful and internationally recognised cert to go for, i.e. what course should I book next? Thanks in advice for any replies. http://jamesspratt.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
altichick 0 #2 February 27, 2006 A USPA or BPA A license are roughly equivalent, the FAI sets the basic standards then the different organisations define the details! USPA uses the 'Integrated Student Progression' (ISP) progression (see USPA website it's in the SIM manual), BPA uses the WARP progression and a canopy handling qualification. Which ever you have it should not be a problem, both are widely recognised. You will have to join either BPA or USPA in order to get an A license. Which ever license you have you will still need to be a member of the parachute association for country in which you are jumping. You can get temporary membership if it's just a short trip / one off visit. If you are based in the UK it makes sense to follow the BPA progression, join the BPA and get a BPA license. If you don't complete the A license in Spain then it'll be easier to carry on where you left off back in the UK. Unlike AFF the progression isn't a 'course' but rather a mixture of coached jumps (covering free fall, canopy control) and ground work/reading covering general skydiving/equipment knowledge plus (at least for USPA) a written test. This can be done at your own pace, usually students will do a mixture of coached jumps and solos. (Unless they have lots of cash to pay for lots of coaching!) Some DZs in Europe have BPA and USPA instructors which could be an advantage if you don't get all the way to A license in your trip... get a BPA instructor to sign off your jumps. Hope that makes sense!! Shouldn't be long before the weather gets better in the UK... what will be your local DZ? Even if the weather's bad, pop along and introduce yourself, it's much easier as a student to get to know people as you'll get introduced to the staff and instructors right away! Have fun! Don't sweat the petty things... and don't pet the sweaty things! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #3 March 8, 2006 Hey... altichick speaks words of wisdom - you can't really jump anywhere in the UK without BPA membership at the very least, and it can be a pain if you don't have a BPA license as well (I know because I don't have one yet ). You can indeed get all the training you need in Spain, and having been over there a few times doing exactly that, I seriously recommend it. The bad news (not generally reported by train-in-Spain organisations): in order to actually get your license, your application will have to be signed-off by a BPA Advanced Instructor (not an AFF/I), and those can be a bit tricky to find in Spain. Generally one has to come back to a BPA DZ and get sorted. The good news: Skydive Spain in Seville are a BPA DZ, and they are apparently getting a shiny new BPA Advanced Instructor to call their own in a few weeks. IMHO, the even better news is that Freefall Addicts, formerly at Skydive Lillo, are also based there, and they specialise in sending new jumpers back to the UK with the skills and training we need. They are a truly lovely bunch of people too, and I'll be back for yet more coaching with them in a couple of weeks. Have fun, wherever you go! The world is pretty much your oyster in this situation.-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
