kat00

I would say the post is written in a bit of a dramatic fashion. I don't know the DZ but I have seen many otters go up that are not full. So moving people around shouldn't be a big deal. Also, usually when teams are training, manifest and ground crew know them(at least in my limited experience). They should see these kinds of things ahead of time so it can be worked out ahead of boarding. So I would say the solo person isn't at fault and should stay on. The plane can go up still and the 4 way team can move to the next flight.

For mine they just signed off on stuff in bulk towards the end of the A license. Just note things in your logbook about some stuff like standup landing and other minor details like that. The one I would chase for signatures is someone who saw you do the packing class if the teacher is not an instructor.

Perris is open 7 days and does FJC any day of the week. They also have a windtunnel on site which is nice since you can buy time and get "insurance" on a level you might have issues with. Post AFF square one has a wide selection of equipment to rent. They also have bunkhouses and a restaurant on site with plenty of people from out of town learning to jump. It's in southern california but the weather that time of year is always warm and sunny perfect for trying to get a license quick.

Not in the air but once at the DZ. It was a cloudy morning and then cleared up to be rather windy. Everyone was jumping but a few experienced people told me not to jump because I was just recently A licensed. I could have jumped but followed their advice. It's not quite in the air but as a new licensed jumper its still as frustrating to me since others were going and having fun. Keep yourself hydrated though to avoid cramps like that.

That is kinda how I see it. More people = more revenue. More people also lets you get better group rates for insurance and have more for programs like SIS (which could also go across to tunnels ). I understand people want to follow the original charter but sports evolve. Nobody expected tunnels back in the day. Now they are common. So why not look into from a broader perspective instead of writing it off real quick.

Thats why I said read and take notes on 2-1 and section 6. Then if you can't answer category questions take notes on it. You still read but you make note of what you don't know so you whittle down what you really need to study. It's just basic studying.

You don't really need to study the SIM. Look over the recommended sections to study like 2-1 and take notes about specifics like things with numbers. Take the category quizzes and if you are wrong or not really sure in your answer make notes. Now you have condensed a few hundred pages into a couple pages of notes. As someone with around 50 jumps, I am still the learning newbie. Don't worry about being new. Jumping with people who are better makes you better. They also know you are new and don't expect you to turn a bunch of points or do anything beyond your abilities. I would also ask your instructors about Load Organizers. Load Organizers usually just do it to help out new people and they really enjoy it.

This is why I think it should be part of uspa. The competitions are very similar. Also, as a newer skydiver I am continually told to go to the tunnel to work on things. I can go in there and take things to the sky to help me out and vice versa. If they were so different then that would not be common advice. I am not saying they should be on the same level or that tunnel time replaces jump count. There are differences but I think it should be embraced especially the youth who are spending time in the tunnel. They can be the future of the sport. I think it could also streamline both sports from a governing and administration point of view. I would see a smaller basic membership and then smaller fees to add skydiving or tunnel licensing. You would essentially remain the same fees if you just skydive. Then if you want to progress in the tunnel its a small addition. Without the tunnel, I'm not sure I would have made it through AFF. Now that I have an A license and just a few jumps from my B license, the tunnel is teaching me to freefly safely. I can understand the wariness of the old guard but as a newer skydiver I like the idea and can see ways the addition would have little impact on the pure skydiver.

Aff is generally 7 jumps. Perris does it in 8 jumps. The 25 jumps you see is likely AFF, coach jumps, a hop and pop and some solo jumps to get your A license. Ask them they may have an AFF only package and likely have a pay as you go. I would suggest though doing everything at one drop zone to make it easier. However, if you only do AFF keep a detailed log book of your jumps so you can take it to another dz and transfer it easier to get your A license. Also, if you have time fly in a tunnel a few times and get an understanding of getting stable, turning, etc. That reduces your chances of not having to redo a level and making it easier to squeeze AFF into a smaller time span.

When you learn to pack, you do so with guidance from a rigger who is trying to help you to succeed. Try and pick a slower day but not a bad weather day. This way you can take the class, pack your canopy under supervision and then go jump it. Then go back to the rigger and pack it again. Do that a few times and you will get past the basic anxiety.

I was horrible out of the plane on my first few jumps. Flipping, kicking, you name it. It's not natural to jump from a plane at all especially if you are a bit nervous. As my instructors told me, you just need to arch and look at the plane. The relative wind coming off the plane will then grab you and take you to your belly in those first few seconds after you jump. Another thing that helps is visualization. Ignore what you have seen others do wrong and focus on yourself doing it right. Then right before you jump take a deep breath to relax.

I'm working through my A license at Perris but I live in San Diego. People from all over the world seem to go there which makes it easy to meet people of all levels. Plus they help to organize jumps for people. It seems like Perris, Elsinore and Sky Dive San diego should have all levels for you to jump with though.