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Introduction
Section 1: USPA
Overview
A. Your USPA Representatives
B. USPA Leadership
C. USPA Policy Making
D. The USPA Headquarters Staff
E. USPA Constitution and By-laws
Section 2: BSRs
Overview
2-1 Basic Safety Requirements
A. Applicability
B. Compliance with Federal Regulations
C. Medical Requirements
D. Age Requirements
E. Membership
F. Alcohol and Drugs
G. Student Skydivers
H. Winds
I. Minimum Opening Altitudes
J. Drop Zone Requirements
K. Pre-jump Requirements
L. Extraordinary Skydives
M. Parachute Equipment
N. Special Altitude Equipment and Supplementary Oxygen
2-2 Waivers to the Basic Safety Requirements
A. Why BSRs may need to be waived
B. Classification of Waivers
C. Procedures for Filing Waivers
D. Filing of Waivers
Section 3: Classification
Overview
3-1 USPA Licenses
A. Background
B. General Conditions for Licenses
C. Logging Jumps for Licenses and Ratings
D. Verification of Application
E. License Privileges and Requirements
F. Restricted USPA Licenses
3-2 License Exam and Application Procedures
A. License Exam Instructions
B. Presenting a Completed License Application
C. License Application Checklist
3-3 Ratings
A. USPA Instructional Ratings
B. Newly Rated Instructors
C. USPA PRO Professional Exhibition Rating
D. USPA Judge Rating
E. FAA Ratings
Section 4: ISP
Overview
4-1 Student Skill and Knowledge Sets
4-2 Categories A-H Objectives Overview
4-3 USPA Integrated Student Program: An Introduction
Category A
Category B
Category C
Category D
Category E
Category F
Category G
Category H
Section 5: General
Overview
5-1 Skydiving Emergencies
A. Practice emergency procedures
B. Prevention and preparation
C. Take action
D. Aircraft emergencies
E. Equipment emergencies
F. Landing emergencies
G. Freefall collisions
H. Canopy collisions
I. Low turns
5-2 Recurrency Training
A. Students
B. Licensed skydivers
C. Changes in procedures
D. Long layoffs
5-3 Equipment
A. Federal regulations on equipment
B. Main parachute
C. Reserve parachute
D. Harness and container system
E. Main pilot chute
F. Reserve static line (RSL)
G. Automatic activation device (AAD)
H. Static line (main)
I. Borrowing or changing equipment
J. Use of altimeters
K. Accessories
L. Main parachute packing
M. Parachute maintenance
5-4 Pre-Jump Safety Checks and Briefings
A. Equipment preparation is essential
B. Briefings
C. Equipment checklist
5-5 Weather
A. Determining winds
B. Hazardous weather
C. Density altitude
5-6 Aircraft
5-7 Spotting
A. Why spotting is important
B. Priorities
C. Group separation on jump run
D. Exit and flight plan considerations in different disciplines
5-8 Incident Reports
A. Incidents
B. Investigation and reporting of incidents
C. Submission and disposal of incident reports
D. The Incident Report form
E. USPA policy regarding propriety and privileged information
Section 6: Advanced
Overview
6-1 Group Freefall
A. What is relative work?
B. Training and procedures
C. Breakoff
D. Other references
6-2 Freeflying, Freestyle and Skysurfing
A. The scope of freeflying
B. Qualifications
C. Equipment
D. Training
E. Hazards associated with group freeflying
6-3 Freefall Rates - Time Table
A. A logging aid
B. Computation
Freefall Time Table
6-4 Night Jumps
A. Why jump at night?
B. Qualifications
C. Challenges
D. Special equipment
E. Procedures
F. General
G. Group jumps: freefall and canopy
6-5 Water Landings
A. Why jump in the water?
B. Training for unintentional water landings
C. Intentional water landings
D. High-performance landings in water
E. Water jump safety checks and briefings
6-6 Canopy Formations
A. What is canopy relative work?
B. General
C. Qualifications and initial training
D. Equipment
E. Rules of engagement
F. Emergency procedures
G. Night canopy formations
6-7 High Altitude
A. Preparation and planning critical
B. Scope
C. Altitude classifications
D. Experience recommended
E. Training recommendations
F. Recommended equipment
G. Recommended preparations
H. Oxygen use procedures
I. Spotting procedures
J. Hazards of openings at higher altitudes
Higher Altitude Planning Chart
6-8 Camera Flying
A. Introduction
B. Background
C. Purpose
D. Equipment
E. Procedures
F. Considerations for filming students
6-9 Wingsuit
A. Classroom Topics
B. Gearing up and pre-flight gear checks
C. Walk-through; boarding; ride to altitude
D. Wingsuit Exit and Flight
E. Debrief
6-10 Canopy Flight
A. Introduction and Purpose
B. Scope of Performance
C. Performance Progression
D. Downsizing Progression
E. Design Progression
F. Practice Area
Wing loading chart
6-11 Advanced Canopy Piloting
Overview
Ground School Topics
Advanced Exercises
6-12 Movement Jumps
A. Introduction
B. Qualifications
C. Equipment
D. Training
E. Hazards Associated with Movement Jumps
F. Pre-Flight Checklist
Section 7: PRO
Overview
7-1 Exhibition Jumping
A. Definition
B. How to approach a demo jump
C. Experience and ability
D. Attitude
E. Landing areas
F. Turbulence and target placement
G. Maximum winds
H. Equipment
I. Aerial maneuvers
J. Crowd control
K. Ground signals
L. Announcer
M. Other activities
N. Advice and approval
O. Insurance
P. Related readings
Table 7.A
7-2 PRO Rating
A. What is a PRO Rating?
B. Qualifications and procedures
C. To Requalify on Smaller Canopies
D. Annual Renewal Requirements
E. Lapsed PRO Rating Renewal Requirements
7-3 Completing FAA Form 7711-2
Section 8: Awards
Overview
8-1 Service Awards
8-1.1: Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) General Awards
8-1.2: National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Service Awards
8-1.3: USPA Service Awards
8-1.4: Recipients of the USPA Lifetime Achievement Award
8-1.5: Recipients of the USPA Gold Medal for Meritorious Service
8-2 Achievement Awards
8-3 Performance Awards
8-4 Membership Tenure Certificates
Section 9: FAA Documents
Overview
9-1 Federal Aviation Regulations
Part 61 Certification: Pilots, Flight Instructors, and Ground Instructors
Part 65 Certification: Airmen other than Flight Crewmembers
Part 91 General Operating and Flight Rules
Part 105 Parachute Operations
Part 119 Certification: Air Carriers and Commercial Operators
9-2 Advisory Circulars
AC 90-66B Standard Traffic Patterns
AC 90-66A Appendix C: Parachute Operations
AC 105-2E Sport Parachuting
AC 105-2E Appendix 1: Jump Authorization or Notification
AC 105-2E Appendix 2: Aircraft with Door Removed
AC 105-2E Appendix 3: Seats and Restraint Systems
9-3 Air Traffic Bulletins
December 1995
July 2004
Glossary & Appendices
Glossary Find & Highlight
A-E
F-J
K-O
P-T
U-Z
Freefall Hand Signals
Category Quiz Answers
License Study Guide
☰
6-2: Freeflying, Freestyle and Skysurfing
A. The scope of freeflying
These recommendations provide guidance for vertical freefall body positions, generally associated with significantly higher fall rates and rapid changes in relative speed.
The diverse freefall speeds among jumpers engaged in different freefall activities affect separation between individuals and groups exiting on the same pass over the drop zone.
The term “freeflying” in this context is applied to all activities that incorporate back, standing, head-down, or sitting freefall positions, including freestyle and skysurfing.
B. Qualifications
Before engaging in freeflying, the skydiver should either:
hold a USPA A license
receive freeflying instruction from a USPA instructional rating holder with extensive freeflying experience
The skydiver should have demonstrated sufficient air skills, including:
consistent altitude awareness
basic formation skydiving skills
ability to track to achieve horizontal separation
understanding of the jump run line of flight
proficiency in movement up, down, forward, backward, and rotation in a backfly position before attempting sit maneuvers.
proficiency in movement up, down, forward, backward, and rotation in a sit position before attempting a standing or head-down maneuvers.
C. Equipment
Gear must be properly secured to prevent premature deployment of either canopy.
A premature opening at the speeds involved in this type of skydiving could result in severe injury to the body or stressing the equipment beyond limits set by the manufacturers.
Deployment systems and operation handles should remain secure during inverted and stand-up flight; therefore, equipment for freeflying should include:
bottom-of-container mounted throw-out pilot chute pouch, pull-out pilot chute, or ripcord main deployment system
Exposed leg-strap-mounted pilot chutes present an extreme hazard.
Any exposed pilot chute bridle presents a hazard.
Use of a tuck-tab is recommended to provide additional security of the pilot chute during high freefall speeds encountered while freeflying.
closing loops, pin protection flaps, and riser covers well maintained and properly sized
Harness straps
Leg straps should be connected with a seat strap to keep the leg straps from moving toward the knees while in a sitting freefall position or making transitions.
Excess leg and chest straps should be tightly stowed.
Automatic activation devices are recommended because of the high potential for collisions and loss of altitude awareness associated with freeflying.
In the case of skysurfing boards, a board release system that can be activated with either hand without bending at the waist is recommended.
Personal accessories for freeflying should include:
audible altimeter (two are recommended)
visual altimeter
hard helmet
clothing or jumpsuit that will remain in place during inverted and stand-up freefall and will not obscure or obstruct deployment or emergency handles or altimeters
D. Training
Freeflying has many things in common with face-to-earth formation skydiving.
A beginner will progress much faster and more safely with a coach.
Novices should not jump with each other until—
receiving basic training in freeflying.
demonstrating ability to control movement up, down, forward and backward in a sitting position.
Prior to jumping with larger groups, progress should follow the same model as for the freefall and canopy formation disciplines: 2-way formations of novice and coach to develop exit, body position, docking, transition, and breakoff skills.
E. Hazards associated with group freeflying
Inadvertently transitioning from a fast-falling body position to a face-to-earth position (“corking”) results in rapid deceleration from typically 175 mph to 120 mph.
Freeflying in a group requires the ability to:
remain in a fast-flying position at all times
remain clear of the airspace above other freeflyers
Assuming a fast-falling position when the other skydivers are in a slow-falling position puts the freeflyer below the formation, creating a hazard at break-off.
Freeflying offers more potential for loss of altitude awareness than traditional skydiving for several reasons.
Higher speeds mean shorter freefalls.
Face-to-earth freefall time from 13,000 feet to routine deployment altitudes takes about 60-65 seconds.
Typical freefly times from 13,000 feet may be as short as 40 seconds.
Head-down and sit-fly positions present a different visual picture of the earth; freeflyers may not be visually aware of their altitude.
Visual altimeters can be difficult to read in some body positions.
Audible altimeters can be hard to hear in the higher wind noise associated with freefly speeds.
As with other skydiving disciplines, participants must guard against focusing on an unimportant goal and losing track of the more important aspects of the skydive: time and altitude.
Horizontal drift
Novice freeflyers sometimes drift laterally in freefall.
An experienced coach can correct the problem.
On solo jumps, freeflyers should practice movement perpendicular to the line of flight (90 degrees to jump run heading).
Separation from other groups can be enhanced by tracking perpendicular to the line of flight at a routine breakoff altitude.
Experienced freeflyers must also be aware of lateral movement when coaching novices or performing dives involving horizontal movement.
All skydivers on loads mixing freeflyers and traditional formation skydiving must consider the overall effect of the wind on their drift during freefall.
As a general rule, faster-falling groups should leave after slower-falling groups particularly when jump run is flown against a strong headwind.
Faster-falling groups should delay canopy flight downwind and remain in position to allow jumpers who exited before them, but who fell slower, to deploy and then turn downwind also.
Loss of visual contact with other skydivers:
The rapid changes in vertical separation that can occur in freefly positions makes it easy to lose contact with others on the dive.
Even jumpers with extensive experience in formation skydiving may have trouble locating everyone on a freefly dive.
Breakoff can be more confusing than usual.
Important considerations in planning a freefly dive are:
Keep the size of the groups small until proficient.
Plan higher breakoffs than usual.
Transition from fast-fall rate to normal tracking for separation gradually in case of a skydiver above the formation in a high-speed descent.
Avoid maneuvers near breakoff that increase vertical separation.
It is as important to slow down after breakoff as it is to get separation from other jumpers.