🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <5062@svin09.info.win.tue.nl>, javhar@wsinfo01.win.tue.nl (Jack v Rijswijck) writes:
|>Could anyone give me more info about the AFF method? I've read the FAQ but I've
|>also been told that this is a very dangerous method and outlawed in most
|>states. Is it? At which sites can I do this AFF method if it isn't?
|>I'm looking for dropzones in the Fargo (ND) area, specifically Sauk Centre.
|>
|>Please email me if you can give me any information. Thanx!
|>
|>+----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|>|         Jack van Rijswijck                javhar@win.tue.nl          |
|>|         Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands          |

Yikes!  Who gave you that sort of nonsense misinformation?

The safety record of AFF is extremely good, and as a training method it
seems to work quite well.  I've never heard of it being outlawed anywhere
(except perhaps Britain, but then again don't they still require first
jumps to be made with rounds there?).  Having gone through it myself
1.5 years ago, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.

!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
! Paul Koning, NI1D, A-13683
! Digital Equipment Co., LKG1-2/A19, Littleton, MA 01460, USA
! (508) 486-7313 or (508) 952-3344, koning@koning.enet.dec.com
!-----------------------------------------------------------------------
! "The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over 
!  any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent
!  harm to others.  His own good, either physical or moral, is not
!  a sufficient warrant."    -- John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty" 1859

In article <5062@svin09.info.win.tue.nl>, javhar@wsinfo01.win.tue.nl (Jack
v Rijswijck) wrote:
> 
> 
> Could anyone give me more info about the AFF method? I've read the FAQ but I've
> also been told that this is a very dangerous method and outlawed in most
> states. Is it? At which sites can I do this AFF method if it isn't?
> I'm looking for dropzones in the Fargo (ND) area, specifically Sauk Centre.
> 

That sounds like utter nonsense.  AFF has a better overall safety record
than plain recreational skydiving!  Basically, AFF (Accelerated FreeFall)
is a sequence of 7 levels of skydives designed to teach you to skydive by
getting you into a real skydive as soon as possible: you get lots of
freefall time (about 45 seconds per jump is typical) and you'll be pulling
your own ripcord on your very first jump.  The objectives at each level get
a little more complex: from 3 practice rip-cord pulls and proper altitude
awareness on level I to a pretty complex set of turns, backflips,
front-flips and tracking on level VII.  You could be signed off student
status after as little as 7 jumps. You are accompanied by two VERY
experienced instructors on your first few jumps, and one one on later
jumps.  They hold on to you, one on each side, throughout the whole jump,
from climb-out to pull-time.  That's also what helps improve the safety
aspects: aside from an AAD on your rig, the instructors will make sure
either YOU pull your ripcord on time or THEY will pull it for you.  It's
endorsed by the USPA (US Parachuting Association) as a solid training
method.  Call up a dropzone that offers AFF instruction and get them to
answer all your questions.  

My Parachute Pages lists only one drop zone in North Dakota: the Valley
Skidivers Club in West Fargo.  Contact name is Don Solberg: their phone
number is (701) 282-5072 or (701) 237-4561.  Alas, they seem to offer only
static line instruction (and  maybe an aggressive salesman might try to
push you to start with that).  There's a DZ in St. Paul, Minnesota, the
Baldwin Sport Parachute Club.  Cantact Mike Hayden or Davide Mills, no
phone number listed.  They offer instruction but don't say what kind: maybe
they do AFF.

By the way, in The Netherlands there's a DZ in Rotterdam, the Flying
Dutchmen, contact Peter Post, 010-4158421 or 010-4159450, that offers
instruction of unspecified type, as well as the internationally famous
Paracentrum Texel: contact Herman Landsman, 0222011464 or 0222011436.  They
specifically offer AFF and might be a good place to ask more questions as
well.

I learned to jump through AFF, and by the time I graduated I felt quite
comfortable jumping out of an airplane by myself.  I'd recommed it as a
great way to learn to skydive.

Hope this helps,
Blue Skies!
-Pat Dirks.

In article <1993Jan25.163144.16452@engage.pko.dec.com>, koning@koning.enet.dec.com (Paul Koning) writes:
|> 
|> The safety record of AFF is extremely good, and as a training method it
|> seems to work quite well.  I've never heard of it being outlawed anywhere
|> (except perhaps Britain, but then again don't they still require first
|> jumps to be made with rounds there?).  Having gone through it myself
|> 1.5 years ago, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.
|> 

At least when I was in Britain, 3 years ago, AFF courses did exist - however
less DZ's were giving the course than is typical over here. If you take AFF
then your first jump is a freefall, otherwise, yes, I think your first jump is
on a round - mine was. (Tandem freefall jumps are also available).

Other than that I agree with Paul - AFF has a good safety record.

Cheers,
     Lawrence.

-- 
     * I know you believe you understand what you think I said but I am *
     * not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.    *
     * All opinions expressed are my own.                               *

> The safety record of AFF is extremely good, and as a training method it
> seems to work quite well.  I've never heard of it being outlawed anywhere
> (except perhaps Britain, but then again don't they still require first
> jumps to be made with rounds there?).  Having gone through it myself
> 1.5 years ago, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.
> 
> ! Paul Koning, NI1D, A-13683

Thought I would let you know that AFF does exist hear in Britain, although it
is MEGA expensive (2000 quid for a course, compared to about 17 quid for S/L
jump, and about 40 quid for the initial training). 

The usual method of progression is to go through the catagory system, ie
starting of on S/L for about the first 6 jumps, then onto 3, 5, 10, 15 second
delays etc. It take people around 40-50 jumps (some more, some less) before
they are cleared off student status and can then progress to squares.

I personally did a mish-mash of both the systems. I started off on the static
line round jobs and got onto 5s delay freefall. At this time I went to the US
for work/holiday and still wanted to skydive. Round canopies ? DM boots ?
front mounted reserves ? Naaah, forget all that crap, the only way these guys
wanted me to learn was by jumping out at max altitide and holding onto me.
A bit more expensive, but a hell of a lot cheaper than in Britain, and a hell
of a lot more fun than a quick canopy ride on something which flies like a fish
doesn't.

The AFF method is a lot more thrilling and gets past the really boring bits,
including sitting on the airfield for weeks and weeks and not jumping because 
the wind is over 10mph and the round canopies are uncomfortable enough to land 
as it is. I would certainly recommend it to anyone except my gandmother.

As for first time jumpers coming back, well....
I am part of a club at Edinburgh Uni, and we train about 100 first time jumpers
a year. About 20% of these will make another jump or so, and about 5% will continue
with the sport all the way to getting off student status. Not very good returns
is it ? I'm sure a lot more AFF students come back for more, although our DZ doesn't
have AFF.

I have to say that you AFF guys are sooo lukcy :)

Ray