Anyone Licensed to Skydive?

[Joey Quinn]

I've been into adrenaline sports for a while; racing, climbing, bungee, highlining, skiing, and motocross. I'm also at the point in my life where I have a job and my own money to spend so it's time for me to start taking steps toward my life goals. Well one of those goals is to own a chute and be a confident sky/base jumper. So this summer my friend and I are taking classes to get our A license for skydiving. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this process or any tips for getting the license? I already know whats required, the 25 jumps and class time and such.

Bonus pic of Sketchy Andy (Lewis) free walking a highline. He is someone I really look up to because he lives every day just being himself. #Slacklife

[tp4tissue]

Hrrm... I would say this stuff qualify as an  -addiction-  because it does greatly increase the odds of getting yourself Killed..

[Joey Quinn]

Hrrm... I would say this stuff qualify as an  -addiction-  because it does greatly increase the odds of getting yourself Killed..

Show Image

I'll openly admit that I'm addicted to getting an adrenaline rush. I love having to focus myself, being really cool under pressure, and training my brain. I figure every day I have left is a blessing and if I die tomorrow I'd like to able to look back and love what I've done. Also a lot of what I do is quite safe, at this point I'm very aware of my abilities and I won't risk myself unless I know that I'm capable of a challenge. So far I've only been hurt by freak things that no one saw coming and really couldn't be stopped.

[tbc]

Hrrm... I would say this stuff qualify as an  -addiction-  because it does greatly increase the odds of getting yourself Killed..

Show Image

I'll openly admit that I'm addicted to getting an adrenaline rush. I love having to focus myself, being really cool under pressure, and training my brain. I figure every day I have left is a blessing and if I die tomorrow I'd like to able to look back and love what I've done. Also a lot of what I do is quite safe, at this point I'm very aware of my abilities and I won't risk myself unless I know that I'm capable of a challenge. So far I've only been hurt by freak things that no one saw coming and really couldn't be stopped.

heart disease from inactivity has killed literally millions more people than physical activity.

lol

[fanpeople]

I have no experience but one of my friends is a tandem master, he lives at the drop zone in a caravan where once they stop jumping they turn the generators off and the place then has no power. He has been into it pretty much since we left school, he went and worked overseas doing it and is looking for another opportunity. He has a pretty good life from my perspective.

The only thing I can contribute is that I wouldn't mention anything about base jumping when you go to do the course until you figure out who the base jumpers are. I don't know if this holds true everywhere but I believe there is a bit of divide in the community and I remember my friend saying something about keeping his extracurricular activities secret at his work. 

But as I said this is just from a vague memory.

[Joey Quinn]

I have no experience but one of my friends is a tandem master, he lives at the drop zone in a caravan where once they stop jumping they turn the generators off and the place then has no power. He has been into it pretty much since we left school, he went and worked overseas doing it and is looking for another opportunity. He has a pretty good life from my perspective.

The only thing I can contribute is that I wouldn't mention anything about base jumping when you go to do the course until you figure out who the base jumpers are. I don't know if this holds true everywhere but I believe there is a bit of divide in the community and I remember my friend saying something about keeping his extracurricular activities secret at his work. 

But as I said this is just from a vague memory.

That is actually really helpful, I'll be sure to keep that in mind. I wouldn't want my introduction to a community to be pissing someone off.

[katushkin]

I've done a few jumps solo, but I've not got any form of license.

Did it specify what type of jumps you have to do? Because there are at least 3 types of solo jumping you can do, and a lot of the time you can't solo straight away (I was lucky).

Also, I agree with fanpeople, not to mention base jumping. You need to be a really experienced skydiver to start base jumping, what with the added risk and all the different types of jumping that involves too.

I can answer a few questions about it, not much mind.

[tp4tissue]

Yea, base jumping is much more dangerous..

[Moralless]

I'll openly admit that I'm addicted to getting an adrenaline rush. I love having to focus myself, being really cool under pressure, and training my brain.

If you like this stuff then you should try some of my engineering finals 

...yeah I'm a p ussy

[Joey Quinn]

I've done a few jumps solo, but I've not got any form of license.

Did it specify what type of jumps you have to do? Because there are at least 3 types of solo jumping you can do, and a lot of the time you can't solo straight away (I was lucky).

Also, I agree with fanpeople, not to mention base jumping. You need to be a really experienced skydiver to start base jumping, what with the added risk and all the different types of jumping that involves too.

I can answer a few questions about it, not much mind.

To solo straight away you can AFF but that really isn't my goal and adds cost.

In order to get an A license you have roughly 8 hours of class time and 25 jumps total, 18 of which are with an instructor and teach a specific skill. I'm not sure if the first jump is solo or tandem. As far as base jumping goes my plan is to have 150 jumps under my belt before seriously considering it. What did you mean by three different types of soloing?

[Joey Quinn]

I'll openly admit that I'm addicted to getting an adrenaline rush. I love having to focus myself, being really cool under pressure, and training my brain.

If you like this stuff then you should try some of my engineering finals 

...yeah I'm a p ussy

 ) I bet I could do really really ok on them.

[katushkin]

I've done a few jumps solo, but I've not got any form of license.

Did it specify what type of jumps you have to do? Because there are at least 3 types of solo jumping you can do, and a lot of the time you can't solo straight away (I was lucky).

Also, I agree with fanpeople, not to mention base jumping. You need to be a really experienced skydiver to start base jumping, what with the added risk and all the different types of jumping that involves too.

I can answer a few questions about it, not much mind.

To solo straight away you can AFF but that really isn't my goal and adds cost.

In order to get an A license you have roughly 8 hours of class time and 25 jumps total, 18 of which are with an instructor and teach a specific skill. I'm not sure if the first jump is solo or tandem. As far as base jumping goes my plan is to have 150 jumps under my belt before seriously considering it. What did you mean by three different types of soloing?

Well you've got your standard jump out and hope for the best, static line which hurts like a ***** and doesn't really help develop your skills at freefalling, and Instructor Aided Deployment which is the one I did. Basically where you fly round in circles, then crawl out onto a wing strut with your instructor holding your pilot chute. That way you get the form of your arched back and whatnot, and you get a sense of the freefalling before your chute comes out.

If you do IAD, then you can do your first jump solo. Just depends on where you do it.

[Joey Quinn]

I've done a few jumps solo, but I've not got any form of license.

Did it specify what type of jumps you have to do? Because there are at least 3 types of solo jumping you can do, and a lot of the time you can't solo straight away (I was lucky).

Also, I agree with fanpeople, not to mention base jumping. You need to be a really experienced skydiver to start base jumping, what with the added risk and all the different types of jumping that involves too.

I can answer a few questions about it, not much mind.

To solo straight away you can AFF but that really isn't my goal and adds cost.

In order to get an A license you have roughly 8 hours of class time and 25 jumps total, 18 of which are with an instructor and teach a specific skill. I'm not sure if the first jump is solo or tandem. As far as base jumping goes my plan is to have 150 jumps under my belt before seriously considering it. What did you mean by three different types of soloing?

Well you've got your standard jump out and hope for the best, static line which hurts like a ***** and doesn't really help develop your skills at freefalling, and Instructor Aided Deployment which is the one I did. Basically where you fly round in circles, then crawl out onto a wing strut with your instructor holding your pilot chute. That way you get the form of your arched back and whatnot, and you get a sense of the freefalling before your chute comes out.

If you do IAD, then you can do your first jump solo. Just depends on where you do it.

Ok, thats what I was expecting, I'm not really sure what the 18 instructor jumps are but I'm emailing a few local companies to figure out all the details.

[fanpeople]

To solo straight away you can AFF but that really isn't my goal and adds cost.

In order to get an A license you have roughly 8 hours of class time and 25 jumps total, 18 of which are with an instructor and teach a specific skill. I'm not sure if the first jump is solo or tandem. As far as base jumping goes my plan is to have 150 jumps under my belt before seriously considering it. What did you mean by three different types of soloing?

Isn't the recommended jump count like 300 for base jumping? Then again are you in the US because there is probably a lot more well established and safer base jumping spots than Australia.

Keep in mind you can do jumps from hot air balloons and that is good for developing the exit skills for it. There is a proper name which I cannot remember but I believe the difference lies in the fact that you are already moving when you jump out of a plane as opposed to base jumping which is from a non moving object.

That is what my friend did anyway, got into it. Decided it was too risky and stopped. Did some balloon jumps and then decided it wasn't risky anymore and is back into it.

[Joey Quinn]

Isn't the recommended jump count like 300 for base jumping? Then again are you in the US because there is probably a lot more well established and safer base jumping spots than Australia.

Keep in mind you can do jumps from hot air balloons and that is good for developing the exit skills for it. There is a proper name which I cannot remember but I believe the difference lies in the fact that you are already moving when you jump out of a plane as opposed to base jumping which is from a non moving object.

That is what my friend did anyway, got into it. Decided it was too risky and stopped. Did some balloon jumps and then decided it wasn't risky anymore and is back into it.

I meant 150 before I start looking at how to ease into base jumping (if thats even possible  )), I have no plans to do it until I'm sure it can be done "safely". You are full of information! I never considered the movement aspect of skydiving vs base. I'm still at the point where I'm just excited to be entering a different community.

[iri]

i've had a "classic" skydive education in russia. it's way cheaper than AFF and takes way more time. you can jump solo straight away though.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm not licensed but I've always wanted to try it...one day I'll be as cool as you

[Joey Quinn]

i've had a "classic" skydive education in russia. it's way cheaper than AFF and takes way more time. you can jump solo straight away though.

It must be different in other countries, you can solo jump in america without the all the classes but I think you need to have jumped before. I just want to have the education and proof that I'm capable.

I'm not licensed but I've always wanted to try it...one day I'll be as cool as you

You're cool CPT!! 

[iri]

before you do base jumping, make sure you made at least 500 jumps from an aircraft.

that's just my humble advice. in hope that they won't clean your guts from some rock.