Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!mcnc!uvaarpa!murdoch!dalton.acc.Virginia.EDU!ds4a From: ds4a@dalton.acc.Virginia.EDU (Dale Southard) Newsgroups: rec.skydiving Subject: Re: Student Training (was: Re: Fatality In Colorado) Message-ID: <1991Apr11.151159.21117@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> Date: 11 Apr 91 15:11:59 GMT References: <2020013@hpfelg.HP.COM> <8570006@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM> Sender: usenet@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU Organization: University of Virginia Lines: 60 Ireallyam: ds4a In article <8570006@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM> jenings@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (Byron Jenings) writes: >Sounds a little out of touch to me. I know, having tried both, that >I've been much more impressed with the AFF approach than other >methods. I did 5 static line jumps in college, took a 5-year break, >and then a "fun" tandem followed by two AFF jumps, one of which was >tandem. I was very impressed with the training for the freefall >[lots of comments deleted] >So anybody agree, or am I just a wimpy bozo? Well I am rated as both an AFF and a Static Line instructor. There has been a lot of talk on GEnie as of late predicting the demise of SL in favor of AFF. It just ain't so. OK, don't get me wrong, AFF offers many advantages. But after the first 100 jumps, I don't think anyone could say they could tell the difference between a former AFF student and a former SL student. There just isn't a difference. AFF offers the advantage of lots of time 1-on-1 with the instructor. It should also be noted that the requirements for AFF instructors are more demanding than those for SL instructors. AFF students also have more air time for their number of jumps than SL students do. All this results in giving the student a superior start as a future skydiver. But, SL students have the price advantage. AFF can cost as much as 4 times what SL costs -- if the student makes 4 times as many jumps as an AFF student... There are also usually more SL JMs/Is at any given DZ, giving the student a wider choice of compatable personalities to select a mentor from. It is also often easier to get jumps in as a SL student -- on a busy day at the DZ, it is easy to have all of the AFF jms tied up -- and usually very easy to drop a SL freefaller off on the way to altitude. And note that I, as well as all other instructors that are both AFF & SL rated that I know, do not give SL students second-rate treatment. Each student is an individual, and the fact that it was easier to qualify for SL I status does not mean that I can loaf off when I work with SL students. I consider myself to be equally good as a SL and AFF instructor. Finally, tandem can play a role too. I often coordinated w/ the tandem master to get a 1/2 price tandem jump for student (AFF or SL) that had problems with canopy control (an area where tandem instruction provides a definite edge). Likewise, both the SL and AFF students often did an initial tandem to explore the sport before commiting to the time & cost of training. In short, though I firmly believe that AFF can provide a superior start in the world of skydiving, the real critical time is the 25-100 jump range. It is during that time that the magical zoomie --> skydiver transition occurs. I can start the student down the road, but it is the student him/herself that will ultimately determine how good a skydiver he/she becomes. Anyone can fall stable and turn, only skydivers can fly. Personal reccomendation: if you are thinking of trying skydiving, find a DZ that offers all three types of training (AFF, Static line, Tandem). Most DZs offer transition training between the various programs (aka you can start as a SL jumper, then switch to AFF if you have a particular problem that is better addressed in that enviroment). Then pick the training/instructor that seems right for you. --> --> Dale UVa (ds4a@virginia.edu)