Do you have a question you want to ask us about the site, skydiving or even our Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) courses? Before you contact us, you may want to take a look at our frequently asked questions below. It’s a resource we always try to keep up to date, so it’s worth checking before sending us a message. Of course, if you can’t find the answer here, we’re always happy to help! Feel free to contact us about anything.

What is Accelerated Free Fall?

AFF is the quickest method of becoming a qualified parachute jumper or skydiver and is also the easiest way to learn with approximately 50 seconds of free fall on every jump guided by our expert instructors. All jumps are made from at least 15,000ft and AFF usually turns out to be much cheaper in the long run and much more fun than the outdated static line method which so many cannot get to grips with.

What are the benefits of AFF over other training methods?

There are many benefits but two of the main ones are the continuous exposure to free fall, that means that you are in free fall for a long time giving you the time to practice your free fall techniques. Another is our ability to teach you in free fall using hand signals to adjust your body position thereby giving you a better result.

Why should I have a BPA (British Parachute Association) instructor?

If you do not have a BPA instructor you cannot be awarded UK qualifications, it is as simple as that. Many other countries have a qualifying system that does not have the same requirement as ours and we have some British instructors who do not hold UK qualifications for various reasons. One of the big problems in the industry is foreign qualified instructors advertising for UK students.

What time should I arrive at the airfield for my AFF course?

AFF training starts promptly at 9am so students should arrive by 8.30am unless you have been informed otherwise. All the details you need are explained in your confirmation letter – if you have already booked and not received one please do get in touch with us.

What do I need to bring for my AFF?

We will provide all the skydiving equipment, so you just need to make sure you bring thin layers of clothing to wear under your jumpsuit so it’s not too bulky and allows for movement. Regular trainers are the best footwear. In the summer months you won’t need a great deal except a hat, sun cream and sunglasses, but in winter you will want a fleece for example as it is a little chiller at altitude. You might want to bring a book to read during any downtime and free Wi-fi is available in the café.

What are consols?

Consols are ‘consolidation jumps’, so-called because they are designed to be used to ‘consolidate’ what you have learnt during your AFF Levels before we let you loose on the skydiving world! As you will have only competed seven jumps you are still very new to the sport and there is an intermediate period when you are still classed as a ‘student skydiver’ and must still be supervised by a qualified skydiving instructor on the ground before you jump, and in the aircraft. However, you will exit the plane completely solo on your consol jumps.

Do many people have to repeat jumps?

Some students sail straight through and others have a sticking point. It is difficult to predict how you will take to skydiving until you start. Please do come with a contingency fund in case you do need to pay for any additional jumps as these are charged in addition to the course price.

How will I know how I am doing on the AFF course?

As well as your debriefs we film your jumps on digital video, these videos are used to show you how well you are doing and are also combined for you to have and take with you as a record of the whole trip. There is no extra cost for this with us (most centres charge extra for video).

What happens if I don’t complete the AFF course during my trip?

Your credit will remain on account with us and you can return to finish of the course. Please note if there is a long period of time during which time you have not jumped then, for your own safety, you may need to repeat a level or undergo further training – these ‘currency’ requirements will be outlined in your AFF course manual.