For the more adventurous person up for a challenge and daring enough to skydive solo (instructor assisted) then the Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) Program is for you!

The AFF program consists of nine stages designed to teach you the fundamentals involved in becoming a competent skydiver. The first stage of the program involves a full day of training with a qualified instructor teaching you basic freefall skills so you can safely deploy your own parachute and land it, assisted, safely back to the ground. 

AFF 'Learn to Skydive' PRICES

Intensive AFF Program PRICES 

Absolute 'A' Licence Program PRICES

                   *Does not include any necessary repeat stages

The next day after your assessment** and weather permitting is when the fun REALLY kicks in! The plan ride to 14,000FT takes approximately 15 minutes during which time you will be astounded with the stunning scenery of the Hunter Valley and Newcastle coastline. Exiting from the plane is made easy from in our new modern aircraft which seats up to 10 people.

Your instructors will hold onto you throughout your first freefall experience. You will then deploy your own parachute at a predetermined height with your instructors landing before you to assist in guiding you safely back to earth.

**If your instructor is not 100% satisfied of your abilities, they will advise you to do your first stage AFF in tandem configuration. You still perform all freefall procedures practiced in class – including height checks, and pulling the ripcord, and steering the parachute safely to land, like flying in dual command of an aircraft, where your instructor is right there with you.

To find out more about stages 2 - 9 of the AFF program keep reading! Each stage requires a 20-30 minute briefing by a qualified instructor beforehand.

Stage 2
This skydive teaches you arm and leg awareness by introducing forward movement. By deflecting air with your body, you are able to manoeuvre through the sky.

Stage 3
This stage teaches you hover control. To maintain a heading and fall straight down in your own column of air in the sky.

Stage 4
Solo flight! This jump can be with either one or two instructors. A consolidation of stage three, to maintain a heading relative to the instructor.

Stage 5
Exiting the aircraft with only one instructor, you will perform 360 degree turns and forward movement in this stage. Using the skills learnt in stage two to perform more advanced moves.

Stage 6
You will exit the aircraft solo with your instructor following you. This is a consolidation of stage 5. You will perform 360 degree turns and forward movement. To reconfirm the skills learnt in the previous jump.

Stage 7
Before exiting the plane, you practice 'spotting' the load (checking the correct exit point in order for everyone to land back at the drop zone). Your first DIVE exit from the aircraft and turning sub-terminal to face your instructor in freefall, you follow your instructor’s demonstration and perform a back loop. Then track in a specific heading.

Stage 8
This stage covers all the skills you have learnt so far and includes how to fall fast and slow by changing your body position. Then demonstrate a figure eight, back loop and s-tracking.

Stage 9
The objective of this stage is to exit the aircraft at a low altitude (4,000FT) with a three second stable delay before safely deploy your parachute and reaching terminal velocity.
 
Getting your A License and Beyond ...
Now that you’ve successfully completed the AFF program, you're just a few jumps away from receiving you're A license. This will certify you as a sport parachutist with the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) allowing you to skydive at Drop Zones around the world.

You're A license is just the beginning to an amazing sport. Your next step is to learn to freefall with other people and manoeuvre your body to create formations in the sky relative to other skydivers. From here you can have fun with new friends, even join a team and jump competitively.

At Skydive Maitland we have many experienced jumpers and coaches to learn from, and plenty of organised camps to increase your skills. Check out our events calendar for dates.