USPA AFF Instructor Rating
The Most Popular Rating
Course Overview
The AFF rating course is likely to be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you will ever undertake in skydiving! Chances are, if you ask your AFFIs about it, they’ll still remember the course.
The course is very heavily focused on freefall skills. If you need to be a ninja to freefly, then you need to become a Jedi to be an AFF Instructor. Here at Skydive Ratings, the AFF pre-course is included and is a proprietary format where we will build up your AFF-specific skills over the 7 jumps. You’ll learn how and when to give signals, when you need to redock to a student in need of assistance, and what to do if the student loses altitude awareness. On the ground, we focus on reinforcing your teaching skills specifically towards someone who has never jumped before, as opposed to a student who already has 10-15 jumps.
Prerequisites
Price of the Course
- $750
- Plus jump slots for both you and the evaluator during the Pre-Course an Evaluation jumps
Upcoming Course Dates
USPA AFF-I course and pre course — Full
Coach Pre-Course
November 6 @ 8:30 am - November 11 @ 5:00 pm
AFF Pre-Course and AFF Instructor Course
Coach Pre-Course
December 4 @ 8:30 am - December 9 @ 5:00 pm
USPA AFF-I Course and Pre-Course
Coach Pre-Course
January 1, 2025 @ 8:30 am - January 6, 2025 @ 5:00 pm
Additional Information
How long is the course?
This is a 6-day course, and it’s divided as follows:
- Pre-course | 1.5 days
- Air Evaluations | 1.5 days
- Classroom Instruction | 1.5 days
- Ground Evaluations | 1.5 days
The order and flow of the days are totally dependent on the weather, meaning that if we have blue skies we will push the jumping, and if weather is a no-go for jumping we will stay on the ground.
Who should pursue this rating?
If you are passionate about teaching, enjoy working with students, and giving back to the community, and also if you are looking for a greater purpose in skydiving, this is the rating for you!
Or maybe you are just looking for a new challenge to tackle at the dropzone. Earning the rating and becoming a proficient AFF Instructor is one of the most challenging things you can do in this sport.
What does this rating allow me to do?
You’ll be able to:
- Teach full FJC, and take students up from their first jump in the AFF method
- Sign off on licenses, special training, and coach renewals
- Supervise and mentor coaches, and “coaches to be”
How can I prepare?
It’s very hard to pinpoint exactly how to prepare for an AFF course, but these things will surely help:
- Work with students as much as you can! Nothing can replace real-life teaching experience with students.
- Do as many “dynamic” belly jumps as you can. Coaching students, flying camera for tandem, sequential 4-way formations, speed stars, etc.
The best advice we can give you is this: get to the point where you can fly on your belly without thinking. Flying your body should be second nature for aspiring AFF-Is
What should I expect?
Of course, a good time! Lots of jumping, lots of teamwork on the ground and a positive team learning environment.
Be prepared to give it all you have, in the air especially but also on the ground. We will do our best to keep the energy high, give you the best possible coaching and feedback, but at the end of the day it’s you that’s going to have to earn the rating.
You can expect us to give you all the tools necessary to succeed, but the last, winning stretch will be up to you and how committed you are.
How do I pass the course?
To pass, you’ll need to complete three satisfactory (score of 75% or higher) air evaluation jumps, a Category C exiting on the Main side and one on the reserve side, and a Category D
How do I keep the rating current?
Within your membership cycle (yearly) you’ll need to complete and provide verification of:
- 15 AFF jumps
- Assisting an AFF First Jump Course
- Participating in a Rating Renewal Seminar
What if my rating expires?
Expired for less than 2 years:
- Complete one satisfactory AFF-I course evaluation jump with an AFF Examiner or designated evaluator
- Complete the AFF pre-course exam
- Assist in an FJC
- Participate in a Rating Renewal Seminar
Expired for more than 2 years:
- Retake and pass the full AFF Course
Do you offer Tunnel coaching?
We don’t offer Tunnel Coaching directly through Skydive Ratings, but we are more than happy to recommend a small training program based on your skills, that you can take to your local tunnel coach.
If you are planning to get some AFF-I Tunnel Coaching while you are down here in Florida, we highly recommend Brad and Mallory Hunt from 1 Point Skydive. They operate out of the Tampa iFly Tunnel and have a vast experience with coaching aspiring AFF-Is in the tunnel.
This is their website with contact info https://www.1pointskydive.com/ , and there is also a facebook group dedicated to AFF-I coaching at the Tampa iFly tunnel iFly Tampa AFF & AFF-I Coaching
