What Is a First Jump Course? Everything You Need to Know

Key Takeaways
A First Jump Course (FJC) is a 4-8 hour ground training program that prepares students for their first solo skydive through the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) program. Students learn critical skydiving skills, including gear checks, airplane exits, body position, canopy control, landing techniques, and emergency procedures. Unlike tandem skydives, AFF jumps give students increasing independence while instructors supervise and assist throughout the skydive. Completing tandem jumps and an FJC helps build the confidence, knowledge, and awareness needed to begin solo skydiving.

If you’ve been thinking of getting into skydiving, you’ve probably heard about the First Jump Course – aka skydiving ground school or FJC. So, what is a First Jump Course? And is it the right place to start if you want to jump solo? 

The FJC is a 4 to 8 hour ground training program that prepares you for your first solo skydive – and, yes, it’s the correct first step to the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) program. During the FJC, you learn about parachute equipment, freefall techniques, safety protocols, and emergency procedures. Upon completion, you make your first jump with instructor assistance.

Once you have a tandem skydive and the FJC under your belt, skydiving solo feels much more accessible. Let’s get into it!

Tandem vs. AFF: What’s the Difference?

Tandem skydiving involves two people – an instructor and a novice – jumping together and landing under one parachute. It’s the most common way to get into the sport, regardless of whether you’re looking to jump once and check it off your bucket list or become a solo skydiver. This is because there is a tandem instructor strapped to your back, handling the responsibilities and logistics of the jump. 

Tandem skydiving is a great introduction to the sky and an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the environment. There is brief ground training before tandem jumps, but it takes minutes versus the hours involved in AFF ground training. 

Accelerated Freefall (AFF) is the name of the most popular skydive training curriculum in the world. Sanctioned by the United States Parachute Association (USPA), it’s a multi-level program that teaches students how to responsibly skydive independently in about 25 jumps. 

Most people choose to complete two tandem skydives before committing to the AFF program. At Skydive New England, we require our AFF students to make at least one tandem jump prior to enrolling in the program.

What Happens During Ground School?

The First Jump Course consists of classroom teaching, real-world practice, and written and physical skills checks. Some of the topics covered include:

Gear Checks

AFF is the first time that students are responsible for their own gear, so they spend time learning the ins and outs of maintenance and pre-jump gear checks.

Spotting

The art of planning a jump based on wind and weather takes time, but AFF students begin to establish these skills right from the start.

Airplane Exits

A good exit is crucial to a successful skydive. Students and instructors will practice exits in airplane door mockups many times before getting into the real airplane.

Body Position

Perhaps the most important part of the skydive, instructors will drill the arch position until it becomes second nature for the student.

Hand Signals

Because of how loud the wind of freefall is, instructors cannot communicate with their students through speech. Instead, they use a series of hand signals to give input to students about body position and cues for the jump plan.

Emergency Procedures

All students memorize and practice emergency procedures until they can do them in their sleep! You can never be too prepared.

Canopy Flight

Students learn the physics and technique of flying a parachute so that they can navigate themselves back to the dropzone after freefall ends.

Landing

Instructors make sure that students are adept at flaring and landing the parachute, as well as how to perform the Parachute Landing Fall if necessary.

Each topic is taught in enough detail that students feel confident in the subject matter, but not overwhelmed. It’s important to have the knowledge in the sky and the confidence to use it! 

How Long Does a First Jump Course Take?

The length of a First Jump Course can differ depending on the number of people in the class, instructor technique, and dropzone preference, but they generally last anywhere from 4 to 8 hours. The curriculum is typically completed in one day, but can also be split over two days to accommodate learning styles and schedule availability. 

The material covered in the FJC is crucial to successful AFF jumps, so instructors take their time covering the details and ensuring every student fully understands each topic. 

The Jump Itself: From Boarding the Plane to Landing

The crowning moment in every AFF student’s journey is their first solo jump with their instructors. Unlike tandem instructors, AFF instructors come along on the jump but are not physically attached to you. Here’s a snapshot of what a typical first AFF jump looks like:

Before the Jump

Before boarding the airplane, your instructors will go through:

• The jump plan
• Emergency procedures
• Hand signals
• Gear checks

They will also do this during the ride up to ensure you are calm and focused. 

During the Jump

During your first few jumps, your instructors fly close to you to provide support in freefall. They may:

• Hold onto your jumpsuit
• Use hand signals to correct body position
• Remind you what to do during freefall
• Gradually give you more independence as you progress

After you deploy your parachute, your instructors deploy their own parachutes and fly to the landing area. From here, they’ll help guide you down through radio communication.

After the Jump

After landing, your instructors will give you time to settle from the experience before reviewing the jump together. This debrief typically includes:

• What went well
• What could be improved
• Any additional training related to what happened during your skydive

AFF FAQs

These are the top questions people have about skydiving solo. Have others? Reach out – we’re here to support your skydiving journey.

What is the skydiving age limit?

The skydiving age limit for tandem and AFF skydiving is 18 years old at all USPA Member Dropzones. 

What’s the skydiving weight limit?

At Skydive New England, our tandem skydiving weight limit is 240 lbs, and our AFF skydiving weight limit is 225 lbs. Can a 300 lb person parachute? Unfortunately, no. These limits are set by the equipment manufacturers for reasons of safety and comfort. 

How long does it take to freefall 1,000 feet? 

A skydiver in a stable belly-to-earth position typically falls at about 120 mph, which is roughly 176 feet per second. In other words, it takes five or six seconds to fall about 1,000 feet. 

So, how long does it take to fall 13,000 feet vs. 14,000 feet?

• 13,000 feet: about 55-60 seconds of freefall
• 14,000 feet: about 60-65 seconds of freefall

A five or so second difference may not sound like much on paper, but in freefall, an extra five seconds can feel surprisingly significant. That’s because everything is happening so intensely and quickly.

Will I be able to see my instructor in freefall?

AFF instructors fly next to their students, so they can be seen out of the student’s peripheral vision. Instructors also place hand signals right in front of the student’s face to make sure they are clearly communicating during the jump.

How will I know where the dropzone is after my parachute opens? 

Students study multiple aerial maps before ever getting into the sky so that they are familiar with the bird’s eye view of the dropzone and all surrounding areas. Instructors also review flight plans with students, taking into account wind direction and speed, and alternative plans if something changes mid-air. 

Ready to take the leap? Book your tandem jump now to start your progression. And if you’ve already got a tandem under your belt, reserve your spot in an AFF FJC! We can’t wait to jump with you – blue skies!