Accelerated Freefall Course
The quickest route to becoming a qualified skydiver.
What is AFF?
The Accelerated Freefall (AFF) course is a skydiving programme that can take you from a complete beginner to a fully qualified skydiver. The course consists of:
a full day of ground school learning the theory and practise of skydiving,
eight skydiving levels to learn the core freefall and canopy skills,
ten consolidation jumps to practise what you have learnt during the course.
AFF is termed ‘accelerated’ because the learning process is up to five times faster than any alternative training programs. This is because the AFF method allows instructors to accompany you in freefall and provide direct tuition during each skydive. They will coach you moment by moment, giving you time and help to build your confidence in the air.
The AFF course is accredited by British Skydiving, which is recognised throughout the UK and abroad. Once completed, you can jump anywhere in the world and continue with your progression, taking up any of the various skydiving disciplines.
If you want to try solo skydiving before committing to the full course, we also offer the option to do Level 1 only. This includes ground school and the Level 1 skydive.
About the Course
Ground School
The course starts with a full day of ground school with one of our highly experienced instructors, which will take place prior to the skydiving phase. During ground school, you will learn about the skydiving equipment, safety procedures, how to exit the aircraft with your instructors, the freefall body position and maintaining control during freefall, how to deploy your parachute and how to control your canopy and land safely in the parachuting landing area.
Skydiving Phase
After ground school, you will be ready to move onto the AFF skydiving levels accompanied by your instructors. The AFF course is based on eight levels of achievement (normally one skydive per level).
Before jumping each day, you will receive thorough refresh training. You will practice all the procedures for both the skydive and canopy ride until yourself and the instructors are confident that you can complete the skydive safely. Following each skydive level, your instructors will debrief you using the video footage of the jump and then prepare you for your next skydive.
The skydiving levels are followed by ten consolidation jumps. You will then be awarded your first skydiving license.
AFF Level Description
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Level 1
You will jump with an instructor either side of you in freefall. You will follow a planned sequence to demonstrate good body position and altitude awareness, along with 'practice pulls' to locate your deployment handle. You will pull your own parachute and fly back to the landing area, with guidance from your instructors by radio.
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Level 2
Again, you will jump with an instructor either side of you in freefall. You will follow the same planned sequence as in Level 1 and prove that you can hold a good body position and maintain altitude awareness. If you are doing well, one instructor will release from your side. You will deploy your own parachute and then safely guided back to the ground via radio.
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Level 3
Once more, you will jump with two instructors. After your practice pulls, you will be completely released by your instructors - your first time solo skydiving! Whilst flying solo, you will need to demonstrate that you can maintain heading and altitude awareness. Your instructors will redock before you deploy your parachute. An instructor will guide you via radio to help you land.
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Level 4
Thanks to the skills you have demonstrated during the previous levels, you will require only one instructor for Level 4. On this level you will learn to start, control and stop turns during freefall. On completion of the turns, you will deploy your own parachute and fly back to the landing area under guidance via radio.
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Level 5
This level reinforces the turns, with any improvements from the previous jump. You will conduct controlled 360 degree turns in both directions in front of your instructor, all whilst maintaining altitude awareness. Again, you will deploy your own parachute and fly back to the landing area under guidance via radio.
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Level 6
For the first time, you will perform a solo exit from the aircraft followed by your instructor. During freefall, you will demonstrate that you can regain stability by performing a back loop with recovery. You will also practice tracking, an important skill that allows you to move forwards. This is essential once you start jumping with other people.
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Level 7
With one instructor, on this level you will put into practice everything that you have learnt so far. You will demonstrate a solo exit, a backloop, two 360 degree turns and a short track before deploying your own parachute. You will need to demonstrate altitude awareness and control throughout the whole skydive. An instructor will guide you via radio to help you land.
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Level 8
The last level! You exit the aircraft on your own from 5000 ft and deploy your parachute within ten seconds whilst maintaining stability. This skydive is to simulate an emergency exit and will give you confidence and the ability to exit the aircraft and deploy your parachute as soon as possible (a life saving skill).
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Consolidation Jumps
The ten consolidation jumps give you the opportunity to practice all the skills you learnt during the course. You will be supervised by an instructor on the aircraft and then exit completely solo for each jump.
The Evolution Way
Evolution Skydiving specialises in one to two week residential skydiving trips abroad for first‑time skydivers to complete the full AFF course. We run our trips at several sunny locations including Spain, Italy, Portugal and the USA. We choose to run our trips abroad for the following reasons:
Intensive training over a short period provides the most effective way for rapid progression and qualification.
The weather at our chosen locations is more stable than in the UK allowing for consistent daily jumping for students. In the UK, the weather is notoriously unreliable making learning to skydive a frustrating experience due to a lot of waiting around instead of jumping. This makes progression slower, which can lead to more repeat jumps and regular (sometimes long distance) drives to UK drop zones. As a result, completing the AFF course takes longer and becomes more expensive than a residential course.
All instruction and jumps during the residential course will be with the same instructor team. This provides a consistent approach and a more effective learning experience as opposed to being allocated a different instructor for each jump of your course at UK centres.
Experienced jumpers that have already completed the AFF course also join us on our trips. This provides a great opportunity for AFF students to meet fellow skydivers.
It is not just a skydiving course, but a fantastic holiday too.
We organise and take care of everything, including the accommodation and transportation during the whole trip. All you need to do is book a flight to the appropriate destination.
What Happens After AFF?
Once you complete the AFF course and achieve your skydiving license, you can go to any drop zone in the world to go skydiving.
There are so many different disciplines to try in the sport from formation skydiving and freeflying to wingsuiting and sky surfing. You can do thousands of skydives and still have barely scratched the surface!
Over the years, Evolution Skydiving has built up a network of world-class coaches to help you further your skills and take your skydiving to the next level.
