Maybe you've seen Fastrax Team members jumping one of those awe-inspiring huge American flags. Or maybe you've heard some of the long-time jumpers telling their hilarious stories about dressing up in crazy costumes, lighting themselves up with flares, and jumping into stadiums. Or maybe you've just watched someone jump into an event in front of a wildly cheering crowd and thought, "Hey, I wanna do that! I'm gonna get my PRO rating!"
Well, in order to earn your PRO rating, you must be a current, D-licensed USPA member, with at least 500 jumps on a ram-air canopy. You must also make a series of ten jumps into a circle ten meters in diameter (landing within five meters of the center point) using the same model and size canopy. In order for those jumps to be valid, the following conditions must be met:
1) The applicant must pre-declare each jump.
2) Once the applicant has started the series, he or she may
make non-declared jumps; however, non-declared jumps
may not be counted toward the accuracy requirements for
the rating.
3) All of the ten pre-declared jumps in the series must be
successful for any in the series to count toward the rating;
and in the event of an unsuccessful jump, the applicant
must start a new series.
4) On each declared jump, the applicant must make the first
contact and stop within the ten-meter circle and make all
landings standing up.
5) All declared jumps must witnessed by either an S&TA,
Instructor Examiner, or USPA Regional or National Director.
6) The applicant must obtain signatures of the eligible verifying
official for each of the ten jumps.
Additionally you must score at least 75% on the PRO Rating exam, and then forward the completed application form to his or her USPA Regional Director for his signature. Along with the application, you must include:
1) A 1" x 1" full face photo of the applicant
2) The completed PRO Rating exam
3) The rating fee
4) A PRO Rating Proficiency card signed off by an I/E, S&TA,
or PRO Rating holder indicating that you have
received training in the following areas:
a) Ground crew - and served as a ground crew member
on at least one Level 1 or Level 2 demo jump
b) Flag rigging - and made at least one jump with a flag
c) Smoke rigging - and made at least one jump with
smoke
d) NOTAM filing and certificates of authorization
e) Crowd control
f) Post-jump procedures
Except for the minimum 500 ram-air jump requirement, all training listed must be made within the previous 12 months of the application.
The following conditions apply to all issued PRO Ratings:
1) The smallest canopy used during qualification will be the
smallest size canopy to be used for minimum landing area
(Level 2) jumps, and the canopy size will be noted on the
PRO Rating card.
2) The USPA will issue an annual PRO Rating with an
expiration date that will coincide with the applicant's
membership expiration date. The rating must be renewed
annually in order to remain current.
3) If a PRO Rating holder's competence is questioned by a
FAA or USPA official (including S&TAs), the PRO Rating
holder may be required to reaffirm his or her proficiency.
4) To requalify on a smaller canopy:
a) The rating holder must make three successive, pre-
declared jumps, making the first contact and stopping
within a circle ten meters in diameter with that canopy.
5) All landings must be made standing up and be verified by
an S&TA, I/E, USPA Judge, or a Regional or National
Director.
