Paraplegic Solo/AFF Training

The following phases of training are considered essential in establishing the feasibility of each individual′s freefall abilities:

Tandem Training:

The tandem jump phase is intended to introduce and familiarize the student with the various aspects of a freefall jump (plane ride, exit, stable freefall, canopy deployment, canopy decent and landing). The total quantity of tandem jumps will be at the instructor′s discretion, as the student must display the freefall awareness and canopy control skills necessary to allow them to progress to the instructor assisted freefall training program AFF. It is necessary to participate in the first jump course after completion of the introductory tandem jump. The objectives of the tandem training phase are as follows:

- Aircraft familiarization (see below)
- Stable body position on exit
- Stable and relaxed body position during freefall (wind tunnel training suggested)
- Altitude awareness
- Canopy deployment at a predetermined altitude (AFF instruction)
- The ability to recognize a functioning canopy (observation of this is required)
- Ability to locate emergency handles (upper body mobility)
- Adequate canopy control
- Landing area navigational skills and hazard recognition (cog native ability)
- Acceptable flight patterns, including wind direction awareness
- Adequate landing technique (each situation should be evaluated)

It should be noted that emphasis will be placed upon canopy and landing skills, as the repercussions of an off-site or hard landing are much more serious than that of a person with full leg use and mobility.

At some point in the tandem phase, special equipment will be introduced and utilized. This will allow the student and instructor to become familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the equipment prior to them being used in the solo jump phase.

Note: The tandem jumps do not necessarily need to be completed prior to the wind tunnel training. It is advisable to conduct the wind tunnel training immediately after the introductory tandem jump and upon your decision to proceed with freefall training. The tandem phase will be split into two portions (freefall introduction and advanced canopy control), so that the student is more current with their canopy control techniques just prior to their solo jump training.

Wind Tunnel Training:

The wind tunnel is an essential tool for safely determining a disabled student′s abilities in freefall. The wind tunnel is a freefall simulator, which provides a controlled environment in which to develop a student′s ability to maintain stability. The result of the tunnel training may show that the student′s abilities are such that they should NOT proceed with solo freefall, due to safety concerns. Look also at trying out the freefall jumpsuit or pants desired for the Stages of wind tunnel and freefall.

Freefall stability training should place emphasis on being relaxed. As with any student, relaxation of the body is the key to achieving a neutral, stable freefall position. It is much more important with persons that rely mostly on the use of their torso and arms for freefall control.

Two qualified instructors are present in the tunnel during the stability training, in order to safely contain the student′s unintentional movements and to adequately observe the student′s body positions and reactions.

As in freefall, wind noise eliminates verbal communication capability; therefore predetermined USPA AFF accepted hand signals will be practiced prior to entering the tunnel for the first time. These signals are simple and allow the student to fully understand entirely what the instructor is requesting. There will also be signals between the instructors that allow them to communicate each other′s intensions.

The wind tunnel activities should be as follows:

- Low air speed introduction. This allows the student to familiarize themselves with the effects of their actions, with respect to the airflow, without having a drastic sudden response.
- Increasing air speed stability development. The student′s progress should determine the rate and amount that the air speed should be increased. The air speed is to be increased as the student has demonstrated the ability to remain in control at the current speed. Continue to increase the air speed until normal freefall air speeds are achieved (approx. 120 mph).
- Full independent stability. The target for the student is too independently (unassisted) control themselves, in the tunnel, at full air speed.
- Tunnel training periods are limited to 15-minute increments, in order to verbally debrief the activities. I would suggest that between two and four, 15-minute periods would suffice for the student to accomplish the basic stability requirements.
- Once reliable stability is achieved, freefall exercises may be introduced. It is recommended that the student and instructors rehearse the activities that will be introduced during the solo training (such as AFF Category A,B,C...). It is also recommended that ′jump timing′ be introduced into the tunnel training. This will help prepare the student for the altitude awareness skills that will be absolutely required in the solo training. The AFF style clock altimeter will be used for this purpose. If the 15-minute period is utilized for these exercises, then it is best to repeat a single dive multiple times rather than exercising multiple dives during a single tunnel session.
- Parachute deployment exercises are used to ensure that the student understands the requirements for maintaining a stable reliable deployment sequence. A training harness with a pilot chute simulator will be used for this training simulation. The student′s deployment altitude will be increased by at least 1000′ in order to compensate for the added complexities of their equipment (leg lifting straps, knee braces).

Freefall Training:

Once the student has fully demonstrated, in the wind tunnel, their abilities to maintain stability and to perform the basic requirements of solo training, they are ready to progress to the solo/AFF training stage. The time period between the tunnel training and the solo/AFF training should be kept to a minimum to keep the skill and muscle memory advantages just learned. A tandem jump must be completed just prior to conducting the first solo/AFF training jumps. You must keep CURRENT on all skills!!!

Stage 1) the first move to make is getting a DR′s notice about potential problems that may occur from potential hard openings or other outside factors IE: internal, bars or pins that may be effected on a hard landing that would affect most able body people. You may have to have a harness that is designed to help get your legs up and out of the way on landing.

Student skydivers are taught stability by holding an arched body position as follows:
- Hips pushed forward (arched)(wind tunnel or creeper demo)
- Head held back
- Arms outstretched and pulled back
- Knees bent at approximately 90 degrees
- Legs held wide apart

Lack of leg control in freefall presents a two-fold problem. First, legs are a significant control surface for freefall, so without control over the legs, a skydiver is at a disadvantage. Also, if the legs are unrestrained, they become a detriment to achieving and maintaining freefall stability. In order to overcome the lack of leg control, specially developed equipment may be necessary to achieve the knee and leg positions described above.

An emphasis will be placed upon canopy and landing skills, as the repercussions of an off-site or hard landing are much more serious than that of a person with full leg use and mobility.

At some point in the Tandem phase, special equipment will be introduced and utilized. This will allow the student and instructor to become familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the equipment prior to them being used in the solo/AFF jump phase.