Skydiving Currency Requirements
As you work towards earning your A-license at Skydive Chicago, staying current is a part of the skydiving process. Whether you’ve had to take a break during the off-season or life redirected for a time, understanding the importance of skydiving currency requirements and how to meet them will keep you on track. We’ll dive into why staying current is essential, what the currency requirements are, and how you can ensure you’re prepared when the season kicks off.
Why Staying Current Matters
Skydiving is a dynamic sport that requires not only skill but also muscle memory and mental sharpness. When you’re actively jumping, your body and mind are continually reinforcing the procedures, safety protocols, and techniques that make you a confident, competent skydiver. If you’ve been out of the game for a while, your skills may not be as sharp, and your ability to respond quickly in an emergency situation could be diminished.
Staying current ensures that you:
- Keep Your Skills Fresh: The longer you go without jumping, the more you may lose touch with basic maneuvers and muscle memory. Staying current keeps you in practice, ensuring your skills are sharp when you need them most.
- Maintain Safety Standards: Skydiving has inherent risks, and keeping up with currency requirements ensures that you’re following the latest safety protocols. Whether it’s checking gear, executing proper exits, or understanding emergency procedures, currency means you’re less likely to overlook the critical steps in each jump.
- Stay Confident: Regularly jumping means staying confident in your abilities. Confidence reduces stress and hesitation, allowing you to focus on enjoying the experience rather than doubting your skills.
- Progress Toward Your A-License (and beyond): The path to earning your A-license requires meeting certain milestones. Staying current ensures that you’re not delaying your progress and can continue advancing toward achieving your goal of becoming a licensed skydiver.
What Are the Currency Requirements for Each Skydiving License?
The United States Parachute Association (USPA) requires certain currency rules to ensure you maintain proficiency as a student and licensed jumper. Although each progression getting back to the sky may slightly vary, the student to licensed skydiving currency requirements are standard. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- Jump Frequency / Currency Requirements:
- Student Jumpers (in the AFP Program) – currency is jumping at least once every 30 days
- A-License Jumpers: must have jumped within the last 60 days
- B-License Jumpers: must have jumped within the last 90 days
- C-D License Jumpers: mush have jumped within the last 6 months
- Student to A-License Jump Progression:
- You need a minimum number of jumps (25 total) to qualify for your A-license, but regular jumping will ensure you’re progressing and meeting all required competencies. Remember, quality matters—each jump is an opportunity to refine skills and master new ones. The longer you go without jumping, the more ground school needed to get back in the sky.
- Logbook Entries:
- Keep your logbook updated! You should be logging every jump you make and tracking progress toward meeting A-license requirements. This is important for both your training and for our instructors to monitor your readiness.
If you’ve been out for longer than the allotted days for your license, you’ll need to complete a refresher course and jump with an instructor or coach to get back on track.
How to Stay Current and Get Back on Track
If you’ve taken a break and need to get current again, don’t worry—you’re not starting from scratch! Here’s what you can do to get back on track:
- Schedule a Refresher Jump: If it’s been more than the allotted time since your last jump, the first step is to schedule a refresher jump with one of our experienced instructors. This jump will allow you to refresh your skills, review emergency procedures, assess where you’re at, and address any concerns before jumping
- Take Advantage of the Online Ground School: For those in the AFP student program or even if you’ve been skydiving for a while, reviewing theory and ground school materials can help sharpen your knowledge from the comfort of your home on any device with wifi
- Focus on Skill Development: Each jump is an opportunity to improve. Whether it’s your exit, freefall body position, canopy control, or landing technique, take each jump seriously and set specific goals for each one. This will help you feel more confident as you work toward earning your A-license.
- Stay Connected : At Skydive Chicago, we have a team of dedicated instructors who are here to support you and a plethora of events for all skill levels and disciplines. If you have any questions or concerns about staying current or meeting A-license requirements, be sure to reach out! We’re here to help you succeed!
The Bottom Line: Consistency is Key
Skydiving is a sport where consistency is crucial. Staying current ensures that you’re always ready for your next jump, keeps your skills sharp, and helps you progress toward earning your A-license. Whether you’ve been off for a few months or just need a refresher, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Ready to jump back into the sky? We’re excited to see you in the air soon!
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