Licenses and Dropzones

[Scoby 0]

I'm at 19 jumps, off student status and a packing class away from an A license. I was curious about a few things. First of all, how long does the A license take to arrive after I send in the card? Secondly, am I stuck at my home DZ until after I receive it, or can I go to other dropzones once I have a certain number of jumps logged? One of the upjumpers at my DZ said he didn't get his A until he had 350 jumps (!), but I neglected to follow up with any questions about how that restricted him. Thanks!

[pop 0]

If you have your A license card filled out completly and have it faxed to USPA, it shouldn't take but 2-3 weeks to arrive in the mail. And yes, you are going to have a hard time jumping at other drop zones with no license and under 20 jumps in your logbook
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"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he doesn't exist!"

[Sebazz1 2]

Yea what pop said. Keep your card with you. It really depends on what DZ you go to. If you came to my DZ and let me know in advance it would be no problemo. We would meet early so I can brief you on our little nuances and paterns then off we go up into the wild blue yonder..........
Some bigger DZ's might make you do an eval jump then set you free........
Sebazz........

[ramon 0]

For like $5 extra they will fax you a number in a couple of days that will be accepted at dropzones till you get your card
ramon
"wee girls on a skydive road trip on big bikes...... yikes, dykes and bikes kinda thing...... ", David McKelvie

[Scoby 0]

Quote

And yes, you are going to have a hard time jumping at other drop zones with no license and under 20 jumps in your logbook

Shockingly quick answer, thanks! That's pretty much what I expected. Fair enough too...if I were a DZO, I wouldn't want to deal with it. I guess I just need to get everything in order as soon as possible. I'm itching to take a canopy control course at Perris. Thanks again!

[indyz 1]

If I recall correctly a stamped A License Profiency Card is considered a valid A license until you recieve the real license from the USPA. In fact, I was advised to save myself the $20 and not bother sending anything in until I get my B.
Update: The bottom of my A card reads:
"This stamp, when accompanied by the signature of a USPA AFF, Static-Line, or IAD Instructor, verifies that the applicant named on this form has completed all qualifications for the USPA A skydiving license and performed satisfactorily on the USPA A-license check dive. This temporary USPA A license expires with the holder's USPA regular membership or when replaced by any registered licensed issued from USPA Headquarters."
So there you go.
--
Brian

[pop 0]

Good point. You are absolutly right. The stamped card is just as good as the actual license.
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"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he doesn't exist!"

[lummy 4]

OR for free, they will e-mail you a confirmation that you have a license which you can print out and take with
the INTERNET comes in any color you'd like

[rgoper 0]

generally, if you present your logbook, and you are a USPA member, and have a USPA number, and/or card, you can jump most USPA affiliated dropzones in the u.s. but don't let this stop you from pursuing your licenses.
Richard
"Gravity Is My Friend"

[Jimbo 0]

Quote

I'm itching to take a canopy control course at Perris. Thanks again!

Then why not call them and ask? I can't imagine they won't accept your A card, or whatever it is they give you these days.
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Jim

[Scoby 0]

Cool! I hope my DZ has a packing class soon. I'm almost certainly going to have to take a day off work to do it. Oh well... Thanks so much for all the replies!

[hobbes4star 0]

before i got my card i just called USPA and the operator looked up my # in the computer and gave it to me over the phone. didn't have a problem after that.
"great achievement comes only at great risk" the Dalai Lama

[wingnut 0]

it took me 2 years to get my liscence...in that time i jumped at 4 dz's in the us and 2 in germany... as long as ya got the log book and are a uspa member, and know what the hell your talking about your golden..and by the way...i only had 36 jumps when i finally did get my "a" so don't think i jumped at these dz's when i had lots of jumps........good luck with the packing class.

it only took a little pixie dust to change this mispelling

[Cornholio 0]

It should not be any problem jumping at other USPA drop zones with your proficiency card filled out completely. The stamp doesn't even have to be there... trust me - I have experience.
I got my card signed off with about 23 jumps and then had a JM at my dz "stamp" it and then fax it in. Well, it turned out the "stamp" was just the FAXED stamp. I asked if that was ok, and they said yes. Well, I went to CSS the weekend after and I showed it to them at the reg counter. They said that the "FAXED" stamp was not a legit stamp, but after looking over my logbook and my card, she stamped it with a REAL A STAMP!!
So I think the bottom line is... if you have your A proficiency card filled out and signed by a JM, then it should not be a problem at any USPA dz. I add the USPA part, cause other dzs might do things differently.
Hope that helps -Matt
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If first you don't succeed....skydiving is not for you.