AFF/gear/forum/basic advice needed from experienced jumpers

[dropzonechaps 0]

As a newbee to the "I jump out of airplanes" world, I was hopping some of you could weigh in and offer some advice. I have made one tandem jump and am hooked, its a done deal. However, with all the acronyms and a language of the community I do not understand yet, I have a few questions and some information about myself that may help the answering of said questions. I am in the navy and have been for 16 years. As an officer who just returned from deployment, and going back out shortly (in and out for the next 6 months) money is really not an issue as long as bang for the buck makes sence. I started my naval career as a nuclear welder, so as you can imagine, I don't do anything without taking a "nuc" approach to it. Safety, knowledge, understanding are paramount for me. I am not a thrill seaker as the term implies, I simply found the calmest moment in my life the other day at 13K and 120mph. It was so peaceful. And as a forum user in the drag racing world, I also know that the forum has great info. So here are my questions.

Of course any questions that can be aswered by previous competent posts or sticky's please feel free to direct me. This forum just seems fairly large already as I surf it.

1. Is there a list of terminology, definitions and acronyms?
2. Rent gear or buy? (If buy; where to buy, what to buy, and why)
3. AFF, 7 Level or 8 (what's the difference?)
4. Competent AFF school in SoCal? (i live in san Diego, but have read some things about a DZ here and had a less than a desirable experience with them already)
5. Lastly, with all the pricing out there, what is a reasonable price I should pay for school?

Well I know its a long post and if any of you are like me on other forums, sometimes newbees are dismissed quickly as I am probably asking questions a 1000 other newbees have asked; hence the "point me to another thread or sticky. So, to anyone who replies, thank you in advance.

Take care,
Steve.

[Southern_Man 0]

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1. Is there a list of terminology, definitions and acronyms?
2. Rent gear or buy? (If buy; where to buy, what to buy, and why)
3. AFF, 7 Level or 8 (what's the difference?)
4. Competent AFF school in SoCal? (i live in san Diego, but have read some things about a DZ here and had a less than a desirable experience with them already)
5. Lastly, with all the pricing out there, what is a reasonable price I should pay for school?

Well I know its a long post and if any of you are like me on other forums, sometimes newbees are dismissed quickly as I am probably asking questions a 1000 other newbees have asked; hence the "point me to another thread or sticky. So, to anyone who replies, thank you in advance.

Take care,
Steve.

Hi Steve, I'll take a shot at a few of your questions, although I'm not the most experienced guy here, I'm sure others will also fill in anything I miss:

1) There used to be a glossary in the safety section. I don't see it there now, and the site is going through a big redesign so it may have moved somewhere. Anyway, the search box is very helpful and I bet you can find just about anything.

2) Gear should be included in your student jumps. You will want to get through those before you even start to think about buying gear.

3) This is a complicated question. Dropzones follow several different training curricula. They are all designed to get you to the same place (mastering the list of skills for the A license). In addition, although your post does not mention them, there are also static line and instructor assisted deployment methods. This is a good question t ask the dropzones you are interested in. I personally learned following the Integrated Student Program (ISP).

4) You are lucky to live in an area with a lot of great choices for learning skydiving. Perris and Elsinore are both large DZs with good schools for learning. Skydive San Diego I believe is closer to you and also I think has a good reputation. I'm on the opposite coast, so I'm sure others can fill you in.

5) This is another complicated question, as not everybody prices their courses the same way so it can be difficult to compare apples to apples. For example, some people will sell their 7-8 level AFF as a package. Others will sell a complete, 25 jump A license package. Others will sell a 25 jump package that includes gear through jump 7-8 but gear rental would be a non-included cost after that. What you really want to do is try to nail down what it will cost you for jumps 1-25 if you can and to figure out what that includes (I think some include a few minutes of tunnel time in their training even). Even this may not be your final cost as re-jumps will cost extra.

6) Lastly, although you did not ask, consider your ability to start and finish the course in a relatively timely manner. Currency is important and if you are doing a few jumps at a time interrupted by deployments and layoffs from jumping, that is not the best way to learn. It took me about 3 months to get my A license from start to finish, and I think that is pretty typical. I've seen motivated students get through it much faster (I've seen a week but think a month is a more realistic schedule and that is if you can jump on some weekdays) and I've seen people take a year or more, so there is not a bright line of too fast or too slow but it is something to consider.

Welcome to the sport and good luck.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[dthames 0]

You can download the SIM (Skydiver Information Manual) and take it with you when you deploy. It is a great study guide and also has a glossary.

http://www.uspa.org/SIM.aspx

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

To answer some of your questions (I'm not going to copy them, just use the number from the OP).

#1 - There was. I found it, but the link is broken. So is the link for the FAQ. I'm guessing it's because the forum is being revamped.

#2 - Rent at first. Student rigs have a few special features you won't need or want on your own rig. You will also be going through a bunch of downsizes in your first jumps. From a huge student canopy to something appropriate by the time you have your A. Many jumpers get their first rig somewhere between their A and another 25 - 50 jumps. Where and what is a huge discussion. You can search "Rig for new jumper" or "First Rig" and find enough discussion on it to keep you occupied for a long time.

#3 - One level. You will still need to demonstrate the same skills and show the same knowledge to get your A regardless of which way you go.

#4 - Don't know, I'm not from there.

#5 - See above. But a lot. It isn't a cheap sport. And it isn't one where you want to go with the cheapest option.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[JohnMitchell 16]

#4 - Although I know people at BOTH San Diego DZ's, there are two more up North, Perris and Elsinore. Both have great skydiving schools. You're lucky to live in such a DZ rich market area.

[scottd818 0]

i recommend elsinore over perris. there is also skydive Taft which is the most cost effective AFF program its 400 cheaper that elsinore and even more than that over perris. But its a little further and its a smaller DZ but because of that you get alot more 1 on 1 attention from your instructors. But Any way you go you cant go wrong with any of these 3 DZ's.

[GLIDEANGLE 1]

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there is also skydive Taft which is the most cost effective AFF program its 400 cheaper that elsinore and even more than that over perris. But its a little further

A "little further"?????

Elsinore, CA to Taft, CA is 186 miles, approximately 3:20 travel time (ONE WAY).

Even here in Texas, that isn't "a little further"!

The choices we make have consequences, for us & for others!

[dropzonechaps 0]

A "little further"?????

Elsinore, CA to Taft, CA is 186 miles, approximately 3:20 travel time (ONE WAY).

Even here in Texas, that isn't "a little further"!

[scottd818 0]

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there is also skydive Taft which is the most cost effective AFF program its 400 cheaper that elsinore and even more than that over perris. But its a little further

A "little further"?????

Elsinore, CA to Taft, CA is 186 miles, approximately 3:20 travel time (ONE WAY).

Even here in Texas, that isn't "a little further"!

I cant argue that but what you would save is still less than you would spend on gas. But you cant go wrong with elsinore. They have a great group of instructors there. I did my AFF and all jumps thru my A at Taft. But now i jump mostly at elsinore. The Amount of learning they have available to you for free after you get your A is awesome. Your crazy if you live in socal and DONT take advantage of there Excel Camps.