Need guidence, training program for A-license.

[jumperMAC 0]

Hi,
I am a beginner but very interested in the sport...
I have been doing research on getting an A-license, the prices seem different on each DZ in san diego area.
Luckily I bumped into this forum and so excited to know that there are so many people who can help me out :).

Can you suggest a DZ which offers A-license training program, that is not very expensive. I am willing to travel for a week or two, within US.

Appreciate your response.

MAC

[NWFlyer 2]

You have several of the top DZs in the country in your backyard, one of which (Perris) even has two different skydiving schools operating. People travel to your area to get licensed.

I would suggest talking to each of the DZs and make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Visit each of them and see what you like and don't like about each of them.

Use the dropzone locater on this site or on USPA.org to ensure that you're talking directly to a legitimate local dropzone and not a tandem booking service.

Questions to consider:

How much does each AFF jump cost?
Is there a "package price" for AFF? (sometimes if you can pay up front you can get a discount)
What is the cost to repeat AFF jumps?
How much do solo student jumps cost?
How much do post-AFF coach jumps cost?
Does the per-jump cost include gear rental? If not, how much is gear rental per jump or per day?
In order to get to the A license, are there any other costs that aren't included?

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[davelepka 4]

If you live in San Diego, stay in San Diego. Traveling to get a license has costs and risks. Of course the travel and lodging cost money, but you run several risks that can cause the trip to be a loss, with you returning without a license.

Weather is a biggie. If you have a week or 10 days at a DZ, and big front line comes rolling through, you might lose half of your jumping days right there. Also, students have a lower wind limit than fun jumpers, so even a day when the planes are running strong, you might be on the ground watching due to a stiff wind.

Time is another problem. When you first start jumping, it takes a physical toll on your body. Using muscles you're not used to using, and the stress/adreniline of making a jump also wears you out, so you're limited to how many jumps you can make in a day. Even if you're fit enough to overcome that, and 'bad' jump where things don't go as planned can easily rattle your confidence, and shut down your jumping for the day, or a couple of days.

Along those same lines, the time can also push you to go beyond your comfort zone in an effort to get the program done before your trip is up. Not a good thing by anyones measure.

Travelling to a DZ is a better idea of you jump in a seasonal location, with a limited amount of time to jump. If you can go south in winter and get licensed, then you can spend the entire season fun jumping, and not burn half of it trying to get your license one weekend at a time.

If you're nearest, and 'home' DZ, is a one Cessna operation, where the instructors and jumps are hard to come by, then going to turbine DZ where you can train at whatever pace you choose is a plus as well.

For you, living in San Diego, between Skydive San Diego, Perris Valley (with a wind tunnel) and Elsinore, you have 3 really great, top notch, multi turbine DZs with an hour or so. Stay home, and put your travel money toward jumps. You can pay one jump at a time if you cannot afford the whole course up front. Jump as often as money allows, and you'll be licensed in short order. The price difference between your local DZs and DZs abroad is not that much, and after you factor in the travel costs, the difference is even less. Of course, the other benefit is getting to know the instructors and fun jumpers at your local DZs along the way.

One last point - there is a difference between 'AFF' and getting an A license. An 'AFF' program is typically 7 to 10 jumps, after which you still need to do coach jumps up to jump #25 to earn an A license. If a DZ is offernig a cheap 'AFF' program, that does not get you an A license, there are still many more jumps to make. If you are considering traveling to a DZ for a 'package deal', make sure you understand exactly what they're providing for your money.