University of Portsmouth Skydive

So, what's next?

You've just gained either your Category 8 (RAPS) or Level 8 (AFF) and are feeling fantastic! There's one last small hurdle to complete before you are officially qualified. This is in the form of a small written examination which proves you have read and understood the BPA 'Canopy Handling Grade 1' handbook. Once you have passed this test you will be given your 'CH1' rating and be entitled to your A Licence!

You are now deemed to be a competent (safe) skydiver and hold an internationally recognised FAI Licence. This entitles you to skydive on your own around the world.

Post-Qualification

Once you are qualified you will likely be on around 20-30 skydives. Now is the time to just have fun! Get to know some fellow jumpers and try some new things. Remember to keep checking in with your instructors for advice and tips. This stage in skydiving is really about shedding your student status and becoming confident to make decisions on your own.

Next big milestone

In order to qualify for your 'B Licence' you require 50 skydives in total and your 'CH2' rating. You'll probably be well on your way to 50 jumps by now so all that is left is some canopy work. In order to get CH2 you will need to demonstrate that you can intentionally land in a relatively small area with some consistency. You'll also be introduced into some new drills to perform under canopy.

Your B Licence will allow you to:

• Jump with a full-faced helmet.
• Jump at night
• Jump from balloons and helicopters.

The long slog

Your C licence cannot be obtained until 200 jumps and requires one further rating of your choice. So, you have plenty of time to enjoy yourself and work on getting that next rating. The main available ratings at this stage are:

• Formation Skydiving Grade 1 (FS1) - This proves you are a safe and competent skydiver while in the air with other people and allows you to jump with other FS1 holding skydivers. You will jump with an FS Coach and demonstrate various in-air techniques such as forward and backwards movement, fast-fall, slow-fall, turns in-place, side-sliding and how to dock into a formation. You will qualify for FS1 by completing a 4-way jump where you must score at least 4 points.

• Freefly Grade 1 (FF1) - FF1 is similar to FS1 but usually harder to obtain at this stage. It requires you to be able to hold a stable 'sit' position, demonstrate turns in sit, a barrel roll and movement in all directions. If you hold FF1 you can also jump with other skydivers.

C Licence

So, you've got your extra rating and a total of 200 skydives and can be awarded your C licence. You can now jump with a helmet mounted Camera! If these 200 jumps have been within the last 18 months you will also be able to take a Wingsuit first flight course.

Your C licence also allows you to start getting coached in Canopy Relative Work or Canopy Piloting. (see disciplines).

At 200 jumps you can apply to become an FS Coach or a RAPS Instructor.

The Big D

At 1000 jumps you will be awarded your D licence. At this stage you should be experienced enough to know your own limits.

You can now apply to be an AFF or Tandem Instructor.