Xceed the standards.Our courses go beyond minimums.
This rating allows you to take first time students on a tandem skydive and introduce them to the world we love so much. You get the unique opportunity of introducing first time jumpers to freefall and the thrill of skydiving. You get to relive your first jump each and every time you make a tandem skydive. What an awesome way to be involved in this sport. Additionally you will be trained how to conduct "USPA Tandem Progression Training Method", which is becoming quite popular with most DZ's. So you do not only have the ability to take first timers, but you will also be able to be part of the instructor core at your local skydiving center.
1. Minimum of 18 years of age. 2. 50 jumps within the last year. 3. Jumpmaster or Instructor rating, or the Basic Instructor Course (BIC), or coach. 4. One intentional or emergency cut-a-way. 5. Four hours of freefall time. 6. Current FAA Class III Flight Physical, or parachuting physical approved by a national parachuting association or the military.
All Candidates must meet the FAA, USPA, and the Manufacturer's prerequisites before attending the Tandem Instructor Certification Course. Proof of prerequisites must be shown to the Examiner. Along with original logs and documents Candidate must submit copies of:. a. Logs showing three years of skydiving experience. b. Logs showing 500 freefalls. 3. Logs showing 50 jumps within the last 12 months. 4. Logs showing four hours in freefall. 5. Logs showing one cut away (intentional or emergency), 6. Expert license and ratings (J/M, I, BIC), coach. 7. Current FAA Class III Flight Physical, or parachuting physical approved by a national parachuting association or the military.
The manufacturer's portion, the UPT Tandem Instructor Rating Course (TIRC) will take approximately 2-3 days (weather permitting).
Note: add one additional day for the USPA instructor rating (see below USPA ratings) total 3-4 days. Note: If you take the manufactures course with me I include the USPA Tandem course at and additional cost of $50.00.
The combined USPA and Manufactures course consists of one day of classroom, 10-evaluation jumps and a written exam. The class starts with the verification of the requirements. The Vector and SIGMA Manuals will be the course books. I strongly recommend you purchase or download this manual (print it) from (www.unitedparachutetechnologies.com). The questions for the written test are in the manuals and there is a study guide online. In addition you will find the tests on the website www.upt.com. Take the new SIGMA test it covers both Vector and SIGMA, it is 71 questions long. Take the test and have it ready when you show up for class. It is an open book test and needs to be done prior to the course.
Note: Strong requires you to have this packet. This packet contains the course books, videos and the rating application forms. You order the packet directly from Strong's website, call 407-859-9317 or e-mail at: tandem@strongparachutes.com. Once you have received the packet you can make the written exam. The exam is an open book test We need you to arrive at the course with the exam completed and this packet . The cost of the packet is approx $160.00 (with shipping). Keep in mind that packets are typically mailed using US Postal Service. Order your packet early enough that you are able to review the materials before your class. Note: If only missing the "cut-away" requirement talk to your examiner as special equipment is available to satisfy this requirement. We can order a special cutaway rig to fulfill your requirement, but you need to give us enough time to get to schedule that equipment for your course.
If the Tandem Instructor Rating is your first USPA Instructor rating, that is, you have only held the USPA Coach Rating prior, then you must complete the additional training required for this USPA Rating.
We will need an extra day to fulfill the USPA requirements. The combined USPA and Manufactures course consists of one addition day of classroom, 5 more evaluation jumps and 1 written exams (in the USPA IRM) . The class starts with the verification of the requirements (Manufacture and USPA) You will need a current SIM , IRM, and the Strong Packet. The questions for the written test are in the manuals (SIM, IRM & Packet).
After completion of the initial UPT Tandem Instructor Course you may participate in the USPA instructor Rating Course. The pre-requisites are:
If you already possess a current Tandem Instructor rating from another approved manufacturer you can get crossed over to the Strong Enterprises System. To qualify for crossover-training Strong requires that you will have a full day of classroom, have the strong TICC Packet (Ordered form manufacture see above info), take the Strong written exam, make 3 Phase 1 jumps under the supervision of an Examiner and 2 phase 2 jumps.
To qualify for cross training you must:
If you already possess a current Tandem Instructor rating from another manufacturer you can get crossed over to Vector/SIGMA rating. To qualify or cross-training you must:
The course consists of a day of classroom and a minimum of 2-3 examination jumps. I recommend that you get the Vector and SIGMA manuals from the UPT website for the course. Cross-over Tandem Instructors must also complete the new SIGMA test on the website.
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