THE USPA INSTRUCTOR PREREQUISITES:

Candidates may earn the USPA AFF Instructor rating who have met all the following requirements:

1. Reached the age of 18 years
2. Holds or has held any USPA instructional rating
3. Must have held a USPA Coach or Instructor rating for at least 12 months, or have at least 500 jumps
4. Holds a USPA C license
5. Logged six hours of freefall time
6. Completed the USPA AFF Instructor Proficiency Card (applicable portions)
7. Successfully proven ability by successfully completing the written and practical AFF evaluation process with a USPA AFF Instructor Examiner (AFF IE)
8. For the course you need a current (not older than 24 months) SIM and IRM. These can be ordered from USPA. (www.uspa.org)

THE AFF PROFICIENCY CARD:

The AFF proficiency card is in the back of the IRM or you can download it from the USPA website. This card needs to be signed off in the required areas before the course starts! If you are already an instructor you can skip the topics that are marked with a " * ". The first thing you should do if you consider taking the course is look at the proficiency card to see what needs to be done prior to the course. It may take some time to complete the signatures on the card. Some topics will get signed during the course by the course director. This is all marked on the card itself and is pretty much self-explanatory.

THE WRITTEN TEST:

One of the requirements to complete the AFFIRC is taking a written exam and scoring at least 80%. The questions for this exam and answer sheet are in the back of the IRM. It is an open book test and forces you to read through the IRM and SIM and is required to be completed prior to the start of the course. If not completed you will take the test at the course, you will need to score a 100%.

The AFF Pre-Course will definitely help prepare you for success in the AFFIRC. By attending this pre-course you get a chance to see what is expected both in the air and on the ground and it will most assuredly prepare you for your air evaluation jumps as well as give you some guidance on Category C & D ground preps. In the AFF pre-course you can make as many practice jumps that time and weather permit. This is chance for new candidates to receive some personalized coaching and hot tips in regards to critical skill sets that are needed to become an AFF Instructor for example: fine tuning your air skills, slot flying with a difficult student, handling hard exits, reading the body position, giving proper hand signals, proper docking techniques, stopping spins, rolling over a student who is on their back, assisting with deployment, the bottom end sequence to include pulling for the student and riding through the deployment.

The AFF Course itself includes 2 practice jumps as part of the course criteria. However, if you have come this far to get this rating, there is nothing like getting more practice and preparation to ensure you succeed.

This may vary depending on the number of candidates and if there is a AFF Pre-Course along with an AFF Instructor Rating Course (AFFIRC). There are many dynamics to the length of a AFF Course such as weather, number of candidates, candidates skill set, etc... Typically a AFF course with a pre-course can vary from 7-9 days. Without the pre-course the AFFIRC will typically last 4-5 days (weather dependent).

DESCRIPTION OF THE AFF INSTRUCTOR COURSE (WITHOUT 2-3 DAY PRE-COURSE)

DAY-1

• Fees, Logbooks, intro etc..
• Introduction and Overview of the Course
• History and Concept of the AFF Program
• First Jump Course Concept and topics
• Integrated Student Program (ISP) Category A through E
• The AFF method & procedures (Exits & Free fall Sequence)
• AFF Problem Solving
• AFF Emergencies
• AFF Instructor duties

DAY-2

• Integrated Student Program (ISP) Category E through F
• Preparation for an AFF jump
• Category C Ground Preps (demonstrations and procedures)
• Category D Ground Preps (demonstrations and procedures)
• Conducting De-Briefs (Walk & Talk)
• Briefing on Air-Skills Evaluation Sheet
• "Students at Play" Video
• Complete Other Classroom Requirements (i.e. exits and problem solving)

DAY-3

• Category C Practice Jumps (with video if possible)
• Category D Practice Jumps (with video if possible)
• Review of Ground Preps (Cat C & D)
• Conduct Pre-Evaluation Briefin
• Time permitting Start of AFF Category C air-evals

DAY-4

• Additional Practice Jumps (if necessary or required)
• Category C Air Evals
• Category D Air Evals
• Evaluation of Ground Prep Sessions

DAY- 5 (Until Complete)

• Category C & Category D Air Eval
• Evaluation of Ground Prep Sessions
• Additional Air-Evals (if necessary)
• Evaluation of Ground Prep Sessions (If necessary)
• Conduct End of Course Review

Score satisfactory for:

• Cat. C evaluation jump main side
• Cat. C evaluation jump reserve side
• Cat. D evaluation jump
• Cat. C ground preparation
• Cat. D ground preparation
• Pass Written Exam - Complete Proficiency Card

(You have 4 attempts at the 3 air evaluations)
(You have 3 attempts to pass 3 ground evaluations)