Learn to Skydive
If you want to learn to skydive it will be one of the best experiences you will have in your life. It requires focus, knowledge of the equipment, and patience. The people you meet during your quest to become a certified skydiver will become life-long friends. It is never too late to learn to skydive.
Solo Skydiving Course
- A full day of ground school training PLUS 10 jumps. Give us a call to inquire about upcoming PFF courses and requirements.
How to Get Started – Skydive Progression
There are several teaching methods used to learn to skydive. These are a tandem skydive, progressive freefall (PFF) sometimes called accelerated free fall (AFF), instructor assisted deployment (IAD), and static line deployment. You can read more about these methods on the Canadian Sport Parachuting Association website. At Skydive Ontario we teach using the PFF method.
First of all, the PFF course starts with a full day of classroom training. During the training you will be taught about the basic freefall position and movements, as well as parachute control. You will also be trained on how to recognize and respond to a main parachute malfunction. After you classroom training you will be ready to make your first skydive with your instructor.
On your first jump your instructor(s) will hold you steady through the entire freefall portion of the skydive. At opening altitude they will deploy your parachute for you. If you are ready to deploy your own parachute on your first jump discuss it with your instructor on the ground prior to your first skydive. You will be equipped with a harness mounted radio and your instructor will give you parachute control instructions to safely guide you back to the landing zone.
Learning to skydive is an accomplishment that pays great personal rewards.
Skydive Ontario PFF Course Outline
Familiarization with the Equipment
Aircraft Procedures
Body Position
PFF Levels 1-10
Hand Signals
Parts of a Canopy
Emergency Procedures
Unusual Situations
Unusual Landings
First Skydive Methods
- a tandem skydive
- progressive freefall (PFF) sometimes called accelerated free fall (AFF)
- instructor assisted deployment (IAD)
- static line deployment
*you must do a tandem skydive before you are accepted into the PFF program at Skydive Ontario. Your tandem skydive can be done anywhere at anytime in the past but you must have proof of it.
Wind Tunnel – Indoor Skydiving
Over the last 10-15 years technology has developed enough to allow us to ‘skydive’ indoors. The wind tunnel has become a fantastic teaching aid and a great place for kids to learn and experience freefall. However, the wind tunnel cannot teach you how to open, fly, and land your parachute (which is pretty important in skydiving).
If you are interested in becoming a certified skydiver it is probably a good idea to get some tunnel time. In the wind tunnel you learn to control your body in freefall. This will help you significantly when you make your first skydive because you will be confident in freefall and and already know how it will feel. It may also reduce the amount of time it takes for you to get your solo skydiving license.
The Toronto area has two iFly wind tunnel facilities. One is located in Oakville and the other is located in Whitby. If you are unsure about taking the solo skydiving course you may want to test your ability and experience a bit of a ‘teaser’ at iFly. Alternatively you could go for a tandem skydive with one of our expert instructors. Most of our staff have spent time in the wind tunnel and some of them are past and present wind tunnel instructors. Come to Skydive Ontario for a skydive and we would be happy to answer any questions you have about learning to skydive.
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