AFF Stage 1 is your introduction to real skydiving — no wires, no ropes, just two instructors holding onto you while you fall at 120 miles per hour from 14,000 feet. It is an experience that will either convert you into a lifelong skydiver or confirm that this sport is absolutely not for you. Either way, being properly prepared makes the difference between focusing on the most incredible moment of your life and panicking through it.
Understanding AFF Stage 1 Objectives
Stage 1 has three primary learning objectives that must be demonstrated to your instructors' satisfaction before they will clear you for Stage 2. First, you must maintain stable body position for at least 30 seconds of the freefall. Second, you must demonstrate altitude awareness by checking your altimeter when prompted. Third, you must participate actively in the deployment sequence by placing your hand on the pilot chute and following through on the deployment motion when guided.
These three skills might sound simple, but when you are being blasted by 120-mile-per-hour wind, struggling to breathe, and trying to process the fact that the ground is rushing toward you, they become genuinely challenging. This is exactly why the checklist exists. Structured preparation prevents critical errors.
The entire AFF program is built on competency progression. You cannot rush it. Every stage builds on the previous one, and instructors are trained to hold students back if they have not demonstrated genuine competency. Do not view being held at Stage 1 as a failure — view it as your instructors keeping you alive long enough to enjoy a long skydiving career.
Pre-Arrival Preparation Checklist
Well before you arrive at the drop zone, certain preparations should be complete. These items are not optional — they are essential prerequisites that affect your safety and your ability to learn effectively.
Complete the online ground school course if your drop zone offers one. Many USPA-affiliated drop zones now provide online ground school through providers like Skydive University or the USPA's own training materials. This gives you a head start on the classroom portion and lets you focus on hands-on training when you arrive. Have your logbook or student folder organized and ready. Bring a photo ID and any required medical documentation.
Get a good night's sleep before your jump date. Skydiving requires full cognitive function — you need to process new information rapidly, make decisions under pressure, and execute physical movements with precision. Fatigue dramatically increases the risk of critical errors. No alcohol for at least 24 hours before your jump. Alcohol affects your balance, decision-making, and reaction time at altitude. It also significantly increases your risk of hypoxia and other altitude-related complications.
Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing. Avoid loose items like scarves, dangling jewelry, or baggy shirt tails that could tangle in equipment. Athletic clothing that allows full range of motion works best. Closed-toe shoes that you can wear while being strapped into a harness are required — typically running shoes or hiking boots work well. Avoid boots with heavy soles that make it difficult to feel your foot positioning in the aircraft.
Arrival and Registration Checklist
Arrive at the drop zone at least two hours before your scheduled jump time. This is the bare minimum — arriving earlier is always better. You need time for the registration process, equipment assignment, instructor meetings, and mental preparation without feeling rushed.
During registration, you will complete liability waivers and provide emergency contact information. Be honest and thorough on these forms — they exist because serious accidents occasionally happen and your family needs to be reachable. Provide accurate medical information. If you have any condition that could affect your performance at altitude — cardiac issues, respiratory problems, neurological conditions — you must disclose this. The staff is not there to judge you; they are there to keep you safe.
After registration, you will be assigned your gear. In AFF Stage 1, you will typically use the drop zone's training equipment — a student rig with a large, docile canopy and a reserve parachute packed by a professional rigger within the past 180 days. Do not be concerned that you are using older or "worn" equipment — student gear is typically the most carefully maintained gear at any drop zone because the consequences of equipment failure are so severe.
Equipment Checks: The AAD, Container, and Canopy
Every skydive begins and ends with equipment checks. In AFF Stage 1, your instructors will perform a full inspection, but you are expected to observe and participate. Understanding what they are checking and why builds the habits you will need for the rest of your skydiving career.
The AAD — Automatic Activation Device — is a small computer mounted in your rig that monitors your altitude and automatically fires your reserve parachute if you are falling too fast below a preset altitude (typically 1,000 feet). Your instructors will verify the AAD is powered on, the battery is fresh, and the firing decision altitude is set correctly for student operations. Never jump with an AAD that has an expired battery or shows any error indication.
The container is the backpack portion of your rig that holds both the main and reserve parachutes. Check that all closing loops are secured, the main pin is in place and not bent, and the rigger's signature card is present and current. The main canopy is attached via the bridle to the pilot chute, which sits in a pouch on the side of the container. Make sure the pilot chute is properly seated and the closing pin is inserted correctly.
The reserve parachute must be inspected visually — you should see the canopy material, verify there are no tears or contamination, and confirm the reserve is properly packed within the last 180 days. If a reserve has been jumped since the last repack, it must be inspected and repacked before the next jump. Your instructor will show you how to verify reserve closure.
Aircraft Procedures and Exit Protocol
The ride to altitude in a skydiving aircraft is a critical phase that many students underestimate. The climb to 14,000 feet takes 15 to 20 minutes, and during that time, the aircraft cabin pressurization changes, temperature drops dramatically, and you are strapped into a harness with limited mobility. These conditions require specific preparation.
Before boarding, perform a final equipment check with your instructors. Verify that your main pin is secure, your AAD is activated, all straps are connected, and your altimeter is set to the correct altitude (14,000 feet for AFF Level 1). Your altimeter should be set to the correct field elevation — your instructors will tell you what altitude to dial in.
During the climb, keep your eyes on your instructors. Watch their body language and facial expressions. If they signal that something is wrong or indicate you should do something specific, respond immediately. At altitude, every second counts. Between signals from your instructors, practice your body position in the aircraft — arch your back, raise your arms, and get used to the feeling of the harness supporting your weight.
At the exit door, your instructors will position you. Do not move independently until they give you the signal. The door opening on a skydiving aircraft at altitude is disorienting — the noise is extreme, the wind is intense, and you will feel the suction of the slipstream. Your instructors will be holding onto your harness with a grip strength that will surprise you. When they give the count and the release signal, just go. Do not hesitate. Hesitation at the door is one of the most dangerous things a student can do.
Freefall Execution: Stability, Altitude, and Deployment
The first few seconds after exit are called the "arch and spread" phase. Your body position immediately after leaving the aircraft must be an aggressive arch with arms and legs fully spread. This creates maximum drag and stability as you transition from aircraft speed to freefall speed. Your instructors will be actively stabilizing you during these first five to eight seconds — their hands on your shoulders and hips, adjusting your position until you are flying stable.
Once stable, your job is to maintain that position. Head up, chin tucked, chest arched, arms at 45 degrees, legs spread with knees slightly bent. The biggest mistake Stage 1 students make is relaxing their arch — when you relax your arch, your body begins to fall in a different orientation, and instability results. Maintain an active arch throughout the entire freefall.
Altitude monitoring in freefall is done with a visual altimeter mounted on your wrist or altimeter band. Your instructors will prompt you to check your altitude at specific points. When they signal "altitude check," look at your wrist, confirm the number, and verbally call it out. This is not optional — it is building the habit that will keep you alive when you are jumping alone. "Fourteen thousand, stable" is the expected response.
At deployment altitude — typically 5,500 feet for AFF Level 1 — your instructors will guide your hand to the pilot chute handle. The pilot chute is a small parachute that you throw into the airstream; it then catches air and pulls your main canopy out of the container. Follow through on the motion — do not just touch the handle and let go. A proper deployment requires a full throwing motion followed by keeping your arm extended as the pilot chute catches air.
Canopy Flight and Landing Pattern
After deployment, you will experience the opening shock — a sudden deceleration from terminal velocity to canopy descent rate. Your canopy will typically be a large student canopy in the 300 to 360 square foot range, designed to be slow, docile, and very forgiving of student errors. Even so, the opening sensation is intense and can be alarming the first time.
Once under canopy, your instructors will separate from you and fly their own canopies. They will be in radio contact with the ground, and the spotter will guide you through the landing pattern using target boards or radio commands. Listen carefully and respond immediately. Do not attempt fancy maneuvers — just fly the pattern they call and prepare for a standard landing approach.
For landing, you will fly a pattern toward the landing area, making a base leg and final approach just like a small airplane. The final approach should be into the wind, with a stabilized descent rate. Your instructors will have taught you the proper landing signals — arms up for above ground level, arms moving apart for level flight, arms down for below. When they call "flare," pull both steering toggles down smoothly and completely, bringing your canopy to a level attitude just above the ground.
A proper flare means your feet touch the ground at the same moment your canopy's forward momentum stops. A common Stage 1 mistake is flaring too early or too late. If you flare too early, you will "balloon" upward. If you flare too late, you will have a hard touchdown. Your instructors will review this in detail during your debrief, and you will have many more opportunities to practice.
Post-Jump Debrief: Learning from Video and Feedback
Every AFF jump is filmed, and that footage is the cornerstone of your progression. Your instructor will have a camera mounted on their helmet or goggles that captures your entire freefall from multiple angles. Watching this footage with your instructors is an irreplaceable learning experience.
In the debrief, you will watch your body position in slow motion. You will see exactly where you lost stability, where you failed to maintain your arch, and where your altitude awareness lapsed. This is not a time for embarrassment — every skydiver was a beginner once, and the footage exists to make you better. Take notes, ask questions, and commit specific corrections to memory for your next jump.
Your instructors will formally evaluate your performance against the Stage 1 objectives and determine whether you have met the requirements for Stage 2 or whether additional Stage 1 jumps are needed. If you are not yet ready for Stage 2, your instructors will explain specifically what skills need improvement and what your next practice jump will focus on.