United States Parachute Association > Experienced Skydivers > SIM > Skydive School > ISP 4-2

4-2 Student Skill and Knowledge Sets

CATEGORY A
all—
  • canopy control
  • landing approach
  • landing principles
  • exit
  • stable fall
  • deployment
  • aircraft emergencies
solo students—
  • equipment emergencies
  • landing emergencies
CATEGORY B
  • relaxing in the skydiving environment
  • heading awareness
  • parachute deployment
  • more on the landing pattern
  • airport orientation
  • protecting handles
  • equipment emergency review
CATEGORY C
  • unassisted freefall with heading maintenance
  • hover control
  • solo deployment
  • landing patterns for higher winds
  • downwind landings
  • wing loading
  • accidental opening review
  • turbulence
  • landing off
  • obstacle recognition
  • the FAA rigger
  • the closed parachute system
CATEGORY D
  • solo, unassisted exit (AFF students)
  • freefall turns
  • freefall speeds and times review
  • back riser control
  • building landing review
  • AAD (owner’s manual)
  • pre-jump equipment check
  • introduction to three-ring release operation
  • cloud clearance and visibility
  • observe jump run
CATEGORY E
  • door (unpoised) exit
  • recovering stability and awareness
  • aerobatics
  • stalls
  • the canopy’s “sweet spot”
  • two canopies deployed (review)
  • high-wind landings
  • reserve static line
  • open parachute orientation
  • parachute packing and supervision
  • wind limits
  • aircraft briefing
  • aircraft emergency procedures
  • selecting the opening point
CATEGORY F
  • introduction to tracking
  • two clear and pulls (former AFF students)
  • braked turns, approaches, and landings
  • extending the glide
  • acting as jumpmaster or jump leader
  • power-line landing review
  • packing with assistance
  • checking others’ equipment
  • procedures following inactivity
  • winds aloft and the exit point
  • separating groups during exit
CATEGORY G
  • group exits
  • floater position
  • forward and backward movement
  • adjusting fall rate
  • start and stop
  • docking
  • maximum-performance canopy turns
  • collision avoidance and response review
  • tree landing review
  • equipment maintenance inspection
  • weather for skydivers
CATEGORY H
  • diver exit
  • diving
  • breakoff
  • front riser control
  • water landing review
  • owner maintenance of gear
  • aircraft radio requirements
  • FAA notification requirements for jumping
  • FAA approvals for jump planes