Skydiving Experience

Question as in the topic. The ops manual says you can’t be awarded your CP1 until you hold a C License and CH2 but I can’t find a paragraph which says when you can start training towards CP1. If someone would be willing to clarify that would be appreciated.
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Good question, keen to hear an answer.

Personally I was waiting until I was doing approx 200 jumps per year before starting any CP1 training, I now do that and will be speaking to Vach shortly… at least to know and understand the process at first, no rush…
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This seems to be a common “strange” wording of the Ops manual.

For WS and SS as well, it reads as if you can train towards these qualifications prior to having a C, but not actually achieve them.

Very, very interested about the answer to this.
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Personally, I think there�s a lot a potential canopy pilot can do to learn early on � by putting in the basics. No point in trying to learn high-performance landings if your accuracy is rubbish, for instance! I’m not an instructor, but the following builds from my own experience, and how I would see “best practice” (should I have known / followed it myself!)

From �B� licence:

Below 3,000 ft; keep practising accuracy and build on your CH2. Get in the habit of thinking about wind conditions on the ground, and planning your approach and landing direction before you even get in the aircraft. Think about your landing pattern and try to arrive at a certain point above the ground at a predetermined height. Do this for each of your turns onto base leg and onto final. Think about glide (c. 3:1 on a 9-cell) and distance covered over the ground in full flight, but also 50% and 80% brakes – and height loss. Look for markers (eg, runway lights, distance from the pit to the fence etc) that have a known separation that you can use as a horizontal reference from altitude.

From deployment and until 3,000ft, practice getting a feel for the canopy and what happens (eg, from deep brakes, how long to recover; how much height loss? What are the differences between putting input onto front and rear risers? If trying to maximise glide, understand the differences in canopy behaviour between input on both rear risers versus brakes etc.)

From �B� licence + an additional 50 jumps:

Try adding in cross-wind landings. This is useful so you’re never worried about not being able to into wind when you’ve screwed up your landing turn somewhere down the line. At some DZs you may be required to do this to meet strict pattern requirements anyway (eg, Skydive Arizona). Ask your CCI in the UK and get a separate pass if required.

In addition, try and fly your canopy near to an experienced jumper on a mid-altitude hop-n-pop (you don�t need to bump end cells; just to provide a point of reference) and try and fly relative (steepness, shallowness etc). Experiment with double fronts, double rears, deep brakes, spreading your arms and legs out like a starfish, bringing your arms and legs in etc and see what happens relative to the other (consistently flying) canopy at your side.

From (IMHO) 200+ jumps, min �B� licence:

Go for a CP1 brief and get yourself started. It�ll be so much better if you�ve prepared!
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For me I need to see the person flying the canopy . . i need to see a decent amount of time under canopy ( ie jumps) before commencing any real form of CP coaching…

I don’t believe in natural talent – I believe in time in the saddle

I don’t want to tag it with a figure as I think this implies blind permission which it is not , However Jump numbers i look for are in the 300-400 bracket before I give any CP input. Currency also plays a huge part in the equation. Sounds a bit killjoy i know but there are so many things you can do with your canopy prior to speeding it up.

The common question is I wanna go swooping or how can I go faster .. . the answer is SLOW DOWN.

Learning slow flight is the key survival

At Altitude use the CH2 exercises over and over again not just to get CH2 and then never do them again . . there are some great drills in there.

Above all else speak to your local instructors who know you and how you fly / land and don’t be in a hurry to get a CP sticker..When you feel ready speak to a CP coach and he / She will work out a plan for you based on your current ability.

So in essence the ops manual sets out a basic guide however your CCI/CP Coach will best be able to advise you…
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