This is an advanced method of instruction which has been developed in the USA to enable people to take full advantage of one to one training while in freefall. As a conventional parachute student, you would start on a square parachute at 4,000 ft with a static line which is attached to the aircraft and opens the parachute for you automatically on your exit. It will take a minimum of 5 jumps on static line before you graduate to freefall with a 3-second delay from 4,500 ft.

As an AFF student you make your first jump on the lastest, purpose built equipment with a state of the art square canopy. Your first jump will be a freefall descent from between 12,000 ft and 15,000 ft with two AFF instructors jumping with you and and maintaining grips on your body and parachute harness. These two AFF instructors assist with stability and provide in-air teaching information. Prior to each and every jump the student receives extensive and thorough training, covering both the freefall learning objectives and the operation of the equipment used in the program.

Successful students graduate to having only one AFF instructor accompanying them by Level 4. The instructor in freefall will provide instructional input and subsequently critique the performance. Students normally graduate from the AFF program on or around their eighth jump.

At this stage they have mastered most of the freefall skills that would take their conventional counterparts about 20 - 30 jumps to achieve. The AFF program caters not only for the person who wishes to graduate and become a skydiver, but also provides an opportunity for those people who would like to make one freefall descent in a safe and controlled environment - AFF Level 1.