AFF Training FAQs

PNW Skydiving tailors our AFF training program to each student’s individual needs. We use state of the art, beautifully maintained equipment for our students and our instructors are highly trained, knowledgeable, patient, and effective.

Unlike other dropzones in the area, you will immediately become an integral part of a cohesive, caring community, not separated from the community until you complete your student program. This provides each student with a seamless transition from student to fun-jumper. PNW Skydiving is the tribe to join if you are looking to take this sport on as a permanent part of your life in the Portland area.

As with any adventure sport, sky diving has an element of risk. We minimize this risk by using state-of-the-art training and equipment. At our sky diving school we have an impeccable safety record. Each student parachute is equipped with an automatic activation device which will automatically deploy your parachute for you in the unlikely event that you or your instructor does not. All of our sky diving instructors have undergone rigorous training and certification and all student parachutes are packed under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Rigger supervision. Your safety is our number one concern.

Taking our AFF First Jump course is the first step towards jumping by yourself and acquiring your skydiving license. After the first jump course you’ll jump wearing your own parachute system with two instructors at your side. After successful completion of all seven levels of the accelerated freefall program, you’ll be able to jump solo!

For the AFF First Jump Course, the class usually takes between 4 and 6 hours.

At PNW Skydiving we jump from 14,500 feet above the ground. That’s more than a full minute of freefall!

Freefall is typically about 120 miles per hour. A person’s weight or body position can alter the speed. Once you’re under an open parachute your rate of descent decreases to about 10 miles per hour.

In the unlikely event that the main parachute fails to open properly there is always a second, or reserve parachute packed in the system which will be used if necessary. On an AFF jump you will be trained on and be responsible for performing this procedure if necessary. All main parachutes are packed under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rigger supervision. All reserve parachutes are packed only by FAA certified riggers who have received certification from the FAA to inspect, pack, and repair parachutes. Every reserve parachute is re-packed every 180 days whether they are used or not. PNW Skydiving has FAA certified riggers on staff.

We use only modern “square” parachutes at PNW Skydiving and this type of parachute allows for excellent maneuverability and soft landings. On an AFF jump you will wear a radio transmitter and receive verbal instructions from the ground to help you fly and land your parachute.

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing appropriate for the season and tennis, running, or skate shoes. No slip-on or open-toed shoes please.

You must be at least 18 years of age to make any skydive. State issued photo ID is required.

If you are not height weight proportionate, please speak with us prior to signing up.

If you have ear or sinus problems, experience seizures, fainting spells, or have a weak heart you should not be jumping. If you have any doubt please check with your doctor. A doctors note may be required if you have any kind of medical condition. If you have EVER had a shoulder dislocation we will require written permission from your doctor before you can do an AFF skydive.

No. The USPA requires that a skydiver have at least 200 skydives before wearing a camera on a skydive, and that is the rule at PNW Skydiving as well. That is because a camera is a distraction at a time when you need all of your focus to be on your skydive. This is a safety risk that must be avoided.

No. AFF is a labor-intensive process. We take great care with each student and invest our time and talent into teaching them to become a skydiver. This is not a program for a one-time jump. This is a program to learn to become a skydiver and be integrated into the most welcoming family of like-minded people that you will meet anywhere.

You’ll come for the adventure, you’ll stay for the family!