You Made the Jump.
What's Next?
Loved your first skydive? Your tandem can be the beginning of your journey into the sport. Discover what comes next and how you can progress from tandem passenger to student skydiver and work toward your USPA A License.
Your Introduction
to the Sky.
The USPA Parachutist Starter Mag is a great introduction for people discovering the sport after their first jump.
Explore student training, licensing, skydiving progression and what it's like to become part of the skydiving community.
Your first jump was just the beginning.
From Your First AFF Jump
Toward Your Skydiving License
If you're ready to move beyond tandem skydiving, our Accelerated Freefall (AFF) training program provides a structured path into the sport. You'll develop freefall, canopy, altitude-awareness and safety skills as you progress toward becoming an independent skydiver.
Training takes place at our Byron, California drop zone, welcoming students traveling from San Jose, Oakland, Tracy, San Francisco and communities throughout the Bay Area.
30+ Years of Experience
Experienced skydiving instruction in Northern California
USPA-Certified Instructors
Professional instruction throughout your progression
Modern Training Equipment
Student equipment designed for skydiving progression
Fast Climb Aircraft
Efficient aircraft operations for training jumps
Supportive Training Environment
A welcoming community for new skydivers
Byron, California Drop Zone
Serving students from across the Bay Area
What Is AFF Skydiving Training?
Accelerated Freefall, commonly called AFF, is a training method designed to teach students the skills required to skydive independently. Unlike a tandem jump, you wear your own parachute system while instructors assist and coach you through your progression.
As your skills improve, instructor assistance decreases and you'll demonstrate increasingly advanced freefall, altitude-awareness, canopy and landing skills.
Your Path Toward a USPA A License
Learning to skydive is a progression. AFF builds your core freefall skills, but earning your A License also requires additional jump experience, proficiency requirements and license evaluations.
First Jump Course
Learn equipment, procedures, body position and emergency protocols.
AFF Progression
Build freefall control, altitude awareness and independent skills.
Build Experience
Continue with coached and solo jumps while developing proficiency.
Reach 25 Jumps
Build the jump experience required as part of the A-License process.
License Requirements
Complete the required proficiency checks and license evaluations.
First Jump Course & Ground School
Before your first AFF skydive, your training begins on the ground. You'll learn the fundamental procedures and skills needed for your jump.
- Equipment basics
- Body position and stability
- Altitude awareness
- Deployment procedures
- Emergency protocols
- Canopy control and landing techniques
Our instructors focus on helping you understand each step before you board the aircraft for your training jump.
Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Program
Build Independent Skydiving Skills
As you advance through AFF, you'll work on the fundamental freefall and canopy skills needed to progress toward independent skydiving.
- Stable freefall control
- Turning and maneuvering skills
- Altitude awareness and management
- Deployment procedures
- Canopy navigation
- Landing skills
Continue Your Skydiving Progression
Build Skills & Experience
Completing the initial AFF progression is a major milestone, but your training continues as you build experience through additional jumps and develop the proficiency required for your first skydiving license.
Continue developing freefall awareness, canopy control, landing skills and the ability to safely participate in skydives with others.
Work Toward Your USPA A License
AFF gives you the foundation, while the complete A-License progression requires additional jump experience and demonstration of required skydiving skills.
- Complete required training progression
- Reach the required 25 total jumps
- Demonstrate freefall proficiency
- Demonstrate canopy and landing proficiency
- Complete required license evaluations
Our team can guide you through each stage as you progress from student skydiver toward your first skydiving license.
Train at Our Byron, California Drop Zone
Your AFF training takes place at Bay Area Skydiving's Byron drop zone in Northern California, serving students from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Modern Aircraft & Facilities
Train from our high-performance 18-seat Caravan 208 Blackhawk conversion aircraft, designed for fast climbs, comfort and efficient skydiving operations.
AFF Categories A–H
Each AFF category builds on the skills learned during your previous training jumps, progressively developing greater independence in freefall.
Your first AFF jump with two instructors assisting you in your own skydiving rig. The focus is on body position, altitude awareness, and practice deployments.
Watch Category A VideoA two-instructor jump introducing turns and forward movement while continuing to build altitude awareness and stability.
Watch Category B VideoA two-instructor hands-off jump where you demonstrate skills learned in Categories A and B while developing stability and recovery skills.
Watch Category C VideoA single-instructor hands-off jump focused on controlled and precise turns without instructor assistance.
Watch Category D VideoA single-instructor hands-off jump introducing diving exits, flips, barrel rolls, and additional freefall control skills.
Watch Category E VideoA single-instructor hands-off jump refining controlled forward movement and its use during group skydives, along with aircraft emergency procedures.
Watch Category F VideoA single-instructor hands-off jump introducing level changes and docking skills in preparation for group skydives.
Watch Category G VideoA single-instructor hands-off jump focused on approaching a group, diving, docking, and refining the skills needed for group skydives.
Watch Category H VideoThe A-License check dive is an important evaluation in your progression. You'll demonstrate skills developed throughout your training, including exits, freefall stability, altitude awareness, turns, docking, tracking and canopy control.
Completing the check dive alone does not automatically earn an A License. Students must also complete the required progression, reach 25 total jumps, demonstrate the required proficiency and successfully complete the applicable license requirements.
Watch Check Dive VideoAFF Training Prices & Categories
Review current AFF training prices and individual category costs before beginning or continuing your student progression.