Some companies require at least one tandem jump before freefall jumps. After a short training course on the ground, the instructor and the student board the aircraft, climb to 10,000 feet, leave the aircraft to stand on a step over the wheel, then enter the freefall of a tandem jump. The instructor wears the parachute assembly and the student is attached to the parachute in 4 spots by a harness. The student's back is against the instructor's chest. After a 40 second freefall, the instructor opens the over-sized, square parachute and the student starts maneuvering the parachute back to earth.
All students participate in the dive as much or as little as they wish.
The landing is stand-up in a soft, grassy field. The AFF Course consists of a minimum of seven jumps. The student progresses from two to one to no instructors while learning back loops, turns, and tracking. Each jump is more complex than the previous one. After receiving a logbook certifying completion of the course, the student is ready for large freefall formations, camera jumps, competition jumps, and general exploration of this exciting sport.