Skydiving Instructors make their living in the skies. They love to jump out of aeroplanes and get paid to do so while helping newbies get their first taste of the adrenaline rush that accompanies skydiving. Continue Reading
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Explore Career Skydiving Instructors make their living in the skies. They love to jump out of aeroplanes and get paid to do so while helping newbies get their first taste of the adrenaline rush that accompanies skydiving.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Skydiving Instructor?
A Skydiving Instructor would typically need to:
Skydiving Instructors may be found either in their office in their drop zone/skydiving facility or in the air. Skydiving is a weather-dependent sport; you will not work when it is too cold or wet. Travel may be required worldwide to accommodate client preferences, especially if you are self-employed.
Skydiving Instructors typically work weekends from sunup to sundown, teaching, packing parachutes, and skydiving.
Since skydiving is a weekend activity, many Skydiving Instructors hold a full-time job during the week. Finding a new job might seem challenging. You can check for work at your local drop zone or online skydiving websites.
Skydiving Instructors are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as Sky Dive University (SDU), are crucial for Skydiving Instructors interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
Most prospective Skydiving Instructors begin the journey with a memorable tandem skydive where they are attached via a harness to an experienced instructor who is in charge of the parachute equipment. Students can expect answers to all their skydiving-related questions.
The Static Line Progression System and AFF include six to eight hours of thorough ground training.
Students benefit from tasks outside the classroom that align perfectly with lessons inside it. They may get to hear countless stories from more experienced professionals and obtain valuable hands-on experience when they manage to turn seemingly routine incidents into unique learning moments.
Level 1 of AFF includes completion of ground school, achievement of heading awareness, awareness of altimeter and instructors, reasonably coordinated practice pulls, pull on the instructor’s signal, and any additional exercises the instructor may deem necessary.
Level 2 focuses on free arm time involving practice pulls, proper body position and solo pull on own altitude awareness. At the same time, Level 3 establishes leg and arm awareness through heading maintenance while totally released.
Level 4 includes start and stop turns, Level 5 involves left and right turns, and Level 6 comprises solo exit, sub-terminal control attempt backloops, tracking, and wave off.
Level 7 incorporates dive exit, alternate 360° turns, backloops, track and track turns, and wave off. Students complete Level 8 and graduate when they manage a solo exit and stable pull within 10 seconds.
Level 1 of Static Line Progression System involves completion of ground training in preparation for the first jump. Level 2 focuses on the first jump and one further static line descent.
Level 3 includes three dummy ripcord-pull descents, level 4 comprises the first free fall (three to five seconds) and five-second delay, and Level 5 requires two 10-second delays.
Level 6 features two 15-second delays while Level 7 mandates two 360° turns with precision. Completion of Level 8 involves a dive exit, unstable exit, backloops, tracking, track turns, and a qualifying jump which includes turns, a backloop, track, wave off and pull.
Potential Skydiving Instructors who have earned a CH1 certification and A licence can focus on developing their skills in a particular area, such as formation flying or freefalling.
Your location will determine the exact number of jumps/skydives (500-1,000) and hours of freefall (six to ten) you need to log to qualify as a bonafide Skydiving Instructor. Make sure to log your dives and record jump number, date, location, exit altitude, length of freefall, type of jump, distance from landing, equipment, and buddy.
Aspiring Skydiving Instructors with a high school diploma or GED (General Education Development) may apply to an authorised skydiving school where they will learn about equipment, drop zones, aeroplanes, freefalls, canopy flights, and landings in a hybrid blend of theory and practical courses.
Interested individuals may begin by choosing between the Progression System or Accelerated Free Fall (AFF) to reach Category 8/H and become full-fledged skydivers.
Both procedures mandate a full day’s training before the first jump, and progression is directly proportional to the amount of time the student commits.
The Static Line Progression System takes the participants through student status to Category 8/H when they qualify as certified parachutists and are cleared to jump on their own or with an authorised coach.
The AFF programme is a safety-oriented, personalised, and fast-track skydiving instruction that teaches students the essential skills to skydive competently through a progressive series of jumps in eight categories (A-H), working toward the 25 jumps usually required to earn the initial “A” skydiving licence.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources to help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in this field. Make sure the course you are applying for pays full dividends in terms of cost, time, value for money and training.
Take physics, mathematics, and health and physical education classes in high school. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.
Accrediting authorities offer progressive licences and instructor ratings to experienced skydivers performing particular types of jumps, such as static line, tandem or accelerated free fall.
Students must register in advance for the AFF skydiving certification, so they can make at least one jump every 30 days to maintain currency. You can check online or contact the dropzone directly for available course dates.
The credentials show potential students that their Skydiving Instructor received proper training and is familiar with current safety standards. They can help you stand out in a competitive job market and boost career advancement. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
Prospective Skydiving Instructors may need the recommendation of a recognised parachute training organisation’s Chief Instructor (CI) to participate in and complete two instructor training courses satisfactorily.
Candidates complete the initial BI (Basic Instructor) teaching course and the second qualifying course under the close supervision of the CI or other experienced instructors. In addition to skydiving instruction, they learn about related subjects, such as rigging, first aid, incident procedures, flying for parachuting, instructor responsibilities, and drop zone (skydiving facility) management.
Elsewhere, Skydiving Instructors must earn at least an A licence from a recognised authority.
Pre-requisites may include a Category 8 certification, at least 25 completed jumps and five coach jumps, 10 consolidation (solo) jumps, a low altitude skydive, a parachute packing class, 19 minutes of freefall time, a Canopy Handling (CH) Grade 1 qualification, and the completion of an oral and written exam.
To acquire a B licence, candidates typically need an accredited A licence, 50 descents, CH Grade 2, and JumpMaster (JM) Grade 1. CH Grade 2 requires completion of five of ten pre-declared safe landings. JM Grade 1 shows the ability to ‘spot’ correctly from at least 10,000 feet above ground level.
The holy grail for Skydiving Instructors and an essential pre-requisite to earn ratings, the C licence usually requires an accredited B licence, 200 descents/jumps, completion of specific aerial performance goals, passing a written exam, and at least one other Grade 1.
Candidates with a class C licence can enrol in officially-approved instructor rating courses at drop zones after passing an open-book exam on safety procedures and related topics. Successful participants are now qualified to train and supervise student jumpers safely.
You can build your teaching and skydiving skills by attending a recognised skydiving Coach Course to earn your Coach rating and complete another essential prerequisite to becoming a certified Skydiving Instructor.
The exact requirements may vary based on your location. Still, you will need to accrue a specific number of jumps/skydives and hours in freefall, obtain the most advanced skydiving licence, accumulate three years of experience in skydiving, and hold an official Coach rating to apply for an officially-approved Tandem Skydiving Instructor programme.
In addition to completing a certified tandem instructor rating course, eligible candidates must take an equipment-specific course through the equipment manufacturer to learn proper deployment techniques and emergency procedures for the gear and secure a pertinent medical certificate.
You may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.
Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Skydiving Instructors who can become Coaches or Examiners or Judges.
In addition, Skydiving Instructors who acquire relevant skills may moonlight as Professional Skydiving Videographers or Performing Skydivers who showcase their skills on movie screens and television monitors.
It is also possible to supplement your income as a Load Organiser who brings together a group of skills-matched jumpers, then plans and guides a skydive that includes all of them or a Rigger who packs parachutes.
Candidates with requisite licences and certifications and a sheer appreciation, love, and understanding for skydiving will have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Skydiving Instructor build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning.
In addition to thousands of jumps and several hours of wind tunnel time, Skydiving Instructors must have expertise in any or all of the myriad skydiving disciplines, such as canopy ability, formation skydiving, free-flying, freestyle technique, and wingsuit flying.
While acquiring AFF Instructor and Examiner ratings, look for advanced courses to sharpen your skydiving knowledge and skill while improving your communication and instructional abilities in one-on-one and group settings.
One must be willing to travel worldwide to offer the best possible services and meet personal preferences. Learning a popular foreign language or two and gaining expertise in videography are but a few ways in which Skydiving Instructors can further propel their careers along exciting paths.
Enjoy the Adventure
To make the most of their exciting careers where a lot depends on the trust they inspire in their students, Skydiving Instructors must be highly alert, calm, decisive, confident and enthusiastic. High standards, a strong work ethic and the ability to analyse and mitigate risk are equally essential. In addition, they must have excellent communication skills and work well with others in an uncertain environment.
Income Streams
With most jobs being seasonal or part-time, Skydiving Instructors are usually paid for each class they supervise, per student, or jump. Many perform about 1,000 dives annually and supplement that income by earning a rigger's ticket to pack parachutes.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Skydiving Instructors have more flexible work schedules and locations. They own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, a full-time Skydiving Instructor has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Consummate Skydiving Instructors offer a smooth progression towards high performance in a respectful, fun and professional environment that comforts and compels students to continue onward and upward.
Be empathetic, compassionate and professional in all your interactions with your students.
Anyone over 18 years, even persons with disabilities, can go skydiving. The only exceptions are pregnant women and individuals suffering from epilepsy, heart conditions or obesity.
What do Skydiving Instructors do?
A Skydiving Instructor would typically need to:
Accredited
$64,210
