Rating courses for tandem, coach and IAD at Blue Sky Adventures Skydiving

Tony Sowers
1 Harbor Point Road
Utica, New York 13502

However ... it doesn't look like the courses will fill so you can still just show up. Please read this carefully. If you have any questions, please use our Contact Us page to send us an email.

Here are the total costs of the courses as realistic as can be.

Coach Course = $450 - $600 (plus $50 for Jays travel and room - can be waived if desired - only paid once, not twice for multiple courses)
Tandem course = $900 - $1300 (plus $50 for Jays travel and room - can be waived if desired)
S/L or IAD = $350 - $500 (plus $50 for Jays travel and room - can be waived if desired)

Plane cost is calculated at $100/lift (tach + fuel + pilot)

REQUIREMENTS FOR TAKING THE COURSE:

• USPA membership
• B-license
• Minimum of 100 jumps
• Have the required topics signed off on the Coach proficiency card prior to the course

THE PROFICIENCY CARD:

The Coach proficiency card is in the back of the USPA Instructional Rating Manual (IRM). You need a current IRM and SIM for the course, (current means not older then 24 months.) You will also need an SDU Coach Course Syllabus. The proficiency card serves as your rating application form after you are done with the USPA portion and the SDU Syllabus has documentation for that additional rating.

Take a look at the proficiency card and you will see that some items need to be signed off prior to the course. Most topics on the card will be signed off during the course by either the course director or by your evaluator.

THE COURSE:

The course starts on the scheduled first day at 8:00AM with verification of the requirements (outlined above) so bring your membership card and logbook if necessary. The course is conducted over 3-days (see the attached schedule) with ground skills and air skills evaluations. To be successful each candidate must score satisfactory on 2-directed teaching sections and on topics for ground preparation for group free fall skills. You must score satisfactory on 2-evaluation jumps to test your air skills. Each candidate must score at least 80 % on the USPA written exam. These are open book tests and must be completed prior to the start of the course. The questions are in the IRM, the SIM, and the SDU Coach Course Syllabus respectively.

Strong Tandem Course

REQUIREMENTS FOR TAKING THE COURSE: To participate in the Strong Tandem instructor rating course you need the following:

• 18 years of age
• At least 500 jumps
• 3 years in the sport
• 4 hours of freefall time
• 50 jumps within the last 12 months
• Documentation of a cutaway (real emergency or intentional)
• Hold a USPA D-license or foreign equivalent
• Hold a USPA Coach, instructional rating (AFF, SL, or IAD) or foreign equivalent
• Hold an FAA Class III medical certificate, foreign equivalent or HALO Physical
• Purchase the Strong Tandem Packet

THE STRONG TANDEM PACKET:

Strong requires each candidate to get the tandem packet before the course starts. This packet contains the course books, videos and the rating application forms. You cannot attend the course without the packet!

THE COURSE:

The course will take 2 -3 days (weather permitting). The course consists of one day of classroom, 10 examination jumps (phase I and phase II) and a written exam.

You need to bring copies of:

• Drivers license (age verification)
• Logbook 500 jumps
• Logbook pages 3 years in sport
• Logbook pages 50 jumps within last 12 months
• Logbook page 4 hours of freefall
• Logbook page cutaway
• USPA membership card with D-license number and coach or Instructor endorsement
• FAA medical certificate, military, or foreign equivalent

Static Line and IAD Course

REQUIREMENTS FOR TAKING THE COURSE: To participate in a USPA Static-line or IAD Instructor course you need the following:

• Be 18 years old
• USPA membership
• Hold or have held any USPA instructional rating
• Have a USPA C-license or FAI equivalent and at least 200 jumps
• Have the required portions of the static-line proficiency card signed off

You need to have a current SIM and IRM for the course. (current = not older then 24 months) These can be ordered form the USPA.

THE PROFICIENCY CARD:

The SL/IAD proficiency card is in the back of the IRM. This card needs to be signed off in the required areas before the course starts! If you are already an instructor you can skip the topics that are marked with a *. The first thing you should do if you consider taking the course is look at the proficiency card to see what needs to be done prior to the course. It may take some time to complete the signatures on the card. Some topics will get signed during the course by the course director. This is all marked on the card itself and is pretty much self-explanatory.

THE WRITTEN TEST:

The SL/IAD written exam is located in the back of the IRM along with the answer sheet. You must complete the written exam (a passing score is 80%) prior to the start of the course and it will be graded during day 1 activities. It is an open book test and forces you to read through the IRM and SIM prior to the start of the course.

THE COURSE:

DAY-1

• Introduction and Overview of the Course
• History and Concept of the SL/IAD Programs
• Integrated Student Program (ISP) Category A through H
• SL/IAD Aircraft Procedures

DAY-2

• SL/IAD Emergencies
• Evaluation Category B Demonstration and Procedures
• Evaluation Category D Demonstration and Procedures
• Conduct Pre-Evaluation Briefing
• Practice Sessions (as needed)

DAY-3

• Evaluation of Ground Training Sessions and Jumps
• Conduct End of Course Review

REQUIREMENTS TO PASS THE COURSE:

Score satisfactory for:

• Demonstrate knowledge of static-line rigging procedures for direct bag and static line assist or rigging the IAD system
• Complete a satisfactory category B ground training session
• Complete a satisfactory category D freefall and canopy training session (coach rating holders only)
• Score satisfactory on a category D jump (coach rating holders only)
• Score satisfactory on "jumpmastering" 2 static-line or IAD "students" including the competence to spot
• Demonstrate competence to gear up and inspect a student