Directional Control
Category D
Welcome to AFF Category D! This stage is designed to deepen your understanding and equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to become a more aware, safer, and self-sufficient skydiver. This phase of skydiving training is important for developing advanced skydiver skills and mastery of directional control maneuvers. To complete Category D and advance in your skydiving journey, you will complete two Category D jumps. Across these jumps, you must demonstrate proficiency in the following directional control maneuvers:
Freefall Turns (Cumulatively):
Four 90-degree turns, each performed within 20 degrees of heading.
Two 180-degree turns, each performed within 45 degrees of heading.
Two 360-degree turns, each performed within 45 degrees of heading.
Rear-Riser Turns (Cumulatively):
Two 90-degree rear-riser turns with brakes stowed.
Two 90-degree rear-riser turns with brakes released.
Section 1. Freefall Dynamics & Solo Exit Mastery
Solo Exit & Stability: A key progression in Category D is performing a solo exit, demonstrating your ability to achieve stability within 5 seconds of exiting the aircraft. On exit, keep your head up and watch the plane fly away from you, as this will help keep your body position in an arch, leading to a more stable solo exit.
Freefall Turns (Start-Coast-Stop Technique):
The Start-Coast-Stop (SCS) technique is fundamental for controlling your freefall turns with precision. While basic turns are possible without it, SCS primarily comes into play when executing 180-degree and 360-degree turns, where momentum control is more important.
Begin from a comfortable, relaxed, neutral body position, focusing on a point ahead on the horizon as your primary heading reference. Maintain symmetry in your arms and legs, a straight spine, and level shoulders. Breathe and relax.
Choosing a Heading: Choosing a heading before starting 90-degree and 360-degree turns is straightforward. However, it becomes more challenging for 180-degree turns. For 180-degree turns, treat it as two sequential 90-degree turns: first, find a 90-degree heading before initiating your turn, and then choose another 90-degree turn as that intermediate heading comes into view.
Start: Initiate the turn by pressing one elbow down from the shoulder joint only, no more than 45 degrees. Maintain a neutral leg position.
Coast: Return to neutral before your desired heading comes into view. Your momentum will continue the turn. During the coast, assess your speed and distance to your desired heading to determine when to stop.
Stop: Counter the turn by pressing the opposite elbow down, then return to a neutral body position.
If you over-rotate or encounter difficulties, use your stability mantra “Heading, Altitude, Arch, Legs, Relax” to regain control and pick a new heading before attempting another turn.
Safety Note: All freefall maneuvers should be stopped by 6,000 feet.
Estimating Freefall Time:
You can track your freefall time in your logbook by estimating an average terminal velocity of approximately 120 mph (190 km/h).
The first 1,000 feet of your freefall typically takes approximately 10 seconds as you accelerate to terminal velocity.
Each subsequent 1,000 feet of freefall takes approximately 5 seconds.
Example: Exiting at 5,000 feet and deploying at 3,000 feet would result in approximately 15 seconds of freefall time (10 seconds for the first 1,000 feet + 5 seconds for the next 1,000 feet).
Section 2. Canopy Control & Accuracy
This section builds on basic canopy skills, introducing more nuanced control techniques and precision landing.
Rear-Riser Steering:
Learning rear-riser steering provides additional canopy control options. Because rear risers are attached to the C and D lines of the parachute, pulling on them directly pulls down the back half of the canopy. This results in more resistance and requires less pull distance compared to using toggles.
Immediately after opening, steering with rear risers allows you to control the parachute before unstowing your brakes, which can be a critical time-saver when a mid-air collision is imminent or for maximizing your glide on a long, downwind spot. After the brakes have been released, keep your hands in your toggles while performing rear-riser maneuvers.
How to Perform: Reach up and firmly grab the rear risers above where the toggles are stowed. Look in your desired direction of turn, check for traffic, and pull that riser down 4 to 6 inches.
Practice Drills: In this category, you will perform 90-degree rear-riser turns after visually inspecting your canopy but before you unstow your toggles. You will then repeat these turns after unstowing your toggles.
Safety Note: Stop all rear-riser steering practice by 2,500 feet (your emergency procedures altitude).
Accuracy Landings:
Developing accuracy is a key skill for safe and consistent landings. Before your jump, identify your target and visually or digitally draw a 165-foot (50-meter) radius circle around it on an aerial map, using tools like Google Maps.
Your goal is to land within this designated area with minimal radio assistance. You will record your distance from the target in your logbook to track your progress.
Section 3. Emergency Procedures Review & Malfunction Management
Preparedness for emergencies is paramount: return to Category A and review the malfunction section.
Decision Altitude:
You must be able to quickly recognize canopy problems and malfunctions, especially as your assigned pull altitude lowers with experience. Your decision altitude for determining if your canopy is safe to land and executing emergency procedures if necessary is 2,500 feet AGL.
Regularly review canopy problems and malfunctions in the training harness to develop quicker recognition and improve your decision-making ability under pressure.
Landing on Obstacles:
You should be able to describe and understand procedures for various obstacle landings:
Landing on a Building (Roof): Flare and perform a PLF (Parachute Landing Fall) upon contact. Cut away your main once you've landed safely. If landing your reserve, contain it. Wait for help.
Landing on a Building (Broadside): If hitting a building broadside, turn your canopy slightly just before impact to avoid a direct hit. Prepare to PLF, flare to slow down your forward speed, and attempt to strike a glancing blow.
Section 4. Equipment & Rigging Essentials
Your life support system demands meticulous attention. This section covers important equipment knowledge and pre-jump checks.
Automatic Activation Device (AAD) Operation:
You will learn how to properly turn on your Automatic Activation Device (AAD). The AAD is a crucial safety device, serving as a skydiver's last line of defense. It constantly monitors your altitude and speed.
For Vigil models (commonly used on student settings), the AAD is programmed to activate if it detects a specific set of conditions: reaching approximately 1,300 feet AGL (± a few hundred feet) while at a speed of 45+ mph. Upon activation, the AAD fires a cutter that severs the reserve closing loop, initiating the reserve parachute activation.
Always consult the specific owner's manual for your AAD model (e.g., Vigil 2+) for detailed information on operational modes, firing altitudes, and speeds, as these can vary between brands.
Conducting Comprehensive Gear Checks:
Diligent gear checks are paramount. You should perform four gear checks supervised by your instructor before every jump:
Pre-Flight: Check your gear thoroughly before putting it on and immediately after putting it on.
Before Loading: Check your gear again before loading the aircraft.
Before Exiting: Perform a final check before exiting the aircraft.
As you gain experience, you will take increasing responsibility for these checks.
The "Check of Threes":
This is a common self-check used for the pre-boarding and pre-exit gear checks:
Three-Ring Assembly: Inspect your three-ring assembly and ensure the reserve static line (if applicable) is correctly routed.
Three Straps: Check the three key points of harness attachment for correct routing and proper adjustment (chest strap, both leg straps).
Three Handles: Physically touch your three operation handles in the correct order of use: Main , Cutaway, and Reserve.
Pin Check (Buddy Check):
Additionally, you should have another jumper check the pins on the back of your system from top to bottom:
AAD on and indicating correctly (sometimes the AAD can be inaccessible once the rig has been put on)
Reserve pin in place
Main pin in place
Correct bridle routing (ripcord cable movement)
Personal Equipment Check (SHAGG):
Your personal equipment check includes:
Shoes: Tied, no hooks, closed toe and closed heel
Helmet: Fit, adjustment, and buckled
Altimeter: Set for zero
Goggles: Tight and clean
Gloves: Lightweight and proper size (below 40 degrees F)
Proper 3-Ring Assembly:
The correct assembly of the 3-ring release system is critical for a functional cutaway. Verify the following:
Each ring passes through only one other ring.
The white retaining loop passes through only the topmost, smallest ring.
The white retaining loop passes through the cable housing terminal end.
The release cable passes through the white retaining loop.
[Visual Aid 3: Diagram illustrating a correctly assembled 3-ring system, clearly labeling each component mentioned.]
Section 5. Standard Operating Procedures
Cloud Clearance and Visibility Minimums:
FAR 105.17 lists the FAA's strict cloud clearance and visibility minimums for skydivers. You must be able to apply these requirements to your jumps, as the FAA places joint responsibility for cloud clearance and visibility on both the jumper and the pilot.
Altitude References (MSL, AGL, Elevation):
MSL (Mean Sea Level): Your true altitude using sea level as zero. Pilots use MSL for consistent application of altitude requirements regardless of location.
Elevation: The altitude of a given location (e.g., your drop zone) at ground level.
AGL (Above Ground Level): Your height directly above the ground. Using AGL provides a better understanding of your actual reference to the ground for deployment and landing.
Wind Awareness (Ground & Aloft):
Ground Winds (Surface Winds): The winds at ground level.
Winds Aloft: The winds at various altitudes above the ground.
You must determine the ground winds and winds aloft before every skydive, as per USPA BSRs (Chapter 2-1.K). This information is crucial for planning your canopy flight and landing pattern.
Spotting & Opening Point:
Spotting is the term for selecting an an exit point in the aircraft, accounting for the effect of winds aloft in freefall and during canopy flight. The exit point is also known as the spot. The stronger the winds aloft, the farther upwind your exit point will be from the landing area due to wind drift.
Your opening point is the ground point of reference over which you intend to open your parachute. This point is determined from wind forecasts for different altitudes and should generally be upwind of your holding and landing area to allow the wind to help you reach your target.
Jump Run is the predetermined path the aircraft flies prior to exit, whose direction is primarily determined by the strength and direction of the winds aloft. The pilot, instructors, and dropzone staff determine the direction of jump run and the location of the spot based on forecasted and observed winds. These can change throughout the day.
Learning to Spot: The first step is determining what is "straight down" and predicting how the plane is moving across the ground. Look straight out at the horizon, draw an an imaginary line back to you. Then look forward toward your heading and draw an imaginary line back to you. The junction of the two perpendicular lines from the horizon marks the point straight below the aircraft. Before exiting, you must also verify that the area below you is clear of clouds and aircraft, and to do so effectively, you must get your head completely outside the aircraft.
You will observe your instructor’s spotting procedures, and then you will demonstrate the technique for looking straight down from the aircraft during jump run. You should be able to determine whether the aircraft is on the intended jump run and when you are at your desired exit point.
Conclusion
Category D knowledge represents a significant leap in your understanding of skydiving safety and operational procedures. By mastering these details, you not only enhance your own security but also contribute to the overall safety culture of our sport. At Skydive Fundamentals, we are dedicated to fostering self-reliant, knowledgeable skydivers.
Ready to show what you know? Click below to take the Category D quiz!