Experience Instability
Category E
Category E marks an exciting phase in your skydiving progression, challenging you to confidently experiment outside of the neutral stable position in freefall. Informally known as the instability jump, its maneuvers (diving exit, barrel rolls, back loops, and front loops) are specifically designed to induce instability. Many students feel nervous, but as instructors, we want to reassure you: perfect execution isn't the goal. Instead, we aim to see you become unstable and, crucially, regain stability. Embrace the fun of flipping and flailing; the confidence gained from successfully regaining control is paramount.
According to the USPA BSRs, you will qualify for freefall self-supervision when you can demonstrate stability and heading control prior to and within 5 seconds after initiating and recovering from any two of these maneuvers involving a back-to-earth presentation. Being cleared for self-supervision in skydiving indicates that an instructor authorizes you to jump without direct oversight during freefall. However, an instructor or coach will still supervise your pre-jump preparations and must give you a gear check before boarding the aircraft. It remains your responsibility to check your gear before you exit, and we highly recommend performing a mutual gear check with an experienced jumper before exiting.
Keep in mind that an analog altimeter may read high when it is in your burble during inverted positions such as loops and barrel rolls, so you may be lower than the altimeter indicates.
Section 1. Freefall Maneuvers
This section guides you through the techniques for executing and recovering from advanced freefall maneuvers.
Barrel Rolls:
The barrel roll is a fun maneuver, and an excellent technique for returning to a belly-to-earth position. There are several different ways to perform a barrel roll, and you’ve already learned how to do half of one when you learned the “roll out of bed” technique. We will build off of that. Therefore, to execute a full barrel roll from the neutral body position:
Bring one arm in (causing you to flip onto your back).
Switch the arms at the halfway point to continue barrel rolling in the same direction.
Recover by returning to the neutral body position.
Relax and check your altimeter.
Back Loops:
The back loop is a dynamic maneuver that challenges you to use your entire body. To perform a skydiving back loop:
Start by bringing your knees up into a sitting position while pushing your arms down against the wind.
Look back in the direction of the loop.
Recover by returning to the neutral body position.
Relax and check your altimeter.
Front Loops:
The front loop is also a dynamic maneuver. To execute a skydiving front loop:
Start by bending at the waist while throwing your head forward toward your knees and tucking your legs in.
Hold this position until you see the horizon coming back into view.
Recover by returning to the neutral body position.
Relax and check your altimeter.
Recovery Focus: The key to qualifying for self-supervision is your ability to quickly and effectively utilize freefall recovery techniques to return to a stable, heading-controlled position within 5 seconds after initiating any of these disorienting maneuvers.
Section 2. Canopy Control
This section focuses on refining your canopy skills with a focus on specific flare techniques and critical traffic avoidance.
Canopy Traffic Avoidance:
Review your traffic avoidance procedures: always watch for other canopy traffic, especially upon entering the landing pattern. The most dangerous point of the pattern occurs when two jumpers who are flying in opposite directions on their base legs turn to final approach. The lower canopy has the right of way, but one jumper should not maneuver to assert right of way over another. Remember: it takes two people to have a collision, but only one to avoid it.
Flare Techniques:
The continuous flare is one smooth motion that should take about the same time that it takes to count to five. You may count slower or faster depending on wind conditions or your sight picture. Regardless of the speed of your flare, you should time it to be smooth and consistent overall, responding to how your canopy is performing.
The staged flare consists of points where you may pause during the flare stroke. The flare your instructor taught you may have two, three, or even more stages. Many canopies flare most effectively using a two-stage flare. The first stage of this two-stage flare is called the sweet spot, the point where your wing is in level flight. You can find the sweet spot several ways, including by noticing at what point in your flare the nose of your canopy is directly above you; or by locating where the locking loops on the steering lines are even with the steering-line rings on the riser. Note the position of your hands in relation to your body so you can find this spot again easily. Once you reach this point in your flare, pause and assess your height above the ground. Start the second stage of this two-stage flare when you are at the proper height to smoothly and fully finish the flare with your feet approximately 12 inches above the ground.
[Visual Aid 5: Image demonstrating finding the sweet spot, with locking loop on steering lines even with steering-line ring on the riser.]
Your instructor will determine the best flare technique for your canopy and practice with you for the landing on your next jump. You will practice finding the sweet spot above 2,500 feet on your next jump, even if you use a continuous flare for landing.
Section 3. Emergency Procedure Review
This section expands on your emergency preparedness, reviewing advanced scenarios and high-wind landing procedures.
Two Open Canopies:
You will review detailed procedures for two canopies out malfunction with your instructor, expanding on your first-jump-course knowledge by looking at the guidance in USPA SIM Chapter 4: Recommendations for Everyone. A two-canopies-out malfunction can be caused by your AAD firing if you fail to deploy at the planned deployment altitude or by deploying your reserve without cutting away if you are below your 1,000-foot cutaway hard deck.
Procedures for High-Wind Landings:
Winds can change from the time you leave the plane to when you are under canopy. If you land in high wind skydiving conditions, immediately PLF and then pull one toggle all the way in as quickly as possible until the canopy collapses. You risk injury when being dragged after landing a parachute in high winds. When you land and the canopy is dragging you and you cannot collapse it, disconnect your RSL, if possible, and cut away.
Your canopy may dive or collapse behind any obstacle that generates turbulence. Thus, if landing in high winds, plan your final approach and choose a landing spot with the least potential for turbulence and the greatest distance between you and any obstacle..
Section 4. Equipment
If you have not already been involved in packing, you should begin skydiving packing lessons in this category.
RSL and MARD:
A reserve static line (RSL) is a back-up safety device meant to automatically activate the reserve canopy following a cutaway. On an RSL-equipped rig, one end of the RSL lanyard attaches to a main riser, and then the lanyard runs to the reserve ripcord cable, where the other end attaches. When the main risers depart following a cutaway, the RSL lanyard pulls the reserve pin and releases the reserve pilot chute, which should deploy the reserve parachute.
Some RSLs include a Main-Assisted Reserve Deployment (MARD) device. The RSL lanyard hooks to the reserve-pilot-chute bridle, which allows the departing main parachute to assist in extracting the reserve, speeding up its deployment. RSLs with a MARD help to both ensure and speed up reserve deployment when fractions of a second matter. It is important to note that not all rigs are equipped with a MARD.
USPA requires all students to use an RSL and recommends that all experienced jumpers use an RSL with a MARD. The RSL must be attached and routed correctly to function properly.
Section 5. Standard Operating Procedures
Understanding the rules of the sky and effective airspace management are paramount for safe and responsible skydiving.
Student Wind Limits:
According to the BSRs (Chapter 2-1 H), students are limited to jumping when surface winds are 14 mph or less. An S&TA may file a waiver for students to jump in higher winds. However, licensed jumpers have no established wind limit, so they must exercise good judgment.
Seat Belt Requirements:
FAR 91.107 establishes that you must wear a seat belt during aircraft taxi, takeoff, and landing. Drop zones establish their own policies regarding the altitude at which you may remove your seat belt.
Aircraft EPs Review:
In an aircraft emergency, you can choose one of these actions: land in the plane, exit on your reserve, or exit on your main parachute. When choosing which action is appropriate, consider your drop zone’s policy on the altitude at which you take off your seat belt. If an aircraft emergency occurs below that altitude, land in the plane. Further, consider your decision altitude when choosing when you use your main rather than your reserve. If an aircraft emergency occurs above seat-belt-off altitude and below your decision altitude, use your reserve.
Spotting, Winds Aloft, Exit Separation, and SPACE:
Previously, you learned that spotting is the process of selecting an exit point while accounting for the effect of winds aloft in freefall and during your canopy flight. The exit point is known as “the spot.” In Category E, you will take a more active role in calculating the skydiving spot and participating during jump run. Determining the spot involves multiple steps, which include obtaining the winds-aloft information, calculating the effect of wind on your canopy flight, and calculating your freefall drift.
Understanding Winds Aloft & Freefall Drift:
Accurately determining the spot, which allows you to arrive at your pattern-entry point at 900 feet, depends heavily on understanding winds aloft. Ground winds are often not the same as winds at higher altitudes. Winds aloft cause jumpers to drift across the ground both when in freefall and under canopy, so you must account for them to determine your ideal exit and opening points.
To master this, you need to understand how to read and interpret winds aloft forecasts. These are predictions generated by supercomputers, generally accurate but can vary. Read our comprehensive guide on reading winds aloft forecasts, calculating freefall drift, and determining your ideal exit and opening points.
To assess the accuracy of the forecasted winds in real-time, observe other jumpers’ opening points and canopy flights from the ground. Ask them about their flights and how the winds aloft affected their canopy flights.
EXIT SEPARATION:
Exit separation is the practice of spacing out exits of groups of skydivers, based on the strength of the upper winds, to maintain a safe distance between them. Generally, the stronger the winds aloft, the more time between groups is needed for proper skydiver exit separation. USPA SIM Chapter 4-7 explains how to determine the time between exiting groups.
Participating in Jump Run:
Establish what communication with the pilot you might use for spotting corrections or the go-ahead to open the door and jump. Commonly, jumpers use verbal or physical communication like hand signals, shoulder taps, or yelling “door!” for smaller aircraft, and electronic (e.g., spotting buttons) and lights for larger aircraft. Regardless, the pilot determines when the door may be opened and may prefer to operate the door. This is key to finding the correct jump run.
Clearing your SPACE:
Using the acronym SPACE can help you quickly remember what to look for while clearing your airspace before exiting for overall skydiving safety:
Skydivers: Exit separation between groups of skydivers is a critical part of clearing the space on exit and can change according to winds at altitude, size of the groups, and the skydiving disciplines they are engaging in.
Planes: According to FAR 105.5, the jumper and the pilot are jointly responsible for making sure the space is clear of other planes before jumping.
Airport: Make sure you see the airport in the space below you and orient it to the direction of jump run. Ensure it is in the expected location based on your previously determined exit point.
Clouds: The FAA prohibits skydiving through or near clouds. Make sure the distance between clouds is sufficient according to what you learned in Category D regarding FAA skydiving cloud clearance.
Exit Light: In larger aircraft, wait for the green light to exit. In smaller aircraft, confirm with your pilot. At any time during jump run, the pilot may have to remove their OK for the jump due to traffic, instructions from air traffic control, or other reasons.
Category E knowledge represents a significant step 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.
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