Understanding Categories F, G, and H.

Completing the AFF program is a big milestone, yet your journey of learning in skydiving never stops. The next significant achievement is earning your A-License and there’s a wealth of knowledge to absorb before you’re fully prepared for your skydiving license application. Different from categories A – E which were designed to teach you how to be safe when jumping solo, categories F – H were designed to teach you how to be safe while skydiving with other jumpers.

During the entire AFF progression, instruction remains straightforward and tailored to your immediate needs. Our goal is to provide you with the exact tools required for the jumps you’re about to perform. This approach prevents overwhelming you with unnecessary information. Think of it like a video game, where the complexity of skills and knowledge increases in tandem with your progress. However, in this real-life scenario, there are no magical green mushrooms granting extra chances. Achieving excellence in skydiving while maintaining your physical integrity calls for discipline, a humble respect for personal limitations, a receptive learning attitude, and a solid grasp and respect of safety protocols. 

The path to obtaining your A License is guided by a structured training program, also outlined by the United States Parachute Association (USPA). Among the essential building blocks of this progression are Categories F, G, and H. Let’s dive into each category’s significance and the skills they bring on your path to becoming a licensed skydiver. Keep in mind that a single category will require multiple jumps to be achieved. How many exactly will depend on each individual’s limits and learning ability. 

Category F

• For this category you’ll have to learn and demonstrate your ability to induce forward motion to your body. This is called tracking and is a very important skill necessary to allow you to move away from other jumpers before deploying your parachute.
• This category also requires you to perform lower altitude jumps. Two of them to be more precise. Those jumps are intended to prepare you for any situation in which you may need to exit the airplane and immediately deploy your parachute.
• You’ll also be briefed on some specific parachute controlling techniques intended to increase your your knowledge about the glide range capability of the parachute and develop skills that can be helpful on some possible emergency landings scenarios

Category G

• Now that you already know how to move away from other jumper to deploy your parachute, it’s time to learn how to relative to other jumpers
• For this category you’ll learn and demonstrate how to adjust your freefall speed and position in order to be able to fly along with another jumper.
• You will also learn and practice some more advanced turns under the parachute. The goal is for you to better understand the limits in which you can induce turns to the canopy.

Category H

• This category is the last one and is intended to finish your preparation to get your A-License. This last jump requiring instructor supervision is about to take place.
• For this category you will learn and demonstrate the skills necessary to move faster in the air towards a position in the sky in relation to another skydiver, followed by more refined movements previously learned on Category G which will allow you to safely dock the other jumper. Before deploying your parachute you’ll have to demonstrate a track movement, on a straight heading, of at least 100 feet.
• Your canopy flying will involve inducing turns using other possible control inputs as well as to demonstrate a good landing accuracy.

Mastering Categories F, G, and H equips you with fundamental skydiving skills and mindset of a responsible skydiver. These categories not only lay the groundwork for obtaining your A-License, it also helps you build the foundations for more advanced group jumps and progress towards becoming a safer skydiver.

Remember, while these skills are essential, skydiving is a continuous learning experience. Staying open to instruction, practicing consistently, and prioritizing safety are the keys to successfully navigating your skydiving journey.