University of Wisconsin-Madison's Badger Skydiving Club

Student Progression

Working on getting your license! Yeah, I know.... you're hooked! Well we all are. Here's what you have to do to get your license, so you can jump out of airplanes all by yourself!

There are a number of jumps you have to successfully accomplish.

The first two jumps are orientation jumps from 3500 feet. If you did the IAD First Jump Course - you've already done your first orientation jump! If your first jump was a tandem though, you need to do them both. Sign up for that First Jump Course!

Next come the Practice Pilot Chute Pulls (PPCP's) You need a minimum of three good ones - IN SUCCESSION! That's right - it means if you do two good ones and then miss it totally - ya have to start over at number one the next time. It's for a good reason! You're learning to open your own parachute, while someone else is still doing that for you. During the time you're doing these jumps, you'll start learning how to pack your own parachute.

After that you get to do your first freefall. You open your own parachute! Your last PPCP and your first freefall have to be on the same day. This is done from 4000 feet.

Next you move to 10 second delays - a minimum of two are needed here, and they're done from 5000 feet. You should be getting pretty good at packing by now, and if you''ve gotten this far then you should obtain a Skydivers Information Manual (SIM).

You guessed it - 15 second delays are next. A minimum of two needed here too, at a minimum of 5500 feet. You'll learn how to perform specified canopy maneuvers on these jumps.

Moving on and up - 30 second delays are done from 8000 feet. You'll start learing how to spot for the exit, and learn how to start a turn and stop it, and learn how to track. And ya gotta start working on accuracy when you land during these jumps.

In 45 second delays you're up to the top - 10,000 feet! You're learning more maneuvers, more turns, more of everything! You'll start docking on your jumpmaster instead of just flying next to him/her. The beginning of RW!

There are more details - these are just very brief descriptions. But after you are all done - you will be a licensed skydiver! You'll have an "A" license, and will be free to jump on your own and continue to learn and do all that you set your mind to. And you can do it all right here in Madison! Students can jump any Wednesday afternoon/evening, and and Saturday and Sunday, during student season.