SIGMA, WINGS, STRONG AND USPA TANDEM INSTRUCTOR COURSE – SKYDIVE CITY

SIGMA, WINGS, STRONG AND USPA TANDEM INSTRUCTOR COURSE – SKYDIVE CITY

**ALL COURSES ARE PRICED FOR CASH PAYMENTS ** COURSE CANCELLATIONS WILL INCUR A $50 FEE TO THE DEPOSIT**

The tandem rating system in the USA is such that each manufacturer issues their own Tandem Instructor rating.

You need a UPT rating to jump a Sigma and/or Vector tandem system, a Strong tandem rating to jump a Strong tandem rig and a rating from JumpShack to jump a Racer system.

If you need multiple ratings you can get cross trained to another tandem system after you have at least 25 jumps on one system. The manufacturer must approve the rating you have. Crosstrain is a shorter process to get the rating. Less examination jumps are required.If you need two ratings right away, it requires two full tandem rating courses for each rating.

USPA group member dropzones require all tandem instructors to hold the USPA Tandem Instructor rating in addition to the factory rating. There is no charge if you take the USPA Tandem course with your factory rating course Please go to the pages for each rating for more detailed information.

The tandem rating course will take 2 to 3 days (weather permitting). The course consists of one day of classroom with lots of practical training and correction of the written exams. There are 5 jumps in the course. One solo jump with the Sigma rig, one where you are the passenger and three evaluation jumps where you are the tandem instructor.

 COURSE DETAILS

**ALL COURSES ARE PRICED FOR CASH PAYMENTS ** COURSE CANCELLATIONS WILL INCUR A $50 FEE TO THE DEPOSIT**

Earning the UPT Sigma Tandem rating is a 3 step process.

1. The UPT Tandem course with the 5 course jumps under supervision of a UPT Examiner
2. Five Tandem jumps with an experienced jumper who has at least 100 jumps. After the last jump with an experienced jumper you send the UPT Tandem training logbook to UPT and they will issue the Tandem Rating card.
3. The probationary period. You will be on probation until you have a total of 25 Tandem jumps.

PRE-REQUISITES:

• 18 years of age
• 500 ram air jumps
• 3 years in the sport
• USPA D license or foreign equivalent
• Hold an Instructional rating
• Current FAA class 3 medical or foreign equivalent

Please bring copies to class of:

• USPA or foreign membership card with D-license number and Coach or Instructor rating endorsement
• Copy of a current FAA class 3 medical certificate or foreign equivalent
• logbooks showing 500 jumps and 3 years in the sport

PREPARATION:

The Sigma Manual is the course book. It is recommended to print the manual from United Parachute Technologies web-site prior to the course or bring your laptop or tablet. We want you to make the Sigma Tandem exam at home prior to the course. Just let us know that you need the test questions and we will send you the document and a link to the manuals. Please complete your test questions handwritten on lined paper, and make sure they are legible. Any questions you don’t know the answers to can be left open. If you need a Vector Tandem rating as well let us know. In that case you have to make the Vector exam in addition.

We will be happy to send you the exam questions.

THE COURSE:

The tandem rating course will take 2 up to 3 days (weather permitting). The first day of the course is a full day of class with lots of practical training and correction of the written exam. On day 2 we will make the jumps.The 3rd day is to finish everything up and for the USPA portion of the course. The USPA Tandem course will be part of the factory rating course and is at no additional charge when taken with this course.

Before you make the Instructor jumps in the first phase of the course, you will get a test of the procedures and malfunctions and problems in the hanging Tandem harness.

The course covers the first 5 jumps of the training program.The jumps with an experienced skydiver do not need examiner supervision. However, we offer the option of making the phase 2 jumps with Skydive Ratings staff because we believe that continuous education is important. We developed a special program to further build your confidence and skill as a Tandem Instructor. This is an optional program. Stay an extra day (or 2 in case of weather) to complete these 5 jumps.

For the course jumps you will need:

• Baggy jumpsuit
• Head protection. Hard helmet or leather hat. Full face helmets are allowed but must have a full vision screen, e.g. Cookie G3
• If you own one please bring your audible

CROSS TRAINING:

If you already possess a current Tandem Instructor rating from another manufacturer you can get crossed over to the Vector/Sigma rating.

To qualify for cross-training you must:

• Hold a current Tandem rating from another approved manufacturer
• Bring documentation of at least 25 jumps on this system (UPT needs copies of logbook entries)
• Meet all the requirements of the initial UPT tandem course (see above)

PREPARATION:

The course book is the the Sigma Tandem manual from UPT. It is available on UPT’s web-site. To pass the course you must make the Sigma Tandem written exam.We want you to make the test at home, preferably on the computer (word or pdf)and bring the answers to the course. Or if you have to use pen and paper Do NOt write the answers on the question form but on separate sheets of paper.

You need to bring copies of:

• Current tandem rating
• Logbook entries with 25 tandem jumps
• FAA class 3 medical certificate
• USPA membership card with D-license number and Instructional rating endorsement

The course consists of some classroom and a minimum of 2 evaluation jumps. The Vector and Sigma tandem written exams will be corrected during the course before the jumps begin.

 COURSE DETAILS

**ALL COURSES ARE PRICED FOR CASH PAYMENTS ** COURSE CANCELLATIONS WILL INCUR A $50 FEE TO THE DEPOSIT**

STRONG PRE-REQUISITES:

• 18 years of age
• 500 ram air jumps
• 3 years in the sport
• D-license or foreign equivalent
• Hold an instructional rating, Coach or higher
• FAA class 3 medical certificate or foreign equivalent
• Experienced a cutaway, real emergency or intentional
• 50 jumps within the last 12 months
• 4 hours of freefall time
• purchase the Strong Tandem packet prior to the courseNote: Foreign candidates who do not intend to make tandem jumps in the USA do not need the Strong Tandem packet but instead pay $40 rating fee.

THE STRONG TANDEM PACKET:

Strong requires each candidate jumping in Canada and the USA to get the tandem packet before the course starts. This packet contains the course books, videos and the rating application forms. You can order the packet directly from Strong by calling +1 (407) 859-9317 or you can e-mail [email protected]. Keep in mind that packets are typically mailed using US Postal Service. Order your packet early enough that you are able to review the materials before your class. Once you have received the packet you can take the written exam. The exam is an open book test. You will need to arrive at the course with the exam completed.

Non-USA residents, who intend to do tandem jumps outside the USA only, do not need to purchase the tandem packet but instead pay $40 rating fee to Strong.

THE COURSE:

Getting the Strong Tandem rating is a 2 phase process.

• Phase 1 is the tandem course with the 5 phase 1 jumps under supervision of a Strong Tandem Examiner.
• Phase 2 is 5 additional tandem jumps with an experienced jumper who has at least 100 jumps.We offer the option of making the phase 2 jumps with SkydiveRatings staff for continuous education using a special program we developed, to further build your confidence and skill as a Tandem Instructor. This program is optional.

The course will take 2 to 3 days (weather permitting). First day is a full day of class with the first jump possibly in the afternoon. Day 2 is to complete the five Phase 1 jumps and finish the course paperwork. Part of day 2 and day 3 is reserved for the USPA portion of the course (see USPA Tandem rating) The USPA portion is at no additional charge when you take it together with the Strong course.

For the evaluation jumps you will need:

• A baggy jumpsuit
• Open face helmet or a leather hat
• If you own an audible please bring it to use on the evaluation jumps

* PAPERWORK:

You need to bring copies of:

• drivers license
• USPA card with D-license number and Instructional rating endorsement
• FAA medical certificate
• Logbook page showing 500 jumps
• Logbook pages showing 3 years in the sport
• Logbook page with cut-away
• Logbook pages showing 50 jumps within last 12 months
• Logbook page showing 4 hours of freefall time

INTENTIONAL CUT-AWAY

If you never had a cutaway we can arrange that the intentional cut-away rig will be here during your course. This rig, built by Strong, has 3 canopies in it. The emergency handles are in the exact location as on the Strong tandem rig.

You can use this rig under supervision of the Examiner. Let us know that you need it.

CROSSTRAINING:

If you already possess a current tandem rating from an approved manufacturer you can get cross trained to the Strong rating. To cross train you will receive some classroom. Strong requires you to make 3 Phase 1 jumps under the supervison of an Examiner and 2 phase 2 jumps. The written exam needs to be completed as well.

To qualify for cross training you must:

• hold a current tandem instructor rating from another approved manufacturer
• have at least 100 jumps on that system
• purchase the Strong Tandem Packet prior to the course, except non USA residents
• Have at least 25 tandem jumps in the past 12 months
• meet all the requirements for the initial Strong rating (see above)
• Candidates with 100-499 tandem jumps must make 3 jumps with an Examiner supervising
• Candidates with 500 or more tandem jumps and 50 tandem jumps in the last 12 months need to make 2 evaluation jumps.

PREPARATION:

For USA residents, go ahead and order the Tandem packet from Strong. (407-859-9317) We need you to make the written exam at home and bring it with you to the course. If you need a foreign Strong certification let us know and we will send the manual and the exam questions to you by email.

PAPERWORK:

You will need to bring the same documents as candidates who take a full course. Please look at the list above.

In addition to that please bring:

• Current tandem rating
• Logbook entries of 25 or 50 tandem jumps in last 12 months

For the Tandem evaluation jumps we would like you to bring:

• Baggy jumpsuit
• Head protection: open face helmet or leather hat
• In case you own one, please bring your audible.

 COURSE DETAILS

**ALL COURSES ARE PRICED FOR CASH PAYMENTS ** COURSE CANCELLATIONS WILL INCUR A $50 FEE TO THE DEPOSIT**

PRE REQUISITES

• 500 jumps
• 3 years in the sport
• D license
• current FAA class 3 medical
• Hold a USPA Coach or higher rating
• experience of a cut away

PREPARATION

The Wings Tandem manual and the Wings Tandem Training Manual are the course books.The manuals are available at Wings. You can contact the company through the Wings Tandem web-site at wingstandem.com

We expect all candidates to make the written exam at home and bring the test answers to class. We will send you the written exam questions on request.

THE COURSE

The tandem rating course will take 2 up to 3 days (weather permitting). The course consists of one day of classroom with lots of practical training and correction of the written exams. There are 5 jumps in the course. One solo jump with the Wings rig, One where you are the passenger and three evaluation jumps where you are the Tandem Instructor.

Before you make the Instructor jumps you will get a test of the procedures and malfunctions in the hanging Tandem harness

For the jumps you will need:

• a baggy jump suit
• open face helmet or leather hat
• audible

In order to make tandem jumps in the USA ,a USPA Tandem Instructor rating is required as well. The USPA course is part of the full factory rating course. There is no additional charge for the USPA course when taken with the Factory Tandem course.

CROSS OVER TRAINING

Current Tandem Instructors holding a tandem rating which is recognized by USPA and the FAI can be crossed over to the Wings rating. Foreign tandem ratings that are not recognized by USPA or FAI are not allowed for cross train. In that case a full course is required

Cross train consists of:

• some class
• 2 evaluation jumps, one solo jump and one instructor jump with an Examiner.

As with the full course we require you to make the written exam at home and bring the answers to class.