Tandem Progression

Tandem Skydive Training Highlights the Basics

Training for that first tandem skydive focuses on the basic body position required for skydiving and landing under canopy as well as the plane ride and aircraft exit.

The Tandem Skydive Level 2 introduces you to the altimeter (which measures altitude) and the ripcord used to deploy the parachute. It also includes an introduction of canopy flight by your instructor – under canopy! This jump can be done by anyone that has already completed 1 tandem skydive in the last 12 months. You can repeat this jump (or just jump attached to the instructor and enjoy the ride!) as many times as you would like! This jump is NOT part of the progression to get licensed to skydive solo at WNYSkydiving. If you want to learn to skydive on your own, keep reading!!

For those looking to get licensed and skydive solo, your second jump is a little bit more advanced! First, you’ll need to complete your first jump course! Then, your next jump will the Advanced Training Tandem. Your goal on the advanced training tandem is to be able to shut out the insanity of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and focus on that altimeter. At an assigned altitude, you are responsible for pulling the ripcord for you and your instructor, saving your own life! If you don’t pull at the appropriate altitude, your instructor will be right there to get it for you.

In addition to using the altimeter in freefall, you will also be taught how to turn and go forward in freefall. There are two reasons we teach these skills: for one, these are the exact skills you will be utilizing on your first AFF jump (using your own parachute…), and second is so we give you too much to think about so you forget to pull the ripcord! While the second reason may sound cruel, we are trying to show you that time is a factor in skydiving. While we have lots of fun in the sky, at some point we have to pull a parachute out to save our own lives so we can jump again!

Upon successfully completing your first jump course ground school, you get the opportunity to join us in our student program. This is where the fun REALLY begins!!