13 free drop-zone guides
Drop-Zone Guides
Tandem prep, AFF progression, and license-stage planning, written by jumpers, for jumpers.
About these drop-zone guides
13 free guides from Skydiving Hubs, spanning First Jump (Tandem), AFF Progression, License Stages, Picking a DZ and Safety Culture. Practical, ad-free, and written for people who already know where they'd rather be. No sign-up, no paywall, just answers.
Latest
Safety CultureReserve Packing and Rigger Certification: Who Packs Your Safety Chute
Learn what FAA rigger certification means, who can legally pack reserve parachutes, the 180-day repack cycle, and the two things on your rig you can check yourself.
Safety CultureSkydiving Weather Minimums: Wind, Cloud, and When Jumps Get Called
Learn the FAA weather minimums for skydiving: cloud clearance, visibility rules, wind limits, and why DZs cancel. A practical guide for first-timers and licensed jumpers.
License StagesB-License Skydiving: Jump Requirements & Skills Checklist
The complete USPA B-License requirements: 50 jumps, 30 minutes of freefall, 10 accuracy landings, 10 formation skydives, water training, the Canopy Proficiency Card, and the written exam.
First Jump (Tandem)
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First Jump (Tandem)What to Expect on Your First Tandem Skydive: A Drop Zone Guide
Step-by-step breakdown of your first tandem skydive, from gear-up through landing. Real timelines, the drogue explained, and the one thing you must do on landing.
First Jump (Tandem)Tandem vs AFF Skydiving: Which First Jump Course Is Right for You
Compare tandem and AFF for your first skydive: real 2026 prices, the age and weight gates, how long each takes, and why many drop zones make you do a tandem first.
AFF Progression
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AFF ProgressionWingsuit Jump Requirements: Your AFF Progression Path
Discover wingsuit jump requirements for skydiving. Learn the USPA 200-jump BSR, the first flight course, gear and canopy rules, and when you're ready to fly a wingsuit.
AFF ProgressionAFF Levels Explained: What Each Jump Tests and How to Progress
What each AFF level actually tests, how many instructors hold you, when they let go, and the jumps between AFF graduation and your A-license.
AFF ProgressionFrom AFF Graduate to A-License: The First 25 Jumps After Coaching Ends
A practical guide to the post-AFF jumps before A-license: what to work on, who to jump with, when to buy gear, and how to use the consolidation jumps that decide whether you stay in the sport.
License Stages
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License StagesUSPA Skydiving Licenses A, B, C, and D: Complete Requirements & Progression
The real USPA license system: A, B, C, D requirements, jump minimums, freefall time, accuracy standards, exams, and what each license actually lets you do.
License StagesHow to Choose Your First Skydiving Rig for Your A-License
New A-license skydivers need guidance on containers, canopy sizing, AADs, and real 2026 gear costs. What first-time rig buyers should know before spending five figures.
License StagesCanopy Piloting Basics for New A-License Skydivers: Master Your Landing
Learn essential canopy control techniques for A-license skydivers. Covers the landing pattern, flare timing, the no-low-turn rule, and USPA landing priorities.
License StagesB-License Skydiving: Jump Requirements & Skills Checklist
The complete USPA B-License requirements: 50 jumps, 30 minutes of freefall, 10 accuracy landings, 10 formation skydives, water training, the Canopy Proficiency Card, and the written exam.
Picking a DZ
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Safety Culture
3Safety CultureReserve Packing and Rigger Certification: Who Packs Your Safety Chute
Learn what FAA rigger certification means, who can legally pack reserve parachutes, the 180-day repack cycle, and the two things on your rig you can check yourself.
Safety CultureSkydiving Weather Minimums: Wind, Cloud, and When Jumps Get Called
Learn the FAA weather minimums for skydiving: cloud clearance, visibility rules, wind limits, and why DZs cancel. A practical guide for first-timers and licensed jumpers.
Safety CultureReading Drop Zone Safety Culture: 8 Red Flags to Avoid
Learn to spot safety culture red flags at drop zones. A guide for first-jumpers and AFF students evaluating instructors, equipment standards, and DZ professionalism.
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13 drop-zone guides, all free
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