The USPA Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Instructor Rating Course prepares experienced skydivers to teach, supervise, and evaluate students progressing through the AFF training program. The course emphasizes instructional techniques, student safety, freefall skills, emergency response, and the responsibilities of an AFF Instructor.

The AFF Instructor Rating Course develops the instructional, practical, and safety skills necessary to conduct AFF student training. Course activities include:

- Instructional techniques: Lesson planning, communication, guided practice, student evaluation, and effective debriefing.

- Ground training: Teaching AFF-specific procedures, body-flight skills, emergency procedures, and student preparation.

- Student supervision: Equipment checks, jump planning, aircraft procedures, student observation, canopy supervision, and post-jump debriefing.

- Freefall instruction: Maintaining appropriate positioning, assisting unstable students, managing deployment procedures, and responding to simulated student problems.

- Practical evaluations: Ground-training scenarios, student-supervision assessments, and AFF evaluation jumps.

- Professional responsibilities: Safety, judgment, instructional standards, and the responsibilities of the USPA AFF Instructor rating.

Pre-Course Requirements

Candidates must meet the following requirements before beginning the USPA AFF Instructor Rating Course:

- Be at least 18 years old.

- Hold current USPA membership.

- Hold a USPA C license or higher.

- Hold or have previously held a USPA instructional rating.

- Have completed at least 500 skydives or held a USPA Coach or Instructor rating for at least 12 months.

- Have logged at least six hours of freefall time.

- Complete the required pre-course activities documented on the USPA AFF Instructor Proficiency Card.

- Assist with a first-jump course under the direct supervision of an appropriately rated USPA Instructor.

- Complete the required USPA pre-course examination.

During the Course

Candidates must successfully complete the applicable requirements to earn the USPA AFF Instructor rating:

- Demonstrate proficiency in teaching AFF ground-school material and student emergency procedures.

- Successfully complete the required ground-training evaluations, scoring at least 75% on each, with no automatic unsatisfactory result.

- Successfully complete three AFF air evaluations, scoring at least 75% on each, with no automatic unsatisfactory result:

- Category C, Dive Flow #1 — Main Side

- Category C, Dive Flow #1 — Reserve Side

- Category D, Dive Flow #2 — Gripped Exit and 360-Degree Turns

- Pass the associated student-supervision evaluations, including equipment checks, jump preparation, aircraft procedures, student supervision, and debriefing.

- Demonstrate appropriate freefall instructional skills, including student stabilization, deployment assistance, altitude awareness, and separation procedures.

- Demonstrate sound judgment, safety awareness, and integrity throughout the course.

Reference: USPA Instructor Rating Manual (2026), Chapters 4 and 8, and applicable evaluation standards.