LEARN TO SKYDIVE FAQs

Now that you have completed your 1st Tandem jump and you are hooked on skydiving, you may be wondering on how to get certified.    Exilerate™ Skydiving School is here to help and guide you through your journey.

At Exilerate™ we have developed the most modern and advanced training program called (AST) Advanced Skydive Training based on A-License requirements set by USPA.

After you complete your 1st Tandem jump or second or 3rd, and you decide to move forward with your skydive certification, you will need to contact the school and sign up for training.

You will do 2 more training Tandem jumps with very special assignment and requirements.  After you successfully complete your 2 training tandems, you will move into the classroom portion of your training called the Ground School (GS) or First Jump Course (FJC) that will prepare you for your solo jumps.  Once the GS or FJC is completed you will move forward toward the jumping/skydiving portion of your training.

You will be required to complete another 23 jumps as part of your certifications and meet all the requirements set by USPA to qualify for your A-Licence.

A License Privileges and Requirements set by United States Parachute Association each student must meet to get licensed.
Persons holding a USPA A license may jump without supervision, pack their own main parachute, engage in basic group jumps, perform water jumps, and must meet the following requirements:

1. 1. completed 25 freefall jumps
   2. completed all requirements listed on the USPA A License Proficiency Card
   3. completed five group freefall skydives involving at least two participants
   4. received the signature and official stamp on the USPA A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card (ISP) which validates the A license for a 60-day time limit following the completion of the card
   5. The completed and signed USPA A License Proficiency Card or USPA A License Progression Card must be validated within 60-days of completion by sending the card to USPA Headquarters. Once validated, USPA will issue a license number that becomes a permanent record of the member.
   6. passed the USPA-developed written and oral USPA A-license exams conducted by a current USPA I, Examiner, S&TA, Judge or USPA Board member Note: USPA Headquarters will accept either completed card signed by a USPA Instructor without the official stamp.? The registration fee must be included.

The current and most up to date cost (tuition) for AFF/AST Skydive Training Courses offered at Exilerate℠ Skydiving School in Las Vegas are listed on the PRICES page on this website!  The tuition is subject to change at anytime and without a notice based on changes in aviation operational costs such as aircraft operations, maintenance and fuel cost as well as costs related to skydiving equipment and instructors.

It depends on the training selected!  See PRICES for details.

According to the USPA (United States Parachute Association) in order to get your A-license, a skydiver must:

The Advanced Training Program or (AST) is the result of 35 + years of knowledge, experience and understanding of skydiving.  It is the most advanced and comprehensive skydive training method available on the plant today!  The AST Program consists of 21 one-on-one coached jumps utilizing the latest teaching technics, equipment, video to assist the learning process and provide the best learning opportunity for each and every student.  The AST Program far exceeds the standard requirements of USPA and all other training methods available today such as the 8 jump AFF or IAD programs to create better and knowledgeable skydivers.  AST Program is One-on-One training custom tailored to each individual student according to their personal schedule, ability to learn and ability to perform.

The AST Program is exclusively offered by Exilerate℠ – The Premier Skydiving School in Las Vegas located at Skydive Fyrosity®. 

The non-refundable tuition payment in full up front is a commitment on both sides!  Exilerate℠ – The Premier  Skydiving School in Las Vegas spares no time, efforts and goes above and beyond to provide the best training possible.  Such efforts require many hours of labor from the instructors and the entire staff at the school.  By paying your tuition in full you are letting us know that you are committed to complete the training!  You will not quit and waist our time and in return, we commit to you 150%.

No!  Over the last 35 + years of extensive experience in training skydive students, we have discovered that tuition payment is full is the best way for both sides!  In the past Pay-as-you-go was the way to go!  However, most of the students never graduated!  We don’t want to waist your time and money as well as ours!  Tuition payment in full for skydive education and training is non-refundable!

In some extremely rate instances, yes!

At Exilerate℠ we only hire the best!  Our instructors are 2^nd generation skydivers, competitors and professional skydiving instructors with 35 + years in the sport  and deep traditions in European and American skydiving, dating back to the 1960’s

In order to learn as much as possible, you will have 2 or 3 different instructors throughout your training.  Although the training method is the same, each instructor teaches differently and has different approach to exercises and tasks each student needs to perform, therefore giving each student the opportunity to learn as much as possible from as many instructors as possible.

AFF Ground school is 5 hours in 1 day.  The AST ground school at Exilerate℠ Skydiving School is broken down in small 3 hours per day over 4 days period, which includes knowledge, psychology, all ground practical training, easy for the student to learn and comprehend the overwhelming amount of information without the pressures and stress that comes with other training methods used by other schools. 

Each student will make 1 jump per day until AST/AFF Level 4.  After the student successfully completes AST/AFF Level 4, the student will make 2 – 3 jumps per day depending on student’s ability and weather.

The AST Program is a Tandem Progression system.  Each student must meet a particular criteria and must accomplish very specific tasks assigned by the instructor.  The 2 Training Tandem Jumps are required to introduce and prepare the student for the rest of the training.  The 2 Training Tandem jumps are respectfully Tandem Level # 1 and Tandem Level # 2.  Only after TL # 1 and TL # 2 are completed the student can move to Ground School portion of the training.

The tandem jumps you have already completed do count toward your A-License, however, the AST Program has very particular assignments and tasks that must be completed as part of the training.  The Tandem Training jumps are very specific and not only evaluate the students ability to learn, but also lay the ground foundation for the rest of the training.  Short answer is, we can not skip TL # 1 and TL # 2.  That would be as if you are learning to fly a plane without an instructor next to you.

Yes!  Skydiving is a weather dependent activity!  Weather is a factor and there are specific limitations incorporated by USPA and by Exilerate℠ Skydiving School to make sure that Safety is never compromised!  Weather factor can and will extend the time of your training if you are not able to skydive due to bed weather days.

The completion of the AST program and getting your A-License is directly dependent on the students’ ability to learn, perform, schedule and weather.  In perfect conditions and student performances the time required is about 18 – 21 days every day!  Most students complete the training in about 30 days and in some cases as long as 3 months.  It all depends on you!  We skydive every day weather permitting! 

That would be ideal, wouldn’t it?  Get in, get out and you are a skydiver!  We all wish it worked instantly with fast food restaurant speed!  The reality, however, is completely different!   There are schools out there, that will advertise “Learn to skydive in 3 or 5 days”.  Beware!  Can you learn to fly an airplane in 3 or 5 days safely?  The answer is “NO”.  Same goes for skydiving! 

Unfortunately, this is a marketing gimmick used as a “hook and bait” to get the students in the door!  Can you jump within 3 to 5 days? Yes you can!  You will be able to complete very basic and rushed ground school in 5-6 hours and make one AFF jump with 2 instructors the same day, under a lot of stress! Not ideal, but possible!

To learn how to skydive safety, and the key word is SAFELY,  is a whole entirely different experience which requires a lot more education, training, ground prep, practice, time and completely different type of training. 

Never forget –  Skydiving is DANGEROUS! No question about it!  But, it can be done safely with proper non-rushed training!  Proper training and learning the critical skills to be safe for yourself and everyone else around you, including the people on the ground, takes a lot of  time and has many elements, variables and critical factors as part of it.  The choice is 100% yours!

See AST vs. AFF Program.

No, you can not!  Unless:

1. The DZ is not a USPA member!
2. The DZ does not care.
3. You transfer your training to the new DZ. 
4. You lie to the DZ and provide false info…. (not a good choice)

Since USPA A-License requires 25 jumps, but you have less that 25 and you do not have your A-License issued by USPA, you are considered a “student under supervision”!  You are not licensed yet!  Other Drop Zones will have no way of knowing the quality of your training, skills and or verifying what you are telling them or the truth in your log book.  So before you skydive at other DZs after you complete your 8 jump AFF program, you will need to finish all requirements and get your license at the DZ where you completed your AFF training, since they know who you are and how you skydive, since they trained you! 

However, if you would like to skydive at another DZ with only 8 jumps after you graduated the AFF training – but you are not licensed yet, the other DZ may suggest to complete your training according to the program the other DZ is using.  You may have to do Ground School again and an evaluation jump.  Many Drop Zones including Fyrosity® will not take transfer students for variety of reasons.  The list is very long…. 

Yes, you can!  The AST Program is designed to take you from 0 to your A-License!  Once completed, and you have your temporary A-License issued, you can skydive at any other DZ until USPA issues yours.  The temporary license is valid for 60 days from the date of issue with proper signatures.

18 years of age!

Max weight MALE – 220LB / 100KG

Max weight FEMALE – 180LB / 81KG

These weights are for our school only!

Exilerate℠ Skydiving School uses brand new, state of the art custom build student equipment.  Exilerate℠ Skydiving School work with the best Harness Container manufacturers, Canopy Manufacturers and skydiving accessories companies to provide the best tools and equipment for our student training program.

If you have RV, Camper or like the outdoors, Moapa Valley offers incredible outdoor opportunities.  If you like the luxury lifestyle, Vegas is only 55 min drive.  If you want to be close to the DZ in a nice hotel, we have that too.

Yes!  Wind tunnel is a fundamental part of your training.  The cost for the wind tunnel training is paid separately to the wind tunnel directly and is not included in the tuition ot the AFF / AST Course?

You will have to repeat the level, before you can move on!  There is additional cost involved for repeating a level, which is separate from the cost of the AFF / AST Courses.