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.

The best time to begin skydiving training and earn your USPA certification in Las Vegas is from October through April. During these cooler months, weather conditions are generally more favorable for student progression, providing longer daily training windows, lower temperatures, reduced thermal activity, calmer winds, and fewer weather-related interruptions. These conditions typically allow students to train more consistently and complete their certification in a shorter period of time.

Student training is available year-round; however, students who enroll during the summer months (May through September) should understand that progression is often significantly slower. Extreme desert temperatures, strong thermal activity, turbulence, dust devils, high density altitude, and unfavorable winds frequently limit student jump operations to only 1 to 1.5 hours during the early morning—and on many days, no student jumping may be possible at all. Safety is always the overriding priority, and student training is suspended whenever conditions are not suitable.

As a result, students enrolling during the summer should expect frequent weather delays, reduced training opportunities, scheduling interruptions, and a substantially longer time to complete their certification. Completion timelines cannot be guaranteed and depend entirely on weather, student proficiency, instructor availability, aircraft availability, equipment availability, airport operations, and other operational and safety considerations.

For students seeking the fastest, most consistent, and most predictable path to certification, enrollment between October and April is strongly recommended. Those who choose to begin training during the summer should do so with the understanding that extended completion times are normal and expected due to seasonal operating conditions.

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®. 

No. The AST Program requires full tuition payment at the time of enrollment.

After more than 38 years of training skydivers, we have found that full tuition payment before training begins produces the highest student success rate and benefits both the Student and the School.

Many years ago, we offered a Pay-As-You-Go option. While it initially appeared to provide greater flexibility, our experience showed the opposite. Many students would train intermittently, postpone jumps, lose currency, forget previously learned skills, require additional refresher training, and ultimately never complete the program. As a result, they often spent more time and more money than originally anticipated.

The AST Program is designed as a structured educational curriculum where each lesson builds upon the previous one. Consistent training results in better skill development, greater confidence, improved safety, and a significantly higher likelihood of successfully completing the program and earning your skydiving license.

Full tuition payment also demonstrates a serious commitment to the training process by both the Student and the School. Once enrolled, the School commits its instructors, training equipment, aircraft availability, scheduling resources, and operational planning to help you successfully complete the program.

Our goal is not simply to sell individual skydives—our goal is to graduate safe, knowledgeable, skilled, and confident skydivers.

For these reasons, we no longer offer a Pay-As-You-Go option.

At Exilerate℠ we only hire the best!  Our instructors are 2^nd generation skydivers, competitors and professional skydiving instructors with 38 + 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.

The AST ground school at Exilerate℠ Skydiving School is broken down in small 3 hours per day over 5 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 Level 4.  After the student successfully completes AST Level 4, and is introduced to both Left hand and right hand landing patterns, the student will be able to make more than 1 jump per day depending on student’s ability to learn and perform and weather conditions.

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 the most important 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 AST Program is proficiency-based, not time-based. Every student progresses at a different pace based on demonstrated proficiency, weather, aircraft and instructor availability, equipment availability, operational scheduling, and safety.

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their availability, work schedule, travel plans, and any personal deadlines before enrolling. While the school will make reasonable efforts to accommodate student availability whenever practical, personal schedules and desired completion dates do not determine the School’s training schedule.

No completion date is guaranteed, and any estimated timeline discussed before or during enrollment is provided for planning purposes only and is not a guarantee.  

That would be ideal, wouldn’t it? Get in, get out, and become a licensed skydiver in just a few days! We all wish learning worked as fast as ordering a meal at a fast-food restaurant. Unfortunately, skydiving doesn’t work that way—and for good reason.

You may see schools advertising “Learn to Skydive in 3 Days” or “Get Your License in 5 Days.” While it may be possible for a small number of highly motivated students, under ideal conditions, to complete a significant portion of their training in that timeframe, it should never be viewed as the standard or as a guarantee.

Think about it this way…

Can you safely learn to fly an airplane in 3–5 days?

For most people, the answer is no.

The same principle applies to skydiving.

Could you complete a ground school and make your first skydive in a single day? Absolutely. Could you make several jumps over the next few days? Possibly.

But becoming a safe, knowledgeable, and competent skydiver is something entirely different.

Learning to skydive safely requires much more than simply making jumps. It requires developing the knowledge, judgment, confidence, and skills necessary to safely handle a wide variety of situations, including emergency procedures, aircraft operations, freefall control, canopy flight, landing patterns, weather awareness, equipment knowledge, and sound decision-making.

Every student learns at a different pace.

Your progression depends on many factors, including:

• Your demonstrated proficiency;
• Weather conditions;
• Aircraft availability;
• Instructor availability;
• Equipment availability;
• Operational scheduling;
• Your personal availability and training consistency;
• Student currency; and
• Most importantly, your ability to safely demonstrate each required skill before advancing.

At Fyrosity®, we do not believe in rushing students simply to meet an arbitrary completion date. Our goal is not to produce licensed skydivers as quickly as possible—we want to develop safe, skilled, knowledgeable, and confident skydivers who are prepared to enjoy the sport for many years to come.

If you have a vacation planned, work deadlines, military service, school, international travel, medical procedures, competitions, or any other personal commitment requiring completion by a specific date, please discuss your personal schedule with us before enrolling. We will gladly review both your availability and our anticipated operational schedule to help determine whether the AST Program is compatible with your expectations and timeline.

Please remember that your personal schedule does not determine the School’s operational schedule. While we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your availability whenever practical, training schedules are determined by safety, student proficiency, weather conditions, aircraft availability, instructor availability, equipment availability, and the needs of all enrolled students.

Remember: Skydiving is an inherently dangerous activity. It becomes as safe as reasonably possible through proper education, quality instruction, repetition, experience, and good judgment—not by rushing through a training program.

Your safety will always be more important than your timeline.

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 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 AST Courses.