After Your First Jump

 

After you have completed your first parachute descent, you are in the position to take it up as a hobby and progress on to freefall.The British Parachute Association has produced a teaching method called The Category System which is a structured set of briefings designed to teach you the basics and guide you to the level of intermediate solo skydiver  (Category 8 and FAI A License) in as few as 18 jumps.

Broken down as follows:

Category 1
Has received a minimum of 6 hours ground training and has been cleared to make a 1st static line parachute descent

Category 2
Has demonstrated the ability to fall in a stable position counting throughout.

Category 3
Has demonstrated the ability to perform 3 consecutive stable Dummy Ripcord pulls, counting a maintaining a positive arch throughout.

Category 4
Has demonstrated the ability to perform 2 consecutive stable delayed openings , counting throughout, of between 3 and 5 seconds.

Category 5
Has demonstrated the ability to perform 2 consecutive stable delayed openings of 10 seconds, maintaining a heading and counting throughout.

Category 6
Has demonstrated the ability to perform the following:-
2 consecutive delayed openings of 15 seconds.
Use an altimeter in free fall.

Category 7
Has demonstrated the ability to perform controlled 360˚ turns in both direction.

Category 8
Has demonstrated the ability to perform the following
An unstable exit
A dive exit
Back loops
Tracks (horizontal movement in freefall), including a track turn as an avoidance manoeuvre.
A back loop, 360˚ left turn, 360˚ right turn, a short track and wave off, from a minimum altitude of 8000 ft AGL. (Above ground level)

(The above information was taken from the British Parachute Association Operations Manual)