Head-Down 202

Demonstrate crest-standard head-down flying

The head-down flying a crest sign-off consumes as evidence.

What the course is about

You'll fly the head-down crest's assessment jumps with your coach, the Head-Down 1 and Head-Down 2 dive flows, without help in the air. This follows Head-Down 201, because it teaches every skill in both flows. If you can, fly Head-Up 202 first, or bring an equivalent head-up crest record.

In Australia, you need to hold or be eligible for the Freefly Crest (Head-Up) to fly these jumps as 2- or 3-ways and to apply for the Freefly Crest (Head-Down).

What comes before it

Screen 2 · What you are watched on

What you are watched on

The same short list a coach ticks, in the same words. Nothing is hidden from you.

3.6

Fly from an unlinked exit to a face-off within 5 m of the coach-held base.

From an unlinked exit, can you fly to a face-off within five metres of the coach holding base?

3.9

Perform a half transition to head-up on the coach's signal, maintaining fall rate and level while head-up.

Can you half transition through your back to head up on the coach’s signal and hold your fall rate and level while you are there?

3.11

Take a second hand-to-hand dock without destabilising either flyer.

After the front flip and both half transitions, can you re-establish the face-off and take a second dock without destabilising either of you?

3.12 Safety critical

Maintain a freefly-speed fall rate throughout, staying clear of the airspace directly above the coach.

Do you hold freefly speed for the whole flow and stay out of the air directly above the coach?

Screen 3 · Safety and altitudes

Safety and altitudes

Everything here is a recommendation with a reason behind it. The drop zone you are jumping at, and your own limits on the day, decide what happens.

Safety-critical items on the short list

3.12

Maintain a freefly-speed fall rate throughout, staying clear of the airspace directly above the coach.

Do you hold freefly speed for the whole flow and stay out of the air directly above the coach?

Everything this course says about breakoff and deployment

1.3

State breakoff and deployment altitudes, and the lost-partner plan (breakoff guide: 5,000 ft for freefly groups up to a 4-way, 5,500 ft for a 5-way or larger; most modern jumpers plan 5,500 ft for any freefly group and will generally not accept 4,500).

4.1

Initiate breakoff at the briefed altitude (within −0/+300 ft).

4.2

Transition smoothly through a 180° turn into a back track 90° from jump run, the FFP-HD201 breakoff sequence (a progressive back track before rolling to belly, per the APF Training Operations Manual flow), decelerating gradually while checking airspace.

4.3

Deploy at the planned altitude after clearing airspace (breakoff-to-deployment ≥1,000 ft guide; a regulation in Australia, the APF Operational Regulations).

The altitudes here are the guides this site recommends, with the reasons on the full course page. Where the drop zone briefs something different, fly what the drop zone briefs.

Screen 4 · After the jump

After the jump

From the course's closing section, review.

5.1

Debrief each assessment jump against the published FFP-HD202 checklist using video.

5.2

Compile the evidence pack: logbook entries written up with reflections naming the unit and skills assessed (e.g. "HD202 assessment jump A, HD1 flow"), dated video of both complete flows with the candidate identifiable, and the completed criteria checklists, the record a coach, drop zone safety officer or chief instructor signs from.

5.3

Plan post-unit consolidation: a block of jumps in small groups (3–5-ways) before attempting anything larger than a 5-way (APF006 §8.6 recommendation).

One fault, one correction

Before the video, and before anyone else speaks, name the one fault from the jump and the one thing you will change on the next jump. Keep it to one of each, so you have one clear thing to fly.

Write them into your notes at the bottom of this card, and they will be here next time you open it.

Record this jump

You can record the jump yourself, because your own read of your flying is worth keeping. A record counts as verified once a coach signs it.

Your notes for this course

Saved on this device only, with no account. They will be here next time you open this card.

Notes need JavaScript, because they are stored in this browser. The card itself works without it.

This card is a summary. The full Head-Down 202 course page carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.