Head-Down 305

Fly intermediate vertical formation skydiving (VFS)

Intermediate vertical formation skydiving: your first blocks, holding and inter moves.

What the course is about

You'll learn to fly your slot in a vertical formation skydiving (VFS) team, the head-down and head-up version of belly formation skydiving: randoms, entry-level blocks, and fall rate matched with a partner at arm's length.

Head-Down 301 comes first, because you need to dock head-down comfortably before you add a draw and a clock. In Australia, head-down formation jumps of 4-way or more need the Freefly Crest (Head-Down).

What comes before it

Head-Down 301

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.

3.2

Hold heading and fall rate as the stationary reference when own slot is the holder on a block.

When your slot is the holder on a block, can you hold heading and fall rate as the stationary reference your partner flies from?

3.3

Fly the inter move relative to the partner, arresting closure before taking the next grip.

Can you fly the inter move relative to your partner and stop the closure before you take the next grip?

3.7 Safety critical

Recover to a stable solo position on any cork or lost formation, separating laterally rather than holding a failing grip.

On a cork or a lost formation, do you let the grip go and separate sideways to a stable solo position?

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

3.7

Recover to a stable solo position on any cork or lost formation, separating laterally rather than holding a failing grip.

On a cork or a lost formation, do you let the grip go and separate sideways to a stable solo position?

Everything this course says about breakoff and deployment

1.3

State breakoff and deployment altitudes and the lost-formation plan; VFS breakoff runs higher than belly because the head-down fall rate spends altitude faster.

2.1

Complete a freefly-specific gear check (handles, hand-deploy pouch, riser covers, closing loop, helmet, audible set and functioning).

4.1

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

4.3

Deploy at the planned altitude after checking airspace.

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 the draw against video, locating dropped points and their cause (grip quality, inter timing, heading error, fall-rate mismatch).

5.2

Identify one correction to train next.

5.3

Log the jump naming the unit and slot, the points built and the next focus.

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.

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This card is a summary. The full Head-Down 305 course page carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.