Head-Down 402

Organise multiple-aircraft loads

Loads across more than one aircraft.

What the course is about

You'll learn to organise a head-down load that fills more than one aircraft, so every plane flies one plan.

This follows Head-Down 401 and Head-Down 403, because the slotting, brief and staged breakoff of a single-aircraft big-way all still apply, spread across planes, and you design the formation each plane-load builds.

The rest of it

In Australia, every jumper on a head-down jump of more than 3 needs a Freefly Crest (Head-Down), and above 10 a Star Crest as well.

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.

1.3 Safety critical

Agree the aircraft formation and the exit cue with the pilots-in-command, in writing where the operation requires it.

Do you agree the aircraft formation and the exit cue with every pilot in command before the load, in writing where the operation needs it?

2.2

Assign waves and radials so sub-formations from different planes break into clear, non-converging airspace.

Can you assign waves and radials so groups from different aircraft break into airspace that does not converge?

3.2 Safety critical

Brief the exit cue and the abort, including what each plane-load does if the aircraft formation is not made.

Do you brief the exit cue and the abort, including what each plane load does if the aircraft formation is not made?

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

1.3

Agree the aircraft formation and the exit cue with the pilots-in-command, in writing where the operation requires it.

Do you agree the aircraft formation and the exit cue with every pilot in command before the load, in writing where the operation needs it?

3.2

Brief the exit cue and the abort, including what each plane-load does if the aircraft formation is not made.

Do you brief the exit cue and the abort, including what each plane load does if the aircraft formation is not made?

Everything this course says about breakoff and deployment

2.1

Extend the breakoff architecture of FFP-HD401 across the whole formation, verifying at least 1,000 ft banked per wave.

3.1

Brief the whole load together so every flyer can state their plane, sector, slot and breakoff wave.

4.1

Run the load to the plan, holding the breakoff regardless of build completeness.

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, run and debrief.

4.1

Run the load to the plan, holding the breakoff regardless of build completeness.

4.2

Debrief across planes with video, attributing timing or sector errors to a cause and a fix, and record the plan for the next attempt.

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 402 course page carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.