05 Static Line (S/L)
Description
This article is from the Skydiving FAQ, by Barry Brumitt with numerous contributions by others.
05 Static Line (S/L)
This method has evolved over the last ~30 years from its military
origins into a successful method for training sport parachutists. The
student gets 4-5 hours of ground training and is then taken to an
altitude of about 3000 feet for the jump. The jump itself consists of
a simple "poised" exit from the strut of a small single engine Cessna
aircraft. As the student falls away from the plane, the main canopy
is deployed by a "static line" attached to the aircraft. The student
will experience about two to three seconds of falling as the parachute
opens.
Subsequent S/L jumps require about 15 minutes of preparation. After 2
good static line jumps, the student will be trained to pull their
ripcord for themselves. The student then does 3 more static line
jumps where they demonstrate this ability by pulling a dummy ripcord
as they leave the plane (the static line is still initiating the
deployment). The student is then cleared to do their first actual
freefall.
The first freefall is a "clear & pull", where the student initiates
the pull sequence immediately upon leaving the aircraft. Next is a 10
second delay jump. Subsequent jumps go to progressively higher
altitudes with longer delays. After 20 freefalls, and meeting certain
other basic requirements, the student receives their A license and is
cleared off student status.
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