For Starters

Jumping in Larger Formations
August 2004
Articles and seminars are plentiful on 4-way but there is very little available on bigger stuff

What you do to arrive at the formation can be something of a mystery!

It’s often left to trial and error

Martin Williams gives practical realistic advice for newbies...

There is a shortage of information for intermediates when it comes to jumping in large formations. The term ‘large’ is obviously a relative thing, what is large to one skydiver is small to an other, but all share the same basics.
Photo by Willy Boeykens

Skills Set
I have not seen much in the way of structured learning in this area, most people seem to learn by experience. This I find quite scary as it is exactly this type of jumping that I believe requires most preparation up front.

I am concerned about this is because of the great amounts of distance, speed and momentum that can be generated in this type of skydiving. Learning how to stop should not be done unsupervised, ill informed, or on the job!

To obtain their FS1 qualification the BPA Ops Manual requires the jumper to ‘Dive and approach a target’... pretty vague there I think!

The skills set required of a good large formation jumper are definitely different to those required to a good 4-way FS jumper. Of course there are lots of overlaps but one is not necessarily good at the other by default, skills must be learnt and mastered.

Here is a brief overview of the headings I teach in this module on the PhD Skydive U course:

Exit
Balance ~ Be comfortable and strong in the door. This may not be so relevant for later divers but is very important for early divers or floaters.

Tightness ~ You will be amazed how much distance can be generated by so little a gap.

Timing ~ This most relevant to stationary jumpers in the door, leaving together gives you the best chance of staying together.

Presentation ~ No secrets here, you must fly your body onto the slipstream. You lose a lot of time and visuals if you flunk your personal exit.

Swooping to the formation
Body position ~ A fluid use of body positions ranging from your best head-down dive to your max de-arch. Each time the situation is likely to be different, don’t think too hard, trust yourself to make the right choice.

Angles ~ Again react and trust, make use of the hill to give you a boost if that is what is required. Remember to fly to where the base is going, not to where it has been.

Visuals ~ If the base is too far away to see well when you exit, follow the ‘buddy’ system of using jumpers in front of you as ‘stepping stones’ down to the base, change your focus as the base gets easier to see.

Quadrant control ~ Move in straight predictable lines. A car driver swerving from lane to lane on the motorway is dangerous!

Peripheral awareness ~ Be very aware of those around, above and below you. As you get closer to the base, so does everyone else, the skies will become more crowded, be aware!

Stairstepping ~ It takes time to be able to make this move in one single smooth swoop, learn by inserting stops on the way to the base. This is my top tip for this phase: test flare. If you can put in your best stop about 25-30 feet above the level of the formation and see that base getting smaller, then you’ve got it nailed. If however you’re going as slow as you can and that base is still getting bigger, you’re on your way to being down and dirty – stop even harder NOW and you may still be able to save it.

The above can be summarised by: Present – Identify – Intercept.
Photo by Tony Hathaway
Approach and Dock
The final approach zone or red zone is an area around, above and below the formation. This is a no-go area unless you are flying with CLAP – Control, Levels, Angles, Pace. You should be in control, moving no faster than a walking pace, flying level or just above the base. You should be set up at the correct angle so you can fly straight forward to your slot and your fall rate should perfectly match the base.

Fly through the final approach zone calmly, then STOP prior to taking grips. The only acceptable way to dock is with zero momentum.

Flying the formation
Once you have your hands on the base you become the base, think levels and tension-free. Your job does NOT stop now, it is just a beginning of an other phase, stay focused.

Levels ~ Once you have docked, keep the pace going, look for your clone (mirror image person) underneath the grips or bellies in front of you.

Tension ~ Work hard to ensure you are putting NO tension on the person in front, fly strong, slightly legs out. Feel you could let go of the grip and still stay exactly where you are.

Peripheral awareness ~ Concentrate on your clone, on doing your job in the formation, but do be aware of what is going on around you.

Safety ~ Maintain altitude awareness.

Low Recovery
Prevention is really better than cure; if you test flare and can stop the swoop you will not need this. But, just in case...

Body position ~ Hug the ‘beach ball’, use the ‘ironing board’, whatever technique works for you but get every ounce of arch out of your body and get back up.

Quadrant control ~ You must be able to come up in a straight line, not skate through other quadrants.

Red zone ~ Ensure you are outside the final approach area while recovering

Visibility ~ Never recover blind, turn 90O to the formation, you will maintain visuals easier that way.

Don’t give up ~ Continue to try all the way to the planned break-off.

Break-off
Signal ~ This must be known and clear, ensure your audible is set to the correct height. Do not approach the formation when others are leaving. If you are not ‘hands on’ the formation 1,000ft before break-off, that is your break-off altitude, set your dytter for this ‘higher’ altitude. This simple procedure stops possible collisions due to you chasing completion of the formation as they are breaking off and coming at you. This must be a co-ordinated procedure given out by the load organiser during the briefing.

Tracking ~ Track as if your life depends on it, guess what, it DOES! Be capable of tracking FAR, FLAT and FAST. This is a survival skill and you can never be good enough at it. Be peripherally aware whilst tracking.
Pull heights ~ You must stick to the plan, this is no time for improvisation.

Photo by Dean O'Flaherty
Canopy Control
There are likely to be a lot more canopies and therefore much less space than perhaps you are used to. Where does safety under canopy start? At break-off? No, on the ground with your pack job! If you cannot consistently pack good on-heading openings, do you really want to be in crowded airspace on deployment?

On deployment think ‘Check canopy, check airspace’ and have your hands on your rear risers ready to make evasive moves if required. Then, in slow time, once you are certain you are in your own airspace and still heading away from the formation (not necessarily towards the DZ at this point) stow your slider if desired and take off the brakes.

Identify the stack and follow suit, fly calm, predictable patterns, no spirals, you are a team jumper now.

Landing areas ~ Be aware of the target funnel, lots of canopies don’t all have to land in the 25m x 25m ‘experienced’ area. Remember a long walk is better than a short crawl!

In Conclusion
Jumping in larger formations is great fun, just allow yourself the time to learn correctly and in a controlled environment. Building the formation is not the mark of a good jumper, building it safely is. I am more than happy to invite people that did not get in back on the next load if they flew well, but not if they docked but demonstrated poor or potentially dangerous flying skills.

And finally, as Kate Cooper the famous big-way load organiser from Perris Valley says, “Rule # 1 – Don’t hurt Kate”!
Hot Tips

Always fly in control
Keep visuals
Test flare
Pack well
Track better
Fly as a team member under canopy
Receive a good briefing
Remember the base is a destination not a target!

Article by Martin Williams, BPA Examiner
martin@phdskydiving.co.uk

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