FIRST JUMP

Skydive New Mexico offers two different ways to make your first skydive, Tandem or Instructor Assisted Deployment (IAD). On a tandem jump the student and instructor are harnessed together and the instructor controls the skydive. IAD students wear their own parachute system and make a solo skydive with the assistance of an IAD instructor. Tandem is ideal if you just want to experience skydiving one time or simply don't want to go alone the first time. If you think you might want to become a skydiver, or if you just want to take a more "do it yourself" approach to your first jump, then IAD might be for you. Once you've made two IAD jumps a skydiving student can decide to start Skydive New Mexico's Accelerated Freefall training.

TANDEM

NOTICE:

You must be in good physical condition to make any skydive. You will need to be able to bend your knees completely and sit on your heels to exit the aircraft. If you can't easily bend your knees and ankles, you probably can't make a tandem skydive. Skydive New Mexico requires a minimum of one week advance scheduling (for the warmer months, 2-4 weeks).

WEIGHT REQUIREMENT:

You must weigh less than 200 pounds and be height and weight proportionate to make a tandem skydive. Any exceptions will be at the discretion of the tandem instructor.

OVERVIEW

Tandem is the easiest way to have the total skydiving experience. For a tandem jump, the student and instructor are harnessed together and share an oversized parachute system built for two. The jump starts with a one hour ground school where you will learn some basic information about skydiving. Next, you and the instructor will gear up and get on the plane for the ride up to 10,000 feet above the ground. After a scenic airplane flight you and the instructor will exit the plane and free fall together for 30 - 40 seconds before deploying the parachute. The student, assisted by the instructor, then flies the parachute to a landing, several thousand feet below.

This method is ideal for those who want to experience the full sensation of a skydive, but aren't sure if they want to do it alone or continue in the sport.

First Tandem Jump: $315 Includes ground school, equipment, airlift, first jump with an instructor and a first jump certificate. Sorry, Skydive New Mexico does not offer group discounts for tandem jumps.

First Tandem Jump with Video: $395 Includes all of the above and you are accompanied in free fall by a skydiving videographer who will record your exit, free fall, parachute deployment and landing and edit it onto a DVD with the music of your choice. The video option is subject to videographer availability.

Instructor Assisted Deployment

NOTICE:

You must be in good physical condition to make any skydive. An IAD jump requires good strength and flexibility and the ability to drop and roll on landing if necessary. If you aren't in good physical condition you probably can't make an IAD skydive. Skydive New Mexico requires a minimum of one week advance scheduling (for the warmer months, 2-4 weeks).

WEIGHT REQUIREMENT:

You must weigh less than 220 pounds and be height and weight proportionate to make an IAD skydive. There are no exceptions to this rule.

OVERVIEW

IAD stands for "Instructor-Assisted Deployment" and is a method of training where the instructor initiates deployment of the student's parachute when the student jumps from the plane. IAD is a good method for those that think they might want to become licensed skydivers, or for folks that want to take more responsibility on their first jump. The IAD ground school is usually broken down into two phases. The first session is taught on Friday evenings. The class lasts around 4 hours and covers most of the basic information you'll need for your first IAD jump. The second class is taught at Skydive New Mexico's airport facility on your chosen jump day. This class lasts about 2 hours and covers the more advanced aspects of your training. The USPA Online Ground School, while not a course that can be used as complete training program, provides valuable information for first-time jumpers and is a great refresher for all students. Although the freefall portion is specific to the AFF training method, it also includes videos and sections on skydiving equipment, canopy flight and landing, emergency procedures relevant to all training methods.

Your first IAD jump starts by gearing up and riding the plane to an altitude of around 4,500 feet above the ground. Assisted while climbing out of the aircraft by the IAD Instructor, the student exits the aircraft solo with the parachute deploying immediately.

Exit and opening occur at 4,500 feet, then the student pilots the parachute to the landing area under the guidance of a radio-equipped ground instructor.

NOTICE:

You must be in good physical condition to make any skydive. An AFF or IAD jump requires good strength and flexibility and the ability to drop and roll on landing if necessary. If you aren't in good physical condition you probably can't make an AFF or IAD skydive.

WEIGHT REQUIREMENT:

You must weigh less than 220 pounds and be height and weight proportionate to make an AFF or IAD skydive. There are no exceptions to this rule.

OVERVIEW

So, you've made that first jump and you want more! Skydive New Mexico offers two different ways to become a licensed skydiver, Instructor Assisted Deployment (IAD) or Accelerated Freefall (AFF).

All skydiving students, no matter what method they are trained in, learn from the same syllabus. Which method you choose just depends on you. AFF students start out free falling from 10,000 feet with 2 instructors. IAD students start out making short free falls from lower altitudes and work their way up to free falling from 10,000 feet. AFF is slightly more expensive than IAD.

To get your first skydiving license, the A license, you'll have to pass 8 training levels known as Category A - H. By the end of the fifth level - Category E - AFF and IAD merge and become the same program. It takes IAD students a few more jumps to pass Category E, but it's less expensive. Once you have made at least 25 jumps and passed all the categories, you can become an A licensed skydiver.

ACCELERATED FREEFALL

This training discipline is where certified instructors accompany the student in freefall holding onto the student's harness at first while the student demonstrates certain skills. It can be compared to learning to ride a bike with training wheels.

Since the student is wearing his own parachute, he must be trained to handle emergency procedures as well as landing procedures. AFF training usually consists of a several hour ground course, and the first jump can often be accomplished the same day. The USPA Online Ground School, while not a course that can be used as complete training, provides valuable information for first-time jumpers and is a great refresher for all students. It includes videos and information about skydiving equipment, canopy flight and landing, emergency procedures and exit and freefall.

Student exits the aircraft with two USPA AFF Instructors and freefall together for 30 to 40 seconds, depending on jump altitude, typically 10,000 feet at Skydive New Mexico. Instructors maintain grip on the student's harness to provide in-air instruction and assist with stability if necessary.

The student opens his own parachute by 4,000 feet and pilots it to the landing area.

INSTRUCTOR ASSISTED DEPLOYMENT

IAD stands for "Instructor-Assisted Deployment" and is a method of training where the instructor initiates deployment of the student's parachute when the student jumps from the plane.

The USPA Online Ground School, while not a course that can be used as complete training, provides valuable information for first-time jumpers and is a great refresher for all students. Although the freefall portion is specific to the AFF training method, it also includes videos and sections on skydiving equipment, canopy flight and landing, emergency procedures relevant to all training methods.

Assisted during climbout by the IAD Instructor, the student exits the aircraft solo with the parachute deploying immediately.

Exit and opening occur at 4,500 feet, then the student pilots the parachute to the landing area.

EXPERIENCED JUMPERS

Skydive New Mexico welcomes sport jumpers! We are a USPA drop zone and require USPA membership. AADs are not required for licensed jumpers.

We are currently flying two "Super" Cessna 182 aircraft that have been modified with larger engines and extended wing tips.

Skydive New Mexico is a high altitude desert drop zone. Our field elevation is 5200' MSL, and the density altitude is often much higher than that, so expect a fast landing!