TANDEM INSTRUCTOR COURSE
THE FACE OF THE SPORT
The Tandem Instructor Course can be looked at as skydiving's “professional pilot” rating: The course prepares you to take "passengers" skydiving, and you’re responsible for their entire flight. The Tandem rating requires a solid proficiency of canopy control skills–and more importantly–landing skills. Of course, landing with a passenger is biggest factor that sets the tandem rating apart from other instructor ratings.
The Tandem course is a 2-4 day course (includes one weather day) and is completed in two or three phases, depending on the particular tandem rating you’re being certified for. Phase one (1) is the “instructional” phase where theoretical topics will be covered in the classroom, followed by practical testing and five jumps. In this phase, the jumps will be performed under the close supervision of an evaluator. The following phases are to accumulate more practical experience as you lock in your skills as a Tandem Instructor prior to jumping with real customers. On phase two (2) you will do five jumps with experienced jumpers. Phase three (3) is the probationary period in which you may take actual students to complete 15 more jumps. Once complete your rating is complete.
PRE-REQUISITES
USPA, UPT Vector/Sigma, Wings Plexus
Must be over 18
Hold or has held any USPA Coach or Instructional rating
Earned a USPA D License(must be a USPA license)
Logged 500 jumps on a ram-air canopy * Logbook required!*
A minimum of three years in parachuting
Presented a Class 3 Medical Certificate or the equivalent
COURSE EVALUATIONS
UPT ONLY
Phase three (3) is a requirement for Vector and Sigma ratings, in which you are on a “probationary” period until you accumulate a total of 25 tandem jumps. You will be allowed to jump with customers but will not receive the actual certification until you have reached 25 jumps.
ADDITIONAL RATINGS
You can obtain multiple ratings once you have earned an initial manufacturer’s rating. Cross training is also available so that you can learn the specifics of another type of system after you’ve earned your manufacturer rating. The cross training is an abbreviated version of the actual manufacturers course, and the manufacturer must approve the rating you have. In other words: a tandem rating is only good for the “type” of system you are trained on. It is not a universal rating.
At Skydive University, we offer instructor courses for the United Parachute Technologies Tandem Sigma system.
If you already possess a current Tandem Instructor rating from another manufacturer you can get a “type” rating from another manufacturer. The course consists of some classroom and a minimum of 2 evaluation jumps. Obtain the necessary manuals and information prior to the “cross-over checkout. You can do this by going to the website of the manufacturer of the system you would like a rating for. Foreign tandem ratings that are not recognized by USPA are therefore not allowed to cross train. In that case a full course is required.
TANDEM COURSE SCHEDULE
The Instructor’s Clinic is 3-4 days (a 20 hour program). The first day consists mainly of classroom and practical ground training, the second day consists of practical activities (including jumping and evaluations), and the third day is spent accumulating the additional practical requirements to become certified or allowed to jump with customers (optional). As a participant, you must attend the entire program in order to gain maximum benefit. The program scheduling includes one rain day, as jumping is necessary to complete course.