Jump Pilot Training Syllabus

This sample syllabus should be incorporated into your pilot training, but not solely limited to this list. Add questions and sections necessary to your operation. This is a general guide to start your training.

Aircraft Familiarization
Jump Operations Familiarization
Jump Pilot Written Test


Aircraft Familiarization

1. POH (AFM)
1.1. Check with your specific Pilot Operating Handbook or Aircraft Flight Manual. Make sure you have it on board for all flight operations. Ensure that each pilot is familiar with ALL chapters and supplements for the aircraft to be used.

2. Normal Procedures
2.1. Be familiar with all normal procedures and limitations.

3. Emergency Procedures
3.1. Be able to recite verbatim all emergency procedures and abnormal procedures.

4. Fuel Requirements
4.1. Max capacity, max useful with load of jumpers, reserve requirements.
4.2 Compute fuel load necessary for planned load(s) keeping in mind unusable fuel might be different for manuevering than straight and level. Use manuevering unusable fuel number only.

5. Preflight (Normal)
5.1 There is no substitute for a thorough preflight. A rule of thumb is if you shut the engine down and walk away you MUST perform a full preflight before next flight.

6. Preflight (Jump Plane Attachments)

7. Certificates Required (Pilot/Aircraft/Jumper)


Jump Operations Familiarization

1. Starting Procedures

2. Loading Procedures

3. Seating Arrangements
3.1 Understand how to best fit restraints through jumper’s harness for optimum use in case of emergency landing and egress.

4. Departure Procedures (Traffic Pattern)
4.1. This can be so important. Poor planning and execution coupled with poor radio skills will cast doubt in the controller’s mind as to your professional ability. Use only standard phraseology. Set standard climb and descent profiles in stead of wandering all over the sky every load.

5. Climb Profile

6. Radio Procedures with ATC notification

7. Winds Aloft

8. Jump run Selection and Application
8.1. Talk with jumpers or jumpmaster before takeoff as to what run is expected and distance from landing area to commence dropping.

9. Descent Profile
9.1 High bank angle descents do NOT get you down faster. Your vertical component of lift is the same so your rate of descent will be the same. Use turns only to stay in defined descent area. Wings level descents provide maximum visibility during rapid descents.

10. Weather for Jumping
10.1. Know what wind and cloud restrictions are best suited for skydiving operations. Know what hazardous weather can do to jumpers under canopy and in freefall.

11. Emergency Procedures for Jump Operation
11.1. Have a plan for every contingency at your airport. Are you flying a single/twin? Know what you’ll do and where you’ll go at every moment should you have a catastrophic failure. Discuss at what minimum altitudes you will release jumpers in an emergency and when you will have everyone stay seated.
11.2 Jumprun Emergencies (refer to Training Overview).
11.3 Jumprun Non-Emergencies.

12. Drug and alcohol policy.


Jump Pilot Written Test

  1. What is Vy?  What number KIAS? How does it change with altitude?
  2. What is Vr?  What number KIAS?
  3. What is Blue Line (Twin Engine Aircraft)?  What number?
  4. Max Temp. for start? (Turbine engine)
  5. Min. oil temp. for start (Piston)
  6. Max fuel load allowed with full jumpers?
  7. Min and Max oil required for flight?
  8. Max Gross Take Off Weight (MGTOW)?
  9. Normal Battery Voltage?
  10. Normal System Voltage?
  11. Max door open speed?
  12. Power settings for jump run?
  13. Min KIAS for jump run?
  14. Write down the Emergency Procedure for engine failure before rotation verbatim (exactly).
  15. Write down the Emergency Procedure for engine failure AFTER rotation verbatim (exactly).
  16. How do you identify an electrical failure?
  17. Is an emergency bailout rig required for your aircraft type? (Check all 337 documents for your aircraft)
  18. If an emergency bailout rig is required, how often must the parachute be inspected by an FAA Senior Rigger?
  19. What FARs govern Skydiving?
  20. What frequencies are required to be used at this airport and airspace?
  21. Are jumpers allowed to jump over a congested area? Define congested area.
  22. What is hypoxia?
  23. What are the oxygen requirements of Part 91?
  24. How can you get winds aloft?
  25. How do you determine freefall drift?
  26. How do you determine jump run?
  27. What is the average descent rate of a Tandem Canopy? Student Canopy?  Sport Canopy? Extreme Canopy?
  28. What are you going to do during an engine failure at your airport and for your aircraft at rotation? 500 ft. AGL? 1,000 ft. AGL? 2,000 ft. AGL? Above 4,000 ft. AGL?
  29. Why is it advantageous to climb into the prevailing wind during the early part of the climb?
  30. What do you do if there is a premature deployment outside of your aircraft and it goes across or over your tail?
  31. A jumper is riding the aircraft down.  At what altitude and descent rate will an AAD fire for an Expert Cypres?  Student Cypres?  FXC 12000?  ASTRA?  Sentinel? Vigil?
  32. You are climbing to altitude for jump operation but can’t get in contact with the appropriate ATC facility.  Can you continue and drop?
  33. What is the minimum time required before dropping that you need to be in radio contact with ATC?
  34. How often must an aircraft used for hire be inspected?
  35. What is required for skydiving operations at night?  Does there need to be any extra NOTAM filed?

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