The Drop

Ah, the USPA Pro: that rating that puts all the focus on canopy flying skills—more to the point, accuracy—to avoid our sport leading the news when somebody swoops in and smacks a newly-christened municipal goalpost. If you want to high-five the front row at the airshow, this is the stamp of approval you’re going to need.

…But it ain’t easy to get.

It’s been a long time since I was in the hot seat for my USPA Pro rating. In the years since, I’ve coached a lot of towards the goal. I’ll kick this off with the three most useful bits of advice to help aspirants make it successfully through the process.

#1 Choose your conditions.

…and choose them very wisely. It’s easy to believe you’ll “make it work” when the conditions aren’t playing nice…until the third time you’re on jump four and you don’t, well, make it work.

#2 Be conservative.

Strap down your ego and stick with a larger parachute. You know why, of course—they’re slower-moving and it’s easier to be accurate—but loads of people try their luck with smaller nylon regardless (and very often regret it).

#3 Don’t let the pressure get to you.

In crunch time, people get fixated. It’s natural. They’ve put so much effort in; they’re so close to the goal…and then they push just a little too hard, and it falls apart. Sometimes, spectacularly. Take my friend Josh, for example, who managed to actually dislocate his foot on one of his Demo eval jumps. When he was in the emergency room, lots of doctors ran in to take pictures because they’d never seen anything like it before.

What’s required?

Curious? Here’s what the USPA will require of you:

To qualify for the PRO rating, an applicant must:

• be a current member of USPA
• possess a USPA D license
• have at least 500 jumps on a ram-air canopy
• made two-night jumps in accordance with the BSRs (recommended that the first one be a solo and one in a group) with a freefall of at least 20 seconds. An Instructor with a D license who has completed at least two-night jumps must verify these jumps.
• make a series of 10 solo jumps with a stand-up landing into an area 40 feet long by 20 feet wide using the same model and size canopy at a wing loading 1.5:1 or below.

The applicant must pre-declare each jump to count toward the requirements for the PRO rating.

All declared jumps must be recorded on video that clearly shows the PRO-rating applicant’s final approach and landing into a defined area 40 feet long by 20 feet wide. (Both outside and point-of-view footage are acceptable.)

The applicant must submit the video footage of each approach and landing to the appropriate USPA Regional Director or the Director of Safety and Training at USPA Headquarters, along with the PRO-rating application.

The applicant may submit the video footage by sharing it online or by sending it on a portable hard drive.

Once the applicant has started the series, they may make non-declared jumps; however, non-declared jumps may not count toward the accuracy requirements for the rating.

All 10 pre-declared jumps in the series must be successful for any in the series to count toward the rating. In the event of an unsuccessful jump, the applicant must start a new series. At least two of the landings into an area 40 feet long by 20 feet wide must be crosswind approaches, with the final approach 90 degrees to the direction of the wind. Wind speed must be at least five miles per hour and no more than 15 miles per hour.

On each declared jump, the applicant must make the first contact and stop within the designated landing area. A USPA S&TA, Examiner, Judge or Board Member must witness and sign off on all declared jumps. HP Endorsement Qualifications To qualify for an HP (High Performance)

For endorsement for the PRO rating (fly a parachute at a wing loading greater than 1.5:1), an applicant must make a series of five solo jumps using the same model and size canopy into an area 40 feet long by 20 feet wide.

The applicant must pre-declare each jump to count toward the requirements for the HP Endorsement for the PRO rating. All declared jumps must be recorded on video that clearly shows the PRO rating applicant’s final approach and landing into a defined area 40 feet long by 20 feet wide. (Both outside and point-of-view footage are acceptable.)

The applicant must submit video footage of each approach and landing to the appropriate USPA Regional Director or the Director of Safety and Training at USPA Headquarters along with the PRO-rating application.

The applicant may submit the video footage by sharing it online or by sending it on a portable hard drive.

At least one landing into an area 40 feet long by 20 feet wide must demonstrate a crosswind approach and landing, with the final approach 90 degrees to the direction of the wind. Wind speed must be at least five miles per hour and no more than 15 miles per hour.

At least two approaches and landings must demonstrate a heading change of at least 45 degrees during the final 150 feet of canopy flight. The jumper must start and complete the heading change no higher than 25 feet AGL. This flared, carving turn demonstrates the ability to change heading during the swoop portion of the landing while still maintaining control of the parachute.

All five pre-declared jumps in this series must be successful for any in the series to count toward the rating. In the event of an unsuccessful jump, the applicant must start a new series.

• On each declared jump, the applicant must make the first contact and stop within the designated landing area.
• a USPA S&TA, Examiner, Judge or Board Member must witness and sign off on all declared jumps.

So there it is, folks.

One last piece of advice: Keep your foot firmly on the end of your leg. For Josh.

Good luck.