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HD303 Flyer
Coach card Full course

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Head Down · Group · The jump

Head-Down 303

Fly the diving slot on a head-down big-way

The diving slot: getting down without arriving at the formation.

What the course is about

You'll learn to fly a diver slot on a head-down big-way, from the exit stack to a stopped dive and a dock from below. Head-Down 302 comes first, because a diver finishes on the same approach a float flies. The organiser runs the jump (Head-Down 401), and this is your job inside it.
In Australia, head-down jumps of more than 3 people need a Freefly Crest (Head-Down), and jumps of more than 10 also need a Star Crest.

What comes before it

Screen 2 · What you are watched on

What you are watched on

The same short list a coach ticks, in the same words. Nothing is hidden from you.

3.2
Establish the post-exit picture head-down, high and up jump run of the base, wind on the back, eyes on the base.

Can you set the picture after exit head down, high and up jump run of the base, wind on your back and eyes on the base?

3.3
Dive to a point to the side of and below the formation, not at it, arresting the dive before the approach.

Do you dive to a point beside and below the formation rather than at it, and stop the dive before you start the approach?

3.4 Safety critical
Aim a late dive at the front of the formation, never over the top, so any overshoot carries clear of the build rather than into it.

If you are late, do you aim at the front of the formation rather than over the top, so an overshoot carries you clear?

Screen 3 · Safety and altitudes

Safety and altitudes

Everything here is a recommendation with a reason behind it. The drop zone you are jumping at, and your own limits on the day, decide what happens.

Safety-critical items on the short list

3.4
Aim a late dive at the front of the formation, never over the top, so any overshoot carries clear of the build rather than into it.

If you are late, do you aim at the front of the formation rather than over the top, so an overshoot carries you clear?

Everything this course says about breakoff and deployment

1.4
State own breakoff wave, altitude, radial and deployment altitude (the organiser owns the breakoff design, see FFP-HD401).
2.1
Complete a freefly-specific gear check (handles, hand-deploy pouch, riser covers, closing loop, helmet, audible set to own wave and functioning).
2.3
Dirt-dive own exit rotation, dive line, dock and breakoff radial at least twice.
4.1
Initiate breakoff with own wave at the briefed altitude (within −0/+300 ft), regardless of formation completeness.
4.3
Deploy at own wave's briefed altitude after checking airspace (barrel roll only if smooth; if directly above another jumper, deploy rather than out-track).
5.3
Write the jump up naming the unit and slot (e.g. "HD303, diver slot, wave-1 breakoff"), the results and the next objective.

The altitudes here are the guides this site recommends, with the reasons on the full course page. Where the drop zone briefs something different, fly what the drop zone briefs.

Screen 4 · After the jump

After the jump

From the course's closing section, review.

5.1
Debrief own diver slot against video, classifying each approach as clean, corrected or aborted.
5.2
Identify own dive-line faults (diving at the formation, overshoot, late power-up) and their correction.
5.3
Write the jump up naming the unit and slot (e.g. "HD303, diver slot, wave-1 breakoff"), the results and the next objective.

One fault, one correction

Before the video, and before anyone else speaks, name the one fault from the jump and the one thing you will change on the next jump. Keep it to one of each, so you have one clear thing to fly.

Write them into your notes at the bottom of this card, and they will be here next time you open it.

Record this jump

You can record the jump yourself, because your own read of your flying is worth keeping. A record counts as verified once a coach signs it.

Your notes for this course

Saved on this device only, with no account. They will be here next time you open this card.

This card is a summary. The full Head-Down 303 course page carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.