Head-Up 201

Fly head-up in a 2-way

Flying head up relative to one other person: level, slot, dock.

What this unit covers

Covers flying head-up relative to one other flyer: exits, approach, levels, slots, docks and breakoff in a 2-way. Applies to flyers competent in HU 102 (movement and transitions). Environment: sky, with tunnel drills as preparation. Supervision: with a coach.

The coach flies as the in-air reference at first, then flies passive as the skills consolidate.

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.

3.3

Match the partner's fall rate, holding level (head-height tolerance) for 3 seconds.

Can you match another flyer’s fall rate and hold level with them for three seconds?

3.4

Approach from ~5 m into the slot without overshoot, holding slot 3 seconds before docking.

Can you close the last five metres into a slot without overshooting, and hold the slot for three seconds before you dock?

3.5

Take a hand dock without destabilising the partner.

Can you take a hand dock without destabilising the other flyer?

3.8 Safety critical

Execute the recovery position immediately on any loss of control, re-approaching only when stable.

If you lose control on an approach, do you recover first and only go back in once you are stable?

Screen 3 · Safety and altitudes

Safety and altitudes

Everything here is a recommendation with a reason behind it, not a rule. The drop zone you are jumping at, and your own limits on the day, decide what actually happens.

Safety-critical criteria on the short list

3.8

Execute the recovery position immediately on any loss of control, re-approaching only when stable.

If you lose control on an approach, do you recover first and only go back in once you are stable?

Everything this unit says about breakoff and deployment

1.3

State breakoff (guides: head-up work 5,500 ft minimum; for freefly groups generally 5,000 ft up to a 4-way, most modern jumpers plan 5,500 ft for any freefly group and will generally not accept 4,500 ft) and deployment altitudes, and the lost-partner plan.

4.1

Initiate breakoff at the briefed altitude (within −0/+300 ft).

4.3

Deploy at the planned altitude after clearing airspace.

Altitudes here are the guides this curriculum recommends and argues for. Where the drop zone briefs something different, the drop zone is what you fly.

Screen 4 · After the jump

After the jump

From this unit's own closing element, review.

5.1

Debrief against the declared objective using video.

5.2

Identify one fault and its correction for the next jump.

5.3

Log the jump with criteria results.

One fault, one correction

Before the video, before anyone else speaks: name the single thing that went wrong, and the single thing you will do differently next jump. One of each. A list of six is a list you will not 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

Most records are the flyer's own, and that is the point: your own read of your own flying is worth keeping. A record only counts as verified once a coach signs it.

Your notes for this unit

Saved on this device only. Nothing is sent anywhere, there is nowhere for it to go, and no account is involved. They will be here next time you open this card.

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This card is a summary. The full Head-Up 201 unit carries the reasoning, the sources and everything left off here. All briefing cards.