Dynamic 301 — Fly vertical into movement

The checklist

1. Plan the jump

1.1

State the jump's single declared objective and success criteria.

1.2

Plan the sequence, the exit round, the accordion build, the grip-release key, the departure onto the line and the closing angle, fixing the departure point by landmark reference.

1.3

Verify every participant's standing against the jump: FFP-DY202, group vertical competence in the planned orientation (FFP-HU301 or FFP-HD301 standard), and currency.

1.4

Match group size to the least-experienced flyer within the 2–4-way guide.

1.5

Design the flight path clear of jump run and other groups' airspace, with planned opening points and a backup plan for weather or jump-run changes.

1.6

State the breakoff and deployment altitudes (guides: 5,000 ft up to a 4-way, 5,500 ft for five or more; where the vertical segment is flown head-up the floor rises, head-up groups 5,500 ft minimum; breakoff at least 1,000 ft above the highest planned deployment), the fan-out plan, and the lost-leader protocol.

2. Prepare

2.1

Complete a freefly-specific gear check on self and a cross-check of one other flyer (handles, BOC, riser covers, closing loop, helmet, audible set and functioning; a second audible recommended).

2.2

Walk the full sequence in the dirt dive, round slots and grips, the accordion build, the grip-release key, and each flyer's slot on the line.

2.3

Brief the slot-to-orientation assignment in the dirt dive: the leader departs on belly, the flyer adjacent to the leader in the accordion follows on belly, and the other line of the accordion comes out on back, the same assignment for head-down and head-up, adding the head-up variant's two extra points where flown: the back line's steep-angle departure under acceleration with the cork risk named, and the leader's ground-picture check before the key.

2.4

Brief the abort criteria: the group departs onto the line only from a complete, stable accordion, when the build is incomplete or unstable at the grip-release key, the leader withholds the key and the jump completes as a vertical formation jump, and a flyer who misses the key follows from below rather than chasing the line.

2.5

Confirm exit order, separation and the planned flight path with the load, manifest and any other movement groups (guide: two movement groups per load).

3. Perform

3.1

Exit in the briefed round, linked where the aircraft and group allow, otherwise building it promptly, flying the assigned slot without destabilising the formation.

3.2

Build the accordion on the briefed key, taking the briefed grips and holding level through the build.

3.3

Abort the departure when the accordion is incomplete or unstable at the grip-release key: the leader withholds the key, every flyer keeps flying the formation, and the jump completes as a vertical formation jump.

3.4

Break grips on the leader's key, coming out in the assigned orientation, belly beside the leader, back on the other line, establishing the slot as the leader sets the angle.

3.5

Execute the off-key rule after missing the grip-release key: hold orientation, let the group depart, and follow the group's line from below, transitioning only in clear air, never late into the departing group.

3.6

Clear own airspace visually before every transition, no blind transitions.

3.7

Hold the briefed slot and level through the moving segment, matching the leader's speed and pitch (entering the leader's zone, no line busts).

3.8

Control closing speed along the line, slowing, never turning 180° from the group heading, if overtaking the leader or the group.

3.9

Recover in slot on any instability, never track away, rejoining only when stable and on level.

3.10

Execute the lost-leader protocol immediately on losing sight of the leader on a moving segment: transition to back, turn onto a back angle, and follow the group from below; on the vertical phase hold formation discipline instead, recovering any instability in the vertical recovery position (APF006 §4.2).

4. Complete

4.1

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

4.2

Roll from back to belly only when on a clear trajectory with no one above.

4.3

Fan out on the briefed arc line and track, checking airspace.

4.4

Deploy at the planned altitude after clearing airspace.

4.5

Fly the agreed canopy separation plan, holding off the jump-run line until airspace is confirmed clear.

5. Review

5.1

Debrief against the declared objective using video, marking formation faults (round and accordion) and line faults (slot and level misses) separately.

5.2

Identify one vertical-formation fault and one line fault, with a correction for the next jump.

5.3

Log the jump with criteria results and a reflection naming the unit and skills assessed (e.g. "FFP-DY301 vertical into movement, head-up round, back-line departure, held slot to breakoff"), entries like this make the logbook a meaningful training record.

Criteria in bold are safety-critical: they protect the flyer and everyone else in the group. A coach should not sign off the course while a bold criterion is Not Yet Satisfactory, however good the rest of the flying. Outside a course they are strongly recommended practice. Regulation stays with your federation and your drop zone.

Assessment conditions

• Sky jumps from 12,000 ft or higher (recommended), since the build and the moving part both need working time.
• Assessment jumps are flown as a real group within the 2–4-way guide: a qualified leader and at least one other flyer, completing the full sequence from round to angle.
• Video of every assessment jump is required, outside camera or leader-flown, with the flyer identifiable.
• Equipment: a visual altimeter, a working audible (a second recommended), an AAD (recommended) and freefly-suitable gear.
• The group declares the flight path to the load and manifest. Conditions stay within every participant’s cleared limits.
• The assessor is a freefly coach current in dynamic or movement coaching, using this checklist.
• Each criterion is marked Satisfactory or Not Yet Satisfactory.
• As a guide, it takes about 8 coached jumps, at least 4 through the full sequence in both departure slots, over at least two days or conditions within six months.
• Tunnel time builds vertical formation work and belly-to-back transitions. Exits, navigation and breakoff are learned in the sky.
• If you already fly this jump, your coach can assess you on two jumps, or from your logbook, video and tunnel records backed by sky jumps.

Coaching priorities

Safety first, then fun, then learning. Hold the bold criteria to the standard above. Plan the session to be enjoyable, with one objective per jump and a tempo that suits the group. The coach leads, and the flyer flies each departure slot in turn. End each debrief on something that went well, with one thing to improve.

• APF Freefly and Angles Guide (APF006): the breakoff guides and the caution against radical level changes on vertical jumps (§3.2–3.3), the vertical recovery position (§4.2), in-slot recovery and deploying higher when separated (§4.3), and transitions and fly zones on the angle (§5.11–5.13).
• APF Operational Regulations: separation, the freefly rules and the tracking-and-angles rules (OR 9.1.4, 9.2, 9.9).
• USPA Skydiver’s Information Manual 5-10: the movement-jump grading by transitions, matching the group to its least experienced flyer, and the back-fly breakoff rule.
• Newcastle Sport Parachute Club, Hunter Valley angle and movement jump guidelines: movement groups per load, cloud, the belly-flying leader approved by the drop zone safety officer, and the navigation brief with the load master.
• Community coaching on leader and follower duties, tempo and speed management, and keeping clear of straight-down groups.
• The Freefly Project’s coaching guides: the accordion orientation assignment, the abort and off-key rules, the belly-led line, small-group sizes, the lost-leader protocol and the freefly breakoff guides.

Regulations change, so each rule is given as context for where you jump. No national body defines sky dynamic.

• Australia (APF), APF Operational Regulations V01-2026. These jumps sit between the freefly rules and the tracking-and-angles rules. The freefly rules (OR 9.2) need the applicable FFC for vertical groups larger than a 3-way, and a functioning audible on every freefly descent.
• The tracking-and-angles rules (OR 9.9) need a Certificate Class C, the DZSO’s written endorsement for groups larger than a 3-way, and an approved leader. An APF Freefly Coach is one of the movement-jump leader qualifications (OR 9.9.3), alongside a Cert C, each with DZSO approval.
• Separation completes at least 1,000 ft above planned deployment (OR 9.1.4).
• Hunter Valley (Newcastle Sport Parachute Club) sets no more than two movement groups per load without DZSO approval, no movement jumps in or near cloud, and a DZSO-approved belly leader for every movement group.
• USA. USPA SIM 5-10 grades movement jumps by transition count (0, 1–3, 4+). This jump’s single planned transition per flyer sits in the middle band.
• Elsewhere, check your national body and drop zone for the equivalent.

Acronym key. APF, Australian Parachute Federation. OR, the APF Operational Regulations. FFC, freefly crest. DZSO, drop zone safety officer. USPA SIM, the United States Parachute Association Skydiver’s Information Manual.