Why Full-Face Helmets Are Not Allowed in AFF Skydiving Courses
Skydiving is an exhilarating and rewarding activity, but it's also a highly technical and demanding sport. The AFF (Accelerated Freefall) skydiving program is a structured method designed to introduce beginners to the sport with a series of progressively challenging jumps. While safety is paramount, certain restrictions are placed on gear, such as full-face helmets. This article seeks to explain why full-face helmets are not allowed in AFF skydiving courses, and what alternatives are in place to ensure safety and effectiveness during training.
Communication Challenges
One of the primary reasons why full-face helmets are not permitted in AFF courses is the critical need for clear communication between instructors and students. Freefalling at high speeds can be intense, and instructors must provide verbal instructions, feedback, and emergency commands. Full-face helmets muffle sound, making communication difficult. This limitation can be especially dangerous during emergency situations where every second counts.
Visual Awareness
Visual awareness is crucial for both instructors and students during freefall. Students need to be able to see their instructors and their surroundings to maintain situational awareness and avoid collisions. The peripheral vision that is often limited by full-face helmets can be hazardous, making it difficult to assess the environment and make adjustments as needed.
Emergency Procedures
The quick and efficient performance of emergency procedures is essential in skydiving. Instructors may need to perform actions such as helping students with their equipment, assisting with canopy deployments, or ensuring the safety of the student in various scenarios. Full-face helmets can interfere with these procedures due to restricted access to the student's face and head.
Training Focus
The AFF program emphasizes the importance of learning body positioning, stability, and awareness in freefall. An open-faced helmet allows instructors to closely observe and correct the students' positions and movements. This visual feedback is critical for the student's development as a skydiver.
Safety Concerns
In the event of a malfunction or emergency, quick access to a student's face is necessary. Full-face helmets can obstruct the instructor's ability to check for injuries or assist with canopy deployment. This can be particularly problematic during high-stress situations where immediate action is crucial.
Although students are not allowed to use full-face helmets, they do often wear devices called receivers on their heads or in close proximity to their ears. These receivers are used to guide students back to their instructors during canopy flight. Depending on the drop zone or school, the placement of these receivers can vary. Some are placed inside the helmet, while others are situated on the container system, close to the student's ear. This arrangement allows instructors to give auditory guidance and maintain communication effectively, albeit without the full audio clarity provided by an open-faced helmet.
Another challenge with full-face helmets is that they can obstruct the instructor's view of the student's eyes. Observing a student's eyes is important as it provides valuable insights into their state of mind and physical condition. This visual information helps instructors better understand how a student is responding to the training and can inform their approach to instruction.
Overall, these considerations and restrictions are in place to ensure that students receive effective and safe instruction during their early skydiving training. While full-face helmets offer certain benefits, such as head protection, the limitations they impose on communication and visibility make them unsuitable for the AFF program.
Conclusion
Skydiving is a complex and dynamic sport that relies on clear communication, situational awareness, and the ability to perform emergency procedures swiftly. The AFF program has established specific guidelines to optimize these aspects of training. While full-face helmets are not allowed, alternative methods are employed to ensure that students can receive the best possible instruction while remaining safe.