Training operations manual apf

This page highlights the sections in the Australian Parachute Federation (APF) Operational Regulations (OR's) & Sporting Code (SC) that are directly related or of particular interest to CRW (Canopy Formation). All sections related to parachuting in general have been excluded.

I have left the complete contents section intact but highlighted the particular sections relevant to CRW in blue (i.e. section 6.5 of OR's). The OR's are dated 15th Dec 2004 & the SC is dated 3rd September 2004.

Click here for complete rules & regulations.

APF Operational Regulations - CRW Specifics

AUSTRALIAN PARACHUTE FEDERATION INCORPORATED

OPERATIONAL REGULATIONS

15 DECEMBER 2004

  1. Definitions
  2. General conditions
  3. Certificates and licences
  4. Awards
  5. Safety requirements
  6. Training requirements
  7. Records
  8. Authorities
  9. Instructor and tutor ratings and endorsements
  10. Parachute packing
  11. Parachute rigging
  12. Packer ratings and rigger ratings
  1. Static-line student training descent table
  2. Flatfly RW training descent table
  3. CRW training descent table
  4. Freefall student training descent table
  5. Canopy handling training descent tables
  6. Freefly RW training descent table

SECTION 1 - DEFINITIONS

Canopy Relative Descent : A descent in which the participants attempt to bring themselves together, or near to each other, after their parachutes are open.

Canopy Relative Work Trainer: An experienced canopy relative worker appointed by a Chief Instructor to give practical canopy relative work training, particularly through the stages of the APF CRW Training Descent Table.

CRW (Canopy Relative Work) : Active participation in a canopy relative descent .

Definitions which relate to parachute packing and rigging:

DZSO (Drop Zone Safety Officer):

Free Fall: The period between the parachutist exiting the aircraft and opening of the parachute on other than a static line descent.

Student Parachutist (Student): The holder of an APF Student Parachutist Licence but not an APF Parachutist Certificate.

SECTION 3 - CERTIFICATES AND LICENCES

3.2. APF PARACHUTIST CERTIFICATE QUALIFICATIONS

3.2.1. CERTIFICATE "A" CONDITIONS: Applicants must:

3.2.2. CERTIFICATE "B" CONDITIONS: Applicants must:

3.2.4. CERTIFICATE "D" CONDITIONS: Applicants must:

3.3. VALIDATION OF PARACHUTIST CERTIFICATES

3.3.2. The APF shall not issue or renew an FAI Sporting Licence unless at least 6 stable freefalls have been made by the certificate holder in the preceding 12 months.

SECTION 4 - AWARDS

4.1. CREST AWARDS

4.1.1. APF Crest Awards may be awarded to APF members and visiting parachutists who are financial members of their FAI affiliated national body.

4.1.8. CANOPY RELATIVE WORK CREST (CRWC) CONDITIONS:

SECTION 5 - SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

5.1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

5.1.3. Parachutists shall not carry any object which if dropped would constitute a danger to property or persons on the ground during a descent unless that object is secured to their person.

5.1.5. A rigid helmet with a hard shell will be worn on all descents by persons who do not hold Certificate "C", thereafter at the discretion of the DZSO.

5.1.8. An approved and functioning visual altimeter set to indicate height above the DZ shall be worn on all descents. The altimeter shall be securely mounted so that the wearer can observe it without difficulty throughout the descent. An ASO may authorise an exception to this regulation for specified descents where the delay does not exceed 10 seconds. Such authorisation must be made in writing.

5.1.9. A sharp knife is to be available in the aircraft.

5.1.15. All freefall descents made by parachutists who do not hold a Certificate "E" must be made with equipment fitted with a functional reserve static line or an operational automatic activation device. The DZSO, in writing, may permit exemptions to this rule for specific descents.

5.1.16. Notwithstanding the provisions of 5.1.15, all freefall descents made by parachutists who do not hold a Certificate "D" must be made with equipment fitted with an operational automatic activation device.

5.2. OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

5.2.1. All descents shall be made under the direct supervision of a DZSO.

5.2.4. Unless in accordance with the written specifications of CASA, all descents shall be made in meteorological conditions such that the target is clearly visible and the parachutist does not enter cloud.

5.2.4.A. A parachute descent shall not be made unless the parachutist has positively fixed his/her position in relation to the target.

5.2.8. An approved means of calculating the correct parachute opening point in relation to the target shall be used prior to commencing operations and at other times as directed by the DZSO.

5.2.14. Parachute descents shall not take place in controlled airspace except in accordance with an airways clearance, using the words "clear to drop". Prior co-ordination with Air Traffic Control (ATC) may be required, but as a minimum the pilot shall advise on first contact with ATC the desired altitude and the phrase "for parachute drop". If the parachutists will leave controlled airspace on descent, it is the pilot's responsibility to ascertain that the airspace below is clear before dropping parachutists.

5.7. DISPLAY DESCENTS

5.7.13. Prior to a canopy relative descent being made at a display, all participants will have successfully completed at least 5 practice descents, all of which comply with the following conditions:

5.8. TANDEM DESCENTS

5.8.8. A Tandem-Master carrying out a tandem descent shall not engage in canopy relative work .

5.9.A. CAMERA DESCENTS

5.9.A.1. A parachutist shall not carry a camera during a descent unless he or she is the holder of at least a Certificate "C" and has the approval of the DZSO.

5.9.A.3. An approved and functioning audible altimeter set to indicate height above the DZ shall be used on all descents where the parachutist intends to operate a camera in freefall. The audible altimeter shall be mounted so that the wearer can hear it without difficulty during the descent.

SECTION 6 - TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

6.2. TRAINING OPERATIONS MANUALS

6.2.2. The following subjects shall not be taught to student or novice parachutists except under the authority of an approved Training Operations Manual as per 6.2.1.

6.5. CRW TRAINING DESCENTS

6.5.1. All CRW training descents shall be made under the supervision of a Chief Instructor.

6.5.2. PREREQUISITES TO CRW : Before commencing CRW training the candidate should: