Flocking / CRW

Learn to fly relative to other canopy pilots. This is a must for any aspiring CRW dog or persons wanting to perform team landings.

In-Air Skills Courses

CCD 2.1: Formation Flying

Canopy flocking is a great way to learn more about your canopy and to become comfortable flying in close proximity to other jumpers. This is especially helpful during pattern navigation and creating vertical separation for safety. In this course you will learn all the necessary skills to fly relative to other canopy pilots, and to better anticipate their actions.

[Image: AXIS coaches Brianne and Nik perform a team landing, highlighting their formation flying capabilities."]

Your training jumps will start at app. 13,000 feet AGL, where you will deploy immediately so you can completely focus on flying your canopy. An AXIS coach will accompany you for the entire duration of your flight in order to serve as a reference and added instruction.

The topics covered in this course are:

Coach Evaluation

In depth look at canopy control ranges. Learn specific exit technique to get together quickly. Flying relative to coach and testing control ranges.

Wing Man Slot Flying

End-cell to end-cell chase drills. Box drill, changing position relative to flight leader.

Team maneuvering

Staying in slot through turns and level changes.

Rebuild maneuvers

Runback and re-build maneuvers: long distance chase drills with a cooperative target.

Flight leader

Learn flight leader responsibilities. Building awareness of altitude, ground track, winds aloft, and much more.

All Jumps

Before each jump, you will receive theoretical information and practical drills to be performed under canopy. An AXIS coach will accompany your entire flight, giving you direction and a reference point in the sky. The jump will be documented with a first person camera view from the coach to be used for debriefing.

Your Agenda for the Day

Here is a quick break down of what you can expect for the course:

• Buy full altitude tickets for yourself and your coach, who will coordinate the jumps with manifest.
• Arrive at 0800 at AXIS HQ (Please let your coach know if you need time to rent gear and or find a packer)
• Start with a safety brief and discuss the target learning objectives of the course.
• As you will be on app. 20-30 minute calls through-out the day, a packer is needed to be able to debrief and prepare the next jump properly.
• Each jump is filmed by an AXIS coach then debriefed in the class room.
• Generally jumping finishes around 1500.

Organizational Information

Next Dates

This course is currently by appointment only. Please contact us to schedule a date.

Check out our calendar page for other courses.

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Relative Positioning Under Canopy