RAPS (Ram Air Progression System) often referred to as Static Line

The Ram Air Progression System (RAPS) is program of jumps designed to take people with no previous Skydiving/Parachuting experience and provide them with the skills needed to attain their Skydiving 'A' license. Since the first 5 jumps in the program involve your parachute being attached by a fixed line to the aircraft ensuring the parachutes deployment as you exit the aircraft without the need for the student's involvement this progression system is often referred to as Static Line. Ram Air relates to the type of parachute being used. A Ram Air canopy is a modern rectangular shaped parachute which inflates (due to air being rammed into it) as the canopy flies forward to create a highly controllable 'wing'.

The first step of the RAPS program is the First Jump Course. Many people don't complete the whole program of jumps and simply use RAPS and it's First Jump Course (which as you'd expect includes one jump) as an affordable way to experience a solo parachute decent. The First Jump Course includes a minimum of 6 hours ground school training where you will learn everything you need to make a parachute decent by yourself from a height of approximately 3,200 ft. This training includes learning all about the equipment you’ll be using (including the aircraft), how to correctly exit the aircraft, how to fly the parachute and make an accurate and safe landing and all the emergency procedures you need to be aware of. The ground training is a mix of theory and practice so you can expect to be suspended in a training harness at the end of the day to simulate your parachute decent and practice your emergency procedures. After successful completion of the training you will go and make your first jump from approximately 3,200ft (Providing the weather is suitable for jumping).

If you do decide to continue with the RAPS program you could be free falling in as little as 6 jumps (and therefore responsible for opening your own parachute!). Once you reach this stage the next few jumps will have you exiting the aircraft from higher and higher altitudes and you will then begin to learn flying skills such as: 360 degree turns, tracking/forward movement, unstable exits, dive exits and back loops. Once all these techniques have been mastered you will perform a graduation dive (where you will demonstrate all the skills you have learnt). Upon passing this final test you will become a qualified skydiver. This can all be achieved in as little as 20 jumps.