Assessment must confirm the ability to: perform at least five free fall parachute descents as part of a team carrying combat equipment, by day and night, onto known or designated drop zones with the descent being from an aircraft at an altitude below 12 000 feet above ground level carry, as a minimum, the following combat equipment (or the equivalent in weight and size): individual load carrying equipment field pack and cover personal weapon demonstrate the following individual free fall positions and manoeuvres to maintain relative position to other paratroopers in the team environment: box position poised pull position forward glide back slide turns left and right hard arch/wide spread position wave-off heading maintenance identify the team leader and other team members after activating the canopy adopt and maintain correct position within a team stack during canopy transit adhere to instructions and briefings including specified timings. Permitted tolerances are: achieving stability within 1 000 feet of exiting the aircraft achieving stability within 1 000 feet of becoming unstable during free fall completing exits with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the aircraft heading• completing turns within 45 degrees of the specified heading conducting the forward glide for a minimum of 5 seconds with no more than a 45 degree deviation off the specified heading free fall with a separation no greater than 25 metres of the stack line activating the ripcord at the planned opening height with a deviation of no more than 45 degrees off the specified heading under canopy, maintaining a position no greater than 25 metres up and 25 metres to the rear of the paratrooper in front, by day under canopy, maintaining a position no greater than 50 metres up and 50 metres to the rear of the paratrooper in front, by night landing safely within 25 meters of the team leader by day landing safely within 50 metres of the team leader by night. The five descents must achieve the following standards: exit from an aircraft from the ramp as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with less than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated drop zone exit from an aircraft from the side door as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with less than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated drop zone exit from an aircraft from the side door as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with greater than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated or known drop zone exit from an aircraft from the ramp as a team member, at or above 7 500 feet above ground level, with greater than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated or known drop zone exit from an aircraft from the ramp as a team member, at or below 5 500 feet above ground level, with less than 10 seconds free fall flight, followed by a team canopy transit to a designated or known drop zone. Consistency in performance Competency must be demonstrated over a minimum of five team parachute descents carrying combat equipment supported by simulated opening problems, malfunctions and other contingencies and emergencies. Assessment should be conducted in a timeframe and in a range of contexts and conditions that allows for evidence to be gathered on the correct application of free fall parachute skills and techniques as part of a team, carrying combat equipment, consistent with the range statement and the operating environment. |