Accelerated Free Fall FAQs

We’re located at 5219 Jackson Highway, Toledo, WA at the South Lewis County Airport – just off Jackson Highway. You’ll find us about halfway between Seattle and Portland, with easy access from I-5.

We’re open seasonally, typically from March 1 through October 1, weather permitting. AFF training is available on weekends and select weekdays. Call the dropzone for updates.

Free parking is available onsite. Look for signage as you enter the airport and park in the designated customer area. Follow the wind blades to check in.

Absolutely! Spectators of all ages are welcome and encouraged. We have plenty of seating, shade, and even a hangar with pinball, video games, and movies! At Skydive Toledo, we’re known for our relaxed, friendly vibe – just remember, no alcohol on the dropzone during operating hours.

We don’t have concessions on site, but we frequently feature food trucks and host barbecues, and there are plenty of options in Toledo. You’re welcome to bring snacks and a cooler too –  bring plenty of water, not alcohol.

Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome at the dropzone. Keep in mind that training requires your full attention – make sure someone is onsite to tend to your pup while you are in class.

Our bunkhouse and RV spots are reserved for up jumpers only, but you’re welcome to pitch a tent or hunker down in your car in our designated camping area. Just be prepared to hear a chorus of coyotes overnight and see bear scat in the morning!

SO MUCH! Toledo is small-town friendly with big adventure vibes. All a stone’s throw away: salmon fishing, kayaking, boating, hiking, and more. Check out our DZ Info page for more details.

You can see seven stunning volcanoes within the Cascade Mountain Range from altitude:

• Mount St. Helens
• Mount Rainier
• Mount Adams
• Mount Hood
• Mount Jefferson
• Mount Baker
• Glacier Peak

Skydive Toledo is the only dropzone that offers views of Mount St. Helens, making your jump truly one of a kind!

IYKYK

You must be at least 18 years old to learn to skydive. No exceptions, even with parental consent. Valid, government-issued photo ID required at check-in.

The maximum skydiving weight limit for AFF students is 250 lbs. Please contact us with questions.

Skydiving solo is very physically demanding. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the physical requirements of learning how to skydive.

Lots of people skydive with controlled medical conditions. Talk to your doctor before you start training.

Yes, jumpers must be fluent in written and spoken English to receive AFF instruction.

Before your first AFF jump, you must complete one of the following – connect with us to discuss which option is best for you.

• A tandem skydive within the past 12 months
• A training tandem skydive at Skydive Toledo
• At least 10 minutes of tunnel time at iFly Portland

A training tandem is a more instructional version of a tandem skydive, where the student performs specific tasks, like maintaining body position, responding to hand signals, and learning about deployment – all while harnessed to a certified instructor. It’s a great, instructional step toward solo skydiving.

Tunnel time gives you the chance to practice freefall body position and stability in a controlled setting – building muscle memory and confidence before your first jump. Thanks to our partnership with iFly Portland, your tunnel video will be shared with your Skydive Toledo instructor to help tailor your AFF training.

We require 10 minutes to meet this prerequisite, but highly recommend their 20-minute package. Each minute in the tunnel is equivalent to a skydive, making it an excellent foundation for your progression.

Yes, you need to book your First Jump Class (FJC) – also known as ground school – via our online reservation system. Once you’ve completed ground school, you’ll work with your instructor or coach, as applicable, to schedule your training jumps.

At Skydive Toledo, you pay as you go for AFF training. To get started, pay for your First Jump Course in full. Payments are non-refundable.

Your very first AFF jump is solo – you’re accompanied by two AFF instructors on exit and during freefall, but you are responsible for flying and landing your canopy from day one!

The level of hands-on support decreases incrementally as you progress through the 25-jump curriculum. First, you drop to one instructor, then coach support, and then you conduct truly solo jumps. The last jump is a check dive to earn your USPA (United States Parachute Association) A License.

There are 25 prescribed jumps in the AFF curriculum. If you do not pass a level, you must repeat training jumps. At the successful conclusion of the program, you are eligible to test for your USPA A License.

AFF coursework is completed at your own pace. For some, AFF takes a matter of weeks; for others it takes all season. You can continue your progression as long as you stay current.

The USPA requires that you make at least one jump every 30 days to stay current. Going beyond 30 days between jumps requires you to repeat your last AFF level. Surpassing 90 days between jumps requires that you repeat the First Jump Course to continue in the program.

Check out our Learn to Skydive page for our AFF skydiving cost breakdown. If you do not pass a level, you must repeat training jumps at an added cost.

Yes, your gear is included in the cost of program enrollment.

Upon completion of the A License Proficiency Card, you pay the USPA license fee and the USPA membership fee. USPA membership must be annually renewed.

Arrive at the scheduled start time listed in your confirmation email. Be prepared to stay all day.

Plan for a full day of classroom training. Your first jump may occur that same day or be scheduled soon after.

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, snacks, water, and a notebook. Dress comfortably.

Athletic clothing and lace-up sneakers are best. You’ll be given a skydiving jumpsuit during your training jumps. Avoid bulky items; no sandals or boots.

It depends. Some students jump same-day, but it’s weather- and readiness-dependent.

Yes! We’ll provide you with goggles that fit over glasses or secure your contacts.

Eat a light, balanced meal. Don’t jump on an empty or overly full stomach.

No. You must be sober to jump. Alcohol forfeits your reservation and non-refundable payment. No alcohol is permitted on the dropzone during operating hours.

Per USPA Basic Safety Requirements, AFF students and unlicensed jumpers can’t jump if winds exceed 14 mph. If you’ve got a long drive and the forecast looks iffy, give us a call before heading to the DZ.

We’ll reschedule you for a better weather day. Currency rules will still apply.

Skydiving is an extreme sport; it is not “safe.” We mitigate the risks associated with learning to skydive by strictly adhering to USPA and dropzone safety protocols. Skydive Toledo is a USPA Group Member, all of our AFF instructors are USPA-certified, and all of our gear is top-quality and meticulously maintained. Safety is our number one priority.

You’ll wear a modern, square, dual-parachute system with a main and reserve.

Main parachutes are packed by trained professionals. Reserve parachutes are packed and inspected by FAA-certified riggers every 180 days.

If the main canopy malfunctions, you or your instructor will deploy the reserve. An AAD provides backup protection.

Yes. All student rigs include a reserve parachute.

Every student rig is equipped with an RSL (Reserve Static Line), which automatically deploys the reserve parachute when the main parachute is cut away. Additionally, student rigs are packed with an AAD (Automatic Activation Device) that deploys the reserve parachute in the event you do not deploy the main by a predetermined altitude.