APF Board Policy regarding Non APF Jumpers

APF Board policy regarding jumpers with non-APF qualifications

APF Policy - Recognition of non-APF Qualifications - December 1997

The APF Board has now settled a policy on the recognition of licences, ratings and other qualifications issued outside the APF such as by the military, overseas organisations, and other Australian organisations.

Full details are available from the office. The main points are:-

  1. A person may be a member of more than one parachuting organisation.
  2. When jumping with an APF organisation, APF regulations apply.
  3. A non-APF member wishing to jump under APF regulations, must:
    • Join the APF and gain the required qualifications; or
    • Join the APF and be assessed by a CI, as per overseas jumpers.
  4. The CI assessment expires after 3 months and is not renewable. After that, full APF membership, licences etc is required. The assessment is to allow a short term visitor or person from another organisation to jump with minimal formalities under special arrangements.
  5. Only an APF member may exercise the privileges of any rating (Packer/Rigger, Instructor) under APF regulations.
  6. There is no portability or convertibility of non-APF qualifications into the APF system. A person may be issued an APF licence or crest if they fulfil the following conditions:
    • Be a member of APF.
    • Where there is a requirement for the applicant to fulfil the conditions of issue of a more junior qualification, a Chief Instructor may assess the applicant's ability to fulfil these conditions.
    • The conditions for the qualification applied for (other than number of jumps) must, except with the authority of the National Examiner or Director Safety, be met while jumping with an APF member organisation. This means that an overseas jumper with 100 jumps may be issued a "C" licence provided the CI assesses them as OK to "B" licence standard (RW and spotting ability OK), and they meet the specific "C" licence requirements (Accuracy) on an APF drop zone.
  7. A CI may assess a jumper's ability in any suitable manner, including scrutiny of log books, direct observation of the jumper's skill, or test jumps.
  8. There is no portability or convertibility of non-APF ratings into the APF system. A person may only be issued an APF rating if they meet the conditions outlined in the APF Op. Regs. The relevant Technical Director may allow an abbreviated examination for a person with qualifications from a non-APF organisation, and may waive or modify the requirement to hold a junior rating for a period, if applicable.
  9. Instructional duties performed with a non-APF organisation may not be used to qualify for APF instructor ratings (including revalidations) except with the authority of the Director Instructors. This is because APF has no control over the standards applied by other organisations.
  10. Packing and rigging work performed by a qualified APF member on equipment owned or used by non-APF members may be used to demonstrate currency for revalidation of an APF packer/rigger rating.
  11. If a person who holds an APF packer/rigger rating also holds a packer/rigger rating issued by another organisation and carries out any packing/rigging work, that person must ensure that all relevant records show under which organisation's regulations the work was performed.
  12. Equipment used by APF members jumping under APF auspices must be maintained to APF standards. Where maintenance by a packer/rigger is required, the maintenance must be carried out by the holder of an APF packer/rigger rating.
  13. Where jumping is conducted under APF auspices, the following conditions must apply:
    • The manifest must be clearly separate from any manifest of parachuting operations not under APF auspices.
    • No parachuting operations may be carried out under APF auspices from any aircraft sortie in which parachute descents are made under the auspices of any other parachuting organisation.
    • A person supervising operations under the auspices of a non-APF organisation may not act as DZSO for operations under APF auspices. These are CASA requirements.
  14. APF has no control over persons or organisations other than its own members and organisations. Any other organisation may chose to recognise any qualification issued by APF if it so wishes. APF states explicitly that it accepts no responsibility for any action by any person operating outside the auspices of APF. In particular, it does not accept liability for the actions of rating holders where the rating holder is not operating under the auspices of APF.
  15. All jumpers are reminded that:
    • APF insurance cover is valid only while jumping under APF auspices in accordance with APF regulations.
    • All jumpers jumping with non-APF organisations should ensure that they are adequately covered by insurance.

This is especially relevant to instructors, packers and riggers.

Issue of an APF qualification to a person who has gained a similar qualification outside the auspices of APF should not be assumed to be a speedy procedure. Such people may be required to prove their suitability to hold an APF qualification, and this process may be extensive. A jumper who wishes to obtain an APF licence to allow them to (say) jump at the APF Nationals should reckon on being present at an APF drop zone for some weekends to allow adequate time for the Chief Instructor to assess their ability.

All jumps (excluding tandem passenger jumps and BASE jumps) count in assessing experience for intermediate competition status.

The Board of the Australian Parachute Federation

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