USPA AFF INSTRUCTOR RATING PRACTICE EXAM 170
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
QUESTION 1:
Which of the following is a primary responsibility of an AFF Instructor during a Category A
jump?
A. To monitor altitude only
B. To assist deployment and ensure student stability
C. To perform solo maneuvers for evaluation
D. To film the student performance
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The AFF Instructor’s foremost duty during a Category A jump is to assist in
maintaining student stability and ensure activation of the parachute at the correct altitude.
Performing solo maneuvers or filming are secondary or nonessential duties.
QUESTION 2:
During an AFF evaluation jump, loss of altitude awareness is considered:
A. A major failure
B. A minor failure
C. A discussion point only
D. Acceptable if corrected before deployment
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Loss of altitude awareness constitutes a major safety breach and automatically
results in a training failure because altitude awareness is critical to survival and student safety.
QUESTION 3:
If an AFF student deploys their parachute at 3,000 feet instead of the planned 5,500 feet, what
should the instructor prioritize?
A. Corrective debrief emphasizing altitude discipline
B. Termination of student’s training immediately
C. Instructor’s disciplinary report
D. Ignoring the deviation if recovery was stable
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: While the deployment was late, the appropriate response is a corrective debrief
,with reinforcement of altitude checks. Training termination would only be warranted after
repeated unsafe behavior.
QUESTION 4:
What is the minimum instructor qualification required to supervise AFF jumps?
A. Coach rating only
B. AFF Instructor rating
C. Tandem Instructor rating
D. Static-Line Instructor endorsement
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Only a current AFF Instructor may supervise AFF student jumps; other instructional
ratings do not meet USPA AFF supervision requirements.
QUESTION 5:
Before conducting an evaluation jump, the evaluator must verify:
A. Student’s USPA D license
B. Currency of the rating candidate’s FAA medical certificate
C. Documentation of prerequisite jumps and successful ground evaluations
D. That ground gear is pre-packed
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: All prerequisites—jump numbers, ground evaluations, and proficiency
demonstrations—must be documented before the first evaluation jump.
QUESTION 6:
An AFF Instructor notices the student initiating a violent spin during freefall. The instructor
should:
A. Immediately deploy the main parachute
B. Apply proper spin arrest technique before deployment altitude
C. Pull the student’s reserve handle immediately
D. Wait for spin to self-correct
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The instructor must arrest the spin using control techniques while maintaining
altitude awareness. Premature deployment at high speed may cause malfunctions.
,QUESTION 7:
What is the recommended minimum break-off altitude for AFF Category D jumps?
A. 4,500 feet
B. 5,500 feet
C. 6,000 feet
D. 3,500 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Break-off altitude for Category D students is generally 4,500 feet, allowing sufficient
margin for stabilization and deployment.
QUESTION 8:
When performing the pin check prior to boarding, the instructor’s goal is to:
A. Ensure own rig is packed
B. Verify that all closing pins are secure and pilot chute is properly seated
C. Confirm altimeter is functioning
D. Adjust leg straps
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Pin checks prevent premature deployments or container malfunctions by confirming
the integrity of each rig closure component.
QUESTION 9:
Which of the following is a critical evaluation criterion for a candidate during the harness hold
portion?
A. Performing flips with the student
B. Maintaining a stable body position and grip discipline
C. Checking altitude every 10 seconds
D. Releasing early to simulate freefall errors
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Stable body position and proper grip discipline ensure the instructor can effectively
control and assist the student through freefall instability.
, QUESTION 10:
If a Category A student is unstable but altitude is above minimum for intervention, the
instructor should:
A. Immediately deploy the student’s main
B. Regain control and reestablish a stable position before any deployment
C. Continue to observe without touching
D. End the jump and descend alone
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: AFF instructors are trained to physically assist students back to stability to ensure a
safe deployment—intervention is required only below certain altitude thresholds.
QUESTION 11:
AFF instructors must carry a reserve parachute that:
A. Canopy size is identical to the main canopy
B. Has been packed by the instructor personally
C. Has been packed and sealed by an FAA-certified rigger within 180 days
D. Is new within the current year
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Per FAA regulation, all reserve parachutes must be inspected, packed, and sealed by
a certified rigger within the previous 180 days.
QUESTION 12:
Which airspace classification commonly includes drop zones and requires ATC clearance for
jump operations?
A. Class G
B. Class B
C. Class E
D. Class D
CORRECT ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Class D airspace surrounds controlled airports; parachute operations within it must
be coordinated and cleared by ATC.
QUESTION 13:
If only one AFF Instructor is available for a two-instructor Category A jump, what is the proper
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
QUESTION 1:
Which of the following is a primary responsibility of an AFF Instructor during a Category A
jump?
A. To monitor altitude only
B. To assist deployment and ensure student stability
C. To perform solo maneuvers for evaluation
D. To film the student performance
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The AFF Instructor’s foremost duty during a Category A jump is to assist in
maintaining student stability and ensure activation of the parachute at the correct altitude.
Performing solo maneuvers or filming are secondary or nonessential duties.
QUESTION 2:
During an AFF evaluation jump, loss of altitude awareness is considered:
A. A major failure
B. A minor failure
C. A discussion point only
D. Acceptable if corrected before deployment
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Loss of altitude awareness constitutes a major safety breach and automatically
results in a training failure because altitude awareness is critical to survival and student safety.
QUESTION 3:
If an AFF student deploys their parachute at 3,000 feet instead of the planned 5,500 feet, what
should the instructor prioritize?
A. Corrective debrief emphasizing altitude discipline
B. Termination of student’s training immediately
C. Instructor’s disciplinary report
D. Ignoring the deviation if recovery was stable
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: While the deployment was late, the appropriate response is a corrective debrief
,with reinforcement of altitude checks. Training termination would only be warranted after
repeated unsafe behavior.
QUESTION 4:
What is the minimum instructor qualification required to supervise AFF jumps?
A. Coach rating only
B. AFF Instructor rating
C. Tandem Instructor rating
D. Static-Line Instructor endorsement
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Only a current AFF Instructor may supervise AFF student jumps; other instructional
ratings do not meet USPA AFF supervision requirements.
QUESTION 5:
Before conducting an evaluation jump, the evaluator must verify:
A. Student’s USPA D license
B. Currency of the rating candidate’s FAA medical certificate
C. Documentation of prerequisite jumps and successful ground evaluations
D. That ground gear is pre-packed
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: All prerequisites—jump numbers, ground evaluations, and proficiency
demonstrations—must be documented before the first evaluation jump.
QUESTION 6:
An AFF Instructor notices the student initiating a violent spin during freefall. The instructor
should:
A. Immediately deploy the main parachute
B. Apply proper spin arrest technique before deployment altitude
C. Pull the student’s reserve handle immediately
D. Wait for spin to self-correct
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: The instructor must arrest the spin using control techniques while maintaining
altitude awareness. Premature deployment at high speed may cause malfunctions.
,QUESTION 7:
What is the recommended minimum break-off altitude for AFF Category D jumps?
A. 4,500 feet
B. 5,500 feet
C. 6,000 feet
D. 3,500 feet
CORRECT ANSWER: A
RATIONALE: Break-off altitude for Category D students is generally 4,500 feet, allowing sufficient
margin for stabilization and deployment.
QUESTION 8:
When performing the pin check prior to boarding, the instructor’s goal is to:
A. Ensure own rig is packed
B. Verify that all closing pins are secure and pilot chute is properly seated
C. Confirm altimeter is functioning
D. Adjust leg straps
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Pin checks prevent premature deployments or container malfunctions by confirming
the integrity of each rig closure component.
QUESTION 9:
Which of the following is a critical evaluation criterion for a candidate during the harness hold
portion?
A. Performing flips with the student
B. Maintaining a stable body position and grip discipline
C. Checking altitude every 10 seconds
D. Releasing early to simulate freefall errors
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: Stable body position and proper grip discipline ensure the instructor can effectively
control and assist the student through freefall instability.
, QUESTION 10:
If a Category A student is unstable but altitude is above minimum for intervention, the
instructor should:
A. Immediately deploy the student’s main
B. Regain control and reestablish a stable position before any deployment
C. Continue to observe without touching
D. End the jump and descend alone
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATIONALE: AFF instructors are trained to physically assist students back to stability to ensure a
safe deployment—intervention is required only below certain altitude thresholds.
QUESTION 11:
AFF instructors must carry a reserve parachute that:
A. Canopy size is identical to the main canopy
B. Has been packed by the instructor personally
C. Has been packed and sealed by an FAA-certified rigger within 180 days
D. Is new within the current year
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATIONALE: Per FAA regulation, all reserve parachutes must be inspected, packed, and sealed by
a certified rigger within the previous 180 days.
QUESTION 12:
Which airspace classification commonly includes drop zones and requires ATC clearance for
jump operations?
A. Class G
B. Class B
C. Class E
D. Class D
CORRECT ANSWER: D
RATIONALE: Class D airspace surrounds controlled airports; parachute operations within it must
be coordinated and cleared by ATC.
QUESTION 13:
If only one AFF Instructor is available for a two-instructor Category A jump, what is the proper
