The technological advancements of the ram-air canopy have brought with it a greater need for canopy control and understanding. The -ISM Canopy Piloting School provides training for all levels. Whether you are fresh off student status, exploring your canopy's performance potential or getting ready for your first competition, the -ISM Canopy Piloting School offers professional instruction tailored for today's modern skydiver. The school provides ground training in basic aerodynamics, design parameters, flight environment, and psychological approach. In addition, the school offers one-on-one flight coaching including the high-performance canopy flight training. The school is equipped with training classrooms, video services, mock-ups, demonstration videos, canopy piloting park (Swoop Park) and more! Whatever your needs are, -ISM Canopy Piloting School offers a safe and structured way to become a well-rounded canopy pilot.

For the -ISM Canopy Piloting School, contact:

For other available canopy coaches, please contact:

Duane Hall   duane.hall84@yahoo.com  Ph(813)205-8851

Luis (Luigi) Cani   cani@cani.tv

Services Offered by the –ISM Canopy Piloting School

B License Requirement Course (class + 5 jumps)

In the last decade canopy design and flying techniques have advanced far beyond what is expected of a USPA Instructor when preparing a skydiving student for the USPA A License. As of January 2012 USPA requires an additional canopy training course for the USPA B License. The –ISM Canopy Piloting School provides this training as outlined per section 6-11 of the 2012 USPA SIM. The –ISM team puts much emphasis on this key step in canopy progression because students that are given a proper foundation of theoretical and practical knowledge will learn safer and faster than those given only a bare-bones check off to meet the B license requirement. Students going through the –ISM B License Requirement Course will benefit from being taught in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, as well as intensive practical application of the skills that are based on that knowledge. The course will be structured as follows:

•Seminar on traffic management and canopy etiquette

•Classroom instruction on key concepts

•Evaluation Jump, video debrief

•Theory and application of basic aerodynamics, effective flaring, and riser turns, video debrief

•Practical use of flat turns and braked canopy flight, video debrief

•Stalls and crosswind landings, video debrief

•Getting back from a long spot, video debrief

•Summary debrief

Basic Canopy Progression Course (class + 5 jumps)

The –ISM five jump essential skills program will provide students with classroom instruction on basic aerodynamics, canopy design, wing loadings and flight characteristics. This knowledge will not only help new jumpers make an educated decision about what the best canopy for their progression in the sport will be, but also help these pilots fly their wings with additional understanding of why and how these wings fly, and what their limitations are. Students will be taught methods to learn a canopy's full range of control and proper use of all control inputs, where to fit into the traffic pattern, and how to read the wind conditions to improve the set up, approach, and flare body position and timing. Initially, the students will do three jumps from 5,000 feet focusing on a flight plan to the holding area, then learning the canopy's stall points and control range using toggle inputs. Students will learn to fly a proper pattern to arrive on final approach at a safe altitude, which will allow time to focus on the landing area and flare timing, and improve accuracy. The exercises in the first three jumps are referred to as Drill1 in the course syllabus below. The remaining two jumpswill be Drill2 and will focus on the use and control range of all of the canopy's control inputs and how to use them to improve set up and accuracy. All jumps will be video recorded and debriefed with additional instruction between jumps. Flare timing techniques and body position during flaring will be discussed and critiqued in every debrief. The course will be structured as follows:

Advanced Flight Training Program (class + 6 or more jumps, format for multiple days/levels of training)

The –ISM Canopy Piloting School will provide Advanced Canopy Flight Training to qualified pilots who want to expand their theoretical and practical knowledge of canopy flight beyond what is taught in the required and basic courses. This program focuses on the individual needs and goals of each pilot and will be structured in a way that the student will walk away with reinforced fundamentals, expanded theoretical knowledge, and methods of applying new knowledge to achieve personal goals. There is no set curriculum for this type of program as each student’s goals and abilities will vary and a customized progression will have to be developed. The class will take on a structure similar to that of the Basic Canopy Progression Course, and will include classroom instruction, seminar on traffic management and canopy etiquette, and jumps and debriefs. The topics below are what is offered in the –ISM Advanced Flight Training Program. The Basic Canopy Progression Course or equivalent experience is a pre-requisite.

I. Basic Aerodynamics Review

• Lift
• Drag
• Flow Separation
• Thrust and weight

• Center of mass, Center of lift

• Angle of incidence

• Camber

II. Flight Environment

• Turbulence
• Drag
• Density altitude
• Break off & deployment
• Crosswind, downwind
• Traffic management 

• Canopy etiquette
• Final approach

• Center of mass, Center of lift

• Angle of incidence

III. Design Parameters

• Aspect Ratio
• Airfoil
• Wing Loading
• Trim
• Parachute materials
• Parachute modifications

IV. Psychological Approach

• Recognizing ability
• Coordination
• Evaluation of personal risk
• Realistic goals
• Physical and mental preparation

• Retraining eyes for a broader field of vision

V. Flight Training

• Beginner, intermediate, and advanced wing techniques
• High altitude, instructor assisted maneuvers
• Flight patterns and approaches
• Toggle control and riser controlled landings
• Straight-in induced speed landing approaches for qualified pilots

VI. Flight Training

• Straight-in, 90º, and 270º front riser induced speed approaches
• High speed/low speed stalls & rear riser approaches
• Smooth, symmetrical, efficient piloting techniques
• Accuracy, consistency, style, and distance training 

• Introduction to maneuvers over water 

Competition Preparation Program

This program will cater to qualified pilots who want to transition into the world of competitive canopy piloting. It will be structured more loosely that the previous three programs and will be custom tailored to the individual needs of each student. The instruction here will be geared more at taking what the student already knows and applying it towards performing in a competitive environment. Some of the topics taught in this course are below.

• Introduction to FAI / IPC / USPA rules
• Negotiating competition courses 
• Identifying personal strengths and weaknesses
• Strategy 
• Reading ambient conditions
• Setting up visual markers
• Training vs. competition
• Psychology

Military and Customized Canopy Training Programs

The –ISM team will accommodate clients interested in customizing a training progression. Please contact a team member to make a request.

Test Jumping

ISM is always interested in R&D and test jumping projects. We have a degreed mechanical engineer on staff to accommodate many gear or method testing scenarios with documentation. Please direct these requests to Bart Rogowski at bart@tstindustries.com Ph. 973-865-1998