Category E: Experience Instability

Welcome to Category E — this is where you intentionally get unstable and prove you can handle it. You'll perform barrel rolls, back loops, and front loops, and your ability to recover from these maneuvers is what earns you freefall self-supervision. We believe this is one of the biggest confidence builders in the program, because once you've been upside down and recovered on purpose, you'll trust yourself on solo jumps.

Category E consists of two jumps. Across these jumps, you must demonstrate proficiency in intentional instability maneuvers, canopy flare techniques, and spotting procedures. Perfect execution isn't the goal — we want to see you become unstable and, crucially, regain stability.

What You'll Demonstrate in Category E

  • Perform a diving exit
  • Execute instability maneuvers and recover within 5 seconds:
    • Barrel rolls (left and right)
    • Back loop
    • Front loop
  • Demonstrate stability and heading control after any two maneuvers involving back-to-earth presentation (qualifies you for freefall self-supervision)
  • Practice finding the "sweet spot" in your flare above 2,500 feet
  • Understand toggle stall recovery procedures
  • Review two-canopies-out procedures
  • Begin participating in spotting and calculating exit points
  • Understand RSL and MARD operation
  • Begin packing lessons (if not already started)

Section 1: Exit and Freefall

This section guides you through the techniques for executing and recovering from advanced freefall maneuvers. The key to qualifying for self-supervision is your ability to quickly and effectively return to a stable, heading-controlled position within 5 seconds after initiating any of these disorienting maneuvers.

📋 Note: There are several ways to perform each of these maneuvers. We've listed simpler versions here, and the USPA SIM contains different techniques. Use whatever method your instructor teaches you — the key is to not overthink it. Commit to the maneuver, then recover.

⚠️ Altimeter Note: An analog altimeter may read high when it's in your burble during inverted positions such as loops and barrel rolls. You may be lower than your altimeter indicates — maintain altitude awareness throughout.

Barrel Rolls

The barrel roll is a fun maneuver and an excellent technique for returning to a belly-to-earth position. You've already learned how to do half of one with the "roll out of bed" technique. Now you'll build on that foundation.

To execute a full barrel roll:

  1. From neutral position, bring one arm in (causing you to flip onto your back)
  2. Switch arms at the halfway point to continue rolling in the same direction
  3. Recover by returning to neutral body position
  4. Relax and check your altimeter

Back Loops

The back loop is a dynamic maneuver that challenges you to use your entire body.

To perform a back loop:

  1. Bring your knees up into a sitting position while pushing your arms down against the wind
  2. Look back in the direction of the loop
  3. Recover by returning to neutral body position
  4. Relax and check your altimeter

Front Loops

The front loop is also a dynamic maneuver that requires commitment.

To execute a front loop:

  1. Bend at the waist while throwing your head forward toward your knees and tucking your legs in
  2. Hold this position until you see the horizon coming back into view
  3. Recover by returning to neutral body position
  4. Relax and check your altimeter

💡 Tip: Don't half-commit to these maneuvers. A timid barrel roll often ends up messier than a committed one. When you initiate, follow through — the recovery comes from a good arch, not from trying to stop mid-maneuver.

🎯 Self-Supervision Requirement: You qualify for freefall self-supervision when you demonstrate stability and heading control within 5 seconds after initiating and recovering from any two maneuvers involving a back-to-earth presentation.

Section 2: Canopy

Flare Techniques

Your instructor will determine the best flare technique for your canopy and practice with you. Understanding both techniques helps you adapt to different canopies and conditions.

Continuous Flare:

One smooth motion that takes approximately five seconds (counting pace). You may count slower or faster depending on wind conditions or your sight picture, but the motion should be smooth and consistent overall, responding to how your canopy is performing.

Staged Flare:

A flare with pause points during the stroke. Many canopies flare most effectively using a two-stage flare:

  1. First stage — the "sweet spot": The point where your wing is in level flight. You can find it by noticing when the nose of your canopy is directly above you, or by locating where the locking loops on the steering lines are even with the steering-line rings on the riser.
  2. Second stage: Once at the sweet spot, pause and assess your height. Start the second stage when you're at the proper height to smoothly finish the flare with your feet approximately 12 inches above the ground.

📋 Practice Requirement: You will practice finding the sweet spot above 2,500 feet on your next jump, even if you use a continuous flare for landing.

Understanding Toggle Stalls

A toggle stall occurs when you pull your toggles down far enough that the canopy can no longer maintain forward flight. The canopy will rock back, lose forward speed, and may descend more rapidly.

To recover from a toggle stall:

  1. Slowly raise your toggles a few inches until the canopy begins to fly again
  2. Allow the canopy to regain forward speed before making any other inputs
  3. Do not release the toggles completely — this can cause the canopy to surge forward aggressively

⚠️ Safety Note: Practice stalls only above 2,500 feet. Some student canopies are designed to resist full stalls even with toggles fully depressed — this is a built-in safety margin for your landing flare.

Traffic Avoidance Review

Always watch for other canopy traffic, especially when entering the landing pattern. The most dangerous point occurs when two jumpers flying opposite directions on their base legs turn to final approach.

Key principles:

  • The lower canopy has the right of way
  • Never maneuver aggressively to assert right of way
  • It takes two people to have a collision, but only one to avoid it

Section 3: Emergency Procedures

Two Canopies Out

A two-canopies-out situation can occur if your AAD fires because you failed to deploy at your planned altitude, or if you deploy your reserve without first cutting away when below your 1,000-foot hard deck.

The most important rule: Your response depends on how the two canopies are flying relative to each other. Do not automatically cut away.

Configurations and responses:

Configuration Description Action
Biplane One canopy in front of the other, both flying in the same direction Do NOT cut away. Steer gently with the front canopy's toggles only.
Side-by-side Canopies flying next to each other Do NOT cut away. Steer gently with the larger canopy. Prepare for a faster descent.
Downplane Canopies diving toward the ground This is the ONE configuration where you may need to cut away. Cut away if you cannot resolve it.

⚠️ Critical: Review detailed two-canopies-out procedures with your instructor using USPA SIM Chapter 4.

High-Wind Landings

Winds can change from the time you exit to when you're under canopy. If you land in high winds:

  1. Execute a PLF immediately upon landing
  2. Pull one toggle all the way in as quickly as possible to collapse the canopy
  3. If the canopy is dragging you and you cannot collapse it: disconnect your RSL (if possible) and cut away

Obstacle awareness: Your canopy may dive or collapse behind any obstacle that generates turbulence. In high winds, plan your final approach to maximize distance from obstacles and minimize turbulence exposure.

Section 4: Equipment

RSL (Reserve Static Line)

An RSL is a backup safety device designed to automatically activate the reserve canopy following a cutaway.

How it works:

  • One end of the RSL lanyard attaches to a main riser
  • The lanyard runs to the reserve ripcord cable
  • When the main risers depart following a cutaway, the lanyard pulls the reserve pin
  • This releases the reserve pilot chute, deploying your reserve parachute

MARD (Main-Assisted Reserve Deployment)

Some RSLs include a MARD device that speeds up reserve deployment:

  • The RSL lanyard hooks to the reserve-pilot-chute bridle
  • The departing main parachute assists in extracting the reserve
  • This significantly speeds up reserve deployment when fractions of a second matter

📋 Note: Not all rigs are equipped with a MARD. USPA requires all students to use an RSL and recommends that all experienced jumpers use an RSL with a MARD. The RSL must be attached and routed correctly to function properly.

Packing

If you have not already been involved in packing, you should begin packing lessons in this category. Learning to pack your own parachute is an essential skill for every skydiver.

Section 5: Rules & Airspace

Understanding Winds Aloft

Accurately determining the spot depends heavily on understanding winds aloft. Ground winds are often not the same as winds at higher altitudes. Winds aloft cause jumpers to drift across the ground both in freefall and under canopy.

Winds aloft forecasts are predictions generated by supercomputers — generally accurate but can vary. To assess accuracy in real-time:

  • Observe other jumpers' opening points and canopy flights from the ground
  • Ask experienced jumpers how the winds affected their canopy flights

💡 Resource: Read our comprehensive guide on reading winds aloft forecasts, calculating freefall drift, and determining your ideal exit and opening points.

Exit Separation

Exit separation is the practice of spacing out exits between groups to maintain safe distance. The stronger the winds aloft, the more time between groups is needed.

USPA SIM Chapter 4-7 explains how to determine the time between exiting groups.

Clearing Your SPACE

Use the acronym SPACE to remember what to check before exiting:

Letter Check What to Look For
S Skydivers Proper exit separation from other groups
P Planes Other aircraft in the area (you and pilot share responsibility)
A Airport Confirm airport is visible and in expected location relative to your exit point
C Clouds Sufficient distance between clouds per FAA requirements
E Exit Light Green light (large aircraft) or pilot confirmation (small aircraft)

Student Wind Limits

According to the BSRs (Chapter 2-1 H), students are limited to jumping when surface winds are 14 mph or less. An S&TA may file a waiver for students to jump in higher winds. Licensed jumpers have no established wind limit and must exercise good judgment.

Seat Belt Requirements

FAR 91.107 requires you to wear a seat belt during aircraft taxi, takeoff, and landing. Your dropzone establishes its own policy regarding the altitude at which you may remove your seat belt.

Aircraft Emergency Review

In an aircraft emergency, consider:

  • Below seat-belt-off altitude: Land in the plane
  • Above seat-belt-off but below decision altitude: Exit on your reserve
  • Above decision altitude: Exit on your main

Additional Resources

Need to review or go deeper? These resources can help:

Ready to Test Your Knowledge?

The Category E quiz covers instability maneuvers, flare techniques, two-canopies-out procedures, RSL/MARD operation, and spotting.

Take the Category E Quiz