USPA SKYDIVING A LICENSE
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Prepare for the USPA Skydiving A License Exam 2026 with this comprehensive
study guide. Covers essential topics including canopy control, emergency
procedures, freefall techniques, equipment knowledge, FAA regulations, and
safety requirements per the USPA Skydiver‘s Information Manual (SIM). Ideal
for student skydivers aiming for certification.
1. What is the maximum wind speed in which any student may
jump? ANSWER: 10 mph for a round reserve canopy; 14 mph for a
ram-air reserve, waiverable by an S&TA
2. How would you clear a pilot chute hesitation? ANSWER: Change body
position to modify the air flow over my back
3. At what altitude should students decide and act about executing emergency
procedures in the event of a canopy problem? ANSWER: 2,500 feet
4. How do you clear twisted lines after opening? ANSWER: Before releasing
the brakes, spread risers or twist risers to transfer line twist to risers,
kick in opposite direction, watch altitude to 2,500 feet
5. The slider stops halfway down after deployment. What is the correct
response? ANSWER: Pump rear risers or steering controls at the
bottom of the stroke while watching altitude to 2,500 feet
6. How do you handle closed end cells after opening? ANSWER: Pull toggles
to flare position and hold (or pull down rear risers and hold) and watch
altitude. If stubborn, determine controllability with turn and flare by
2,500 feet
7. What is the appropriate action if below 1,000 feet without a landable
parachute? ANSWER: Immediately deploy the reserve parachute, but
not below 1,000 feet with an SOS system
,8. A USPA B-license holder who has not jumped for more than 90 days
should: ANSWER: Make at least one jump under the direct supervision
of a USPA instructional rating holder
9. Below 10,000 feet AGL, each jumper must maintain at least how much
horizontal separation from any cloud? ANSWER: 2,000 feet
10.With regard to borrowing parachute equipment: ANSWER: All jumpers
receive adequate transition training for unfamiliar equipment
11.What may result if a jumper is recovering altitude (floating up) under a free
fall formation? ANSWER: Collision with the formation
12.What effect does pulling on both of the front risers have on the
canopy? ANSWER: Increased forward speed and increased descent rate
13.According to the Skydiver‘s Information Manual, what is the maximum
percentage of visible wear allowed on a main or reserve closing
loop? ANSWER: 10%
14.What is the best way to change the direction of canopy flight while
conserving the most altitude? ANSWER: Braked turn
15.How does the half-braked position affect the canopy‘s flight? ANSWER:
Forward speed and descent both decrease
16.What is the recommended minimum breakoff altitude for free fall groups of
five or fewer? ANSWER: 1,500 feet above the highest planned
deployment altitude
17.What is the danger of entering a toggle turn too quickly? ANSWER: Line
twist
18.How can you avoid the propeller(s) while approaching an
airplane? ANSWER: Approach only from the rear and behind the wing
19.What is the biggest danger of a hard toggle turn near the
ground? ANSWER: 1) Line twist; 2) Hard landing while still in a turn;
3) Collision with other jumpers
20.What should be your first response in the event of a canopy collision and
entanglement with another jumper? ANSWER: Check altitude and
communicate with the other jumper
, 21.What is the correct response to a canopy entanglement with another jumper
below 1,000 feet if it appears the two canopies cannot be separated in time
for a safe landing? ANSWER: Communicate with the other jumper and
deploy the reserve canopy without a cutaway
22.How would you address a pilot chute in tow? ANSWER: Use reserve
ripcord, cut away if possible, deploy reserve
23.If the pilot chute goes over the front of the canopy after it has opened, how
can you tell if it‘s a malfunction? ANSWER: If the canopy flares and
turns correctly, it is probably safe to land
24.What is the correct response to an open container in freefall using a hand-
deployed system? ANSWER: No more than two tries or two seconds to
locate and deploy the main pilot chute; if no success, cut away and
deploy the reserve
25.If part of the deployed parachute is caught on the jumper or the equipment
(horseshoe), what is the correct response? ANSWER: Cut away and
deploy the reserve
26.If the pilot chute extracts the deployment bag from the parachute container
but the deployment bag fails to release the parachute canopy for inflation,
what is the correct response? ANSWER: Cut away and deploy the reserve
27.Describe the three legs of the canopy landing pattern in relation to the wind
direction. ANSWER: Downwind (with the wind), base (across the wind
but downwind of the target), and final (into the wind)
28.What must the spotter do to determine what the winds are doing at
altitude? ANSWER: Release drift indicators (streamers) before jump
run
29.What is the maximum ground wind speed for an A licensed skydiver under
the Basic Safety Requirements? ANSWER: Unlimited
30.Any person performing a wingsuit jump must: ANSWER: Have at least
200 skydives and hold a current USPA license
31.For freeflying, the first position that a skydiver should become proficient
with is: ANSWER: The back fly
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Prepare for the USPA Skydiving A License Exam 2026 with this comprehensive
study guide. Covers essential topics including canopy control, emergency
procedures, freefall techniques, equipment knowledge, FAA regulations, and
safety requirements per the USPA Skydiver‘s Information Manual (SIM). Ideal
for student skydivers aiming for certification.
1. What is the maximum wind speed in which any student may
jump? ANSWER: 10 mph for a round reserve canopy; 14 mph for a
ram-air reserve, waiverable by an S&TA
2. How would you clear a pilot chute hesitation? ANSWER: Change body
position to modify the air flow over my back
3. At what altitude should students decide and act about executing emergency
procedures in the event of a canopy problem? ANSWER: 2,500 feet
4. How do you clear twisted lines after opening? ANSWER: Before releasing
the brakes, spread risers or twist risers to transfer line twist to risers,
kick in opposite direction, watch altitude to 2,500 feet
5. The slider stops halfway down after deployment. What is the correct
response? ANSWER: Pump rear risers or steering controls at the
bottom of the stroke while watching altitude to 2,500 feet
6. How do you handle closed end cells after opening? ANSWER: Pull toggles
to flare position and hold (or pull down rear risers and hold) and watch
altitude. If stubborn, determine controllability with turn and flare by
2,500 feet
7. What is the appropriate action if below 1,000 feet without a landable
parachute? ANSWER: Immediately deploy the reserve parachute, but
not below 1,000 feet with an SOS system
,8. A USPA B-license holder who has not jumped for more than 90 days
should: ANSWER: Make at least one jump under the direct supervision
of a USPA instructional rating holder
9. Below 10,000 feet AGL, each jumper must maintain at least how much
horizontal separation from any cloud? ANSWER: 2,000 feet
10.With regard to borrowing parachute equipment: ANSWER: All jumpers
receive adequate transition training for unfamiliar equipment
11.What may result if a jumper is recovering altitude (floating up) under a free
fall formation? ANSWER: Collision with the formation
12.What effect does pulling on both of the front risers have on the
canopy? ANSWER: Increased forward speed and increased descent rate
13.According to the Skydiver‘s Information Manual, what is the maximum
percentage of visible wear allowed on a main or reserve closing
loop? ANSWER: 10%
14.What is the best way to change the direction of canopy flight while
conserving the most altitude? ANSWER: Braked turn
15.How does the half-braked position affect the canopy‘s flight? ANSWER:
Forward speed and descent both decrease
16.What is the recommended minimum breakoff altitude for free fall groups of
five or fewer? ANSWER: 1,500 feet above the highest planned
deployment altitude
17.What is the danger of entering a toggle turn too quickly? ANSWER: Line
twist
18.How can you avoid the propeller(s) while approaching an
airplane? ANSWER: Approach only from the rear and behind the wing
19.What is the biggest danger of a hard toggle turn near the
ground? ANSWER: 1) Line twist; 2) Hard landing while still in a turn;
3) Collision with other jumpers
20.What should be your first response in the event of a canopy collision and
entanglement with another jumper? ANSWER: Check altitude and
communicate with the other jumper
, 21.What is the correct response to a canopy entanglement with another jumper
below 1,000 feet if it appears the two canopies cannot be separated in time
for a safe landing? ANSWER: Communicate with the other jumper and
deploy the reserve canopy without a cutaway
22.How would you address a pilot chute in tow? ANSWER: Use reserve
ripcord, cut away if possible, deploy reserve
23.If the pilot chute goes over the front of the canopy after it has opened, how
can you tell if it‘s a malfunction? ANSWER: If the canopy flares and
turns correctly, it is probably safe to land
24.What is the correct response to an open container in freefall using a hand-
deployed system? ANSWER: No more than two tries or two seconds to
locate and deploy the main pilot chute; if no success, cut away and
deploy the reserve
25.If part of the deployed parachute is caught on the jumper or the equipment
(horseshoe), what is the correct response? ANSWER: Cut away and
deploy the reserve
26.If the pilot chute extracts the deployment bag from the parachute container
but the deployment bag fails to release the parachute canopy for inflation,
what is the correct response? ANSWER: Cut away and deploy the reserve
27.Describe the three legs of the canopy landing pattern in relation to the wind
direction. ANSWER: Downwind (with the wind), base (across the wind
but downwind of the target), and final (into the wind)
28.What must the spotter do to determine what the winds are doing at
altitude? ANSWER: Release drift indicators (streamers) before jump
run
29.What is the maximum ground wind speed for an A licensed skydiver under
the Basic Safety Requirements? ANSWER: Unlimited
30.Any person performing a wingsuit jump must: ANSWER: Have at least
200 skydives and hold a current USPA license
31.For freeflying, the first position that a skydiver should become proficient
with is: ANSWER: The back fly
