ENAC Skydiving FAQ: The 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions

Are you wondering what it really takes to get a skydiving licence in Italy, how much it costs, how long it takes, and whether it's something you can actually do? You're in the right place. In this guide I've compiled the 20 questions I'm asked most often — from people walking into the school in Fano for the first time, to adults who come back to it after years away. I answer each one directly, without beating around the bush, and without glossing over anything. Skydiving is an activity with managed risk: training is fundamental, and every answer below is grounded in that premise.

The Basics: Licences, Authorities and Regulations

Before diving into the individual questions, one fixed point that clears up a lot of confusion: in Italy, the authority that regulates operational skydiving is ENAC (Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile — the Italian Civil Aviation Authority). ENAC issues the skydiving licence, certifies schools and publishes the regulations. The Aero Club d'Italia (AeCI), on the other hand, handles the sport side: membership, competitions and FAI licences. These are two distinct roles. Keep that in mind, because many of the answers below depend on this distinction.

1–5: The ENAC Licence

**1. How many skydiving licences exist in Italy?**
Just one: the ENAC skydiving licence. There is no A, B, C or D licence issued by ENAC. The A/B/C/D letters you hear at schools are an international convention derived from the FAI/USPA standard, used to communicate experience levels between drop zones around the world — but they carry no regulatory weight in Italy. Your ENAC document will read 'Licenza di paracadutista' (Skydiving Licence), with any applicable ratings noted on it.

**2. What does 'ratings noted on the licence' mean?**
Beyond the basic licence, ENAC provides for additional ratings that are recorded on the licence itself. The main ones are: CS (Certificazione di idoneità a Tecniche Speciali — certification for special techniques, covering disciplines such as wingsuit, freefly and canopy formation), Skydiving Instructor, IPS (Senior Skydiving Instructor) and Skydiving Examiner. Each has specific requirements in terms of jump numbers, experience and training.

**3. Who issues the licence?**
ENAC. The process is initiated through the ENAC-certified skydiving school where you completed your course. It is not possible to obtain a skydiving licence from generic bodies, sports associations or federations that have no authority in this area.

**4. Does the licence expire?**
It doesn't expire like a driving licence, but it is kept 'current' by meeting currency requirements (recent activity). If you fail to meet them, the licence lapses and reactivating it requires check jumps with an instructor. The requirements are: at least 15 jumps in the last 12 months, including at least 1 in the last 3 months, plus 10 minutes of freefall every 12 months. You also need to keep your Class 2 medical certificate up to date.

**5. What happens if I stop jumping for a year?**
The licence lapses. Getting back into it requires a series of check jumps with an ENAC instructor, following the school's procedures. You don't start from scratch, but you don't go back to jumping solo the next day either: the school assesses your current level and decides how many refresher jumps you need. A concrete example: Mario, 38, stopped jumping after 80 jumps for work reasons. After an 18-month break, his school had him review emergency procedures on the ground and complete 3 check jumps before clearing him to jump solo again.

6–10: The Training Pathway

**6. How do you get the licence? What's the pathway?**
There are two main routes, both carried out at an ENAC-certified skydiving school:

1. **AFF — Accelerated Freefall**: the modern and most widely used pathway. From the very first level you exit the aircraft in freefall, accompanied by one or two instructors. It typically involves 7–9 progressive levels plus consolidation jumps.
2. **SL — Static Line**: the traditional pathway. The first jumps are made with an automatic opening device connected to the aircraft, from a lower exit altitude. Still available at some schools, but less common.

A tandem jump (with a Tandem Master) is not a qualifying pathway — it's an experience. It can be a first step to find out whether this sport is for you, but it does not replace the course.

**7. How many jumps do I need before jumping solo?**
It depends on the pathway and the school. In general, a complete AFF course involves the progressive levels plus a minimum number of consolidation jumps before the exam. There is no single fixed universal number: the school assesses individual progression. Don't rush this stage — progressing correctly is an investment in your safety.

**8. Can I start the AFF course without ever having jumped?**
Yes. The AFF course is designed specifically for people starting from zero. Ground training — theory, emergency procedures, freefall body positions — comes before every jump. No prior experience is needed: what you need is a willingness to learn and the ability to follow instructions precisely.

**9. How long does the AFF course take?**
It depends on how often you jump and on the weather. Someone doing an intensive course (multiple jumps per week) can complete it in a few weeks. Someone doing it on weekends, spread out over time, may take months. Weather is a real variable: wind, low cloud and visibility all affect jump days. Accept from the start that patience is part of the process.

**10. What do you study in the ground school?**
The theory covers at least the following areas:

1. Basic aerodynamics and the physics of freefall
2. Equipment: how the rig works (the complete system of parachute, container and harness), the main canopy, the reserve, and the AAD (automatic activation device)
3. Emergency procedures: how to recognise a malfunction, when and how to perform a cutaway (releasing the main) and deploy the reserve
4. Basic meteorology as applied to skydiving
5. ENAC regulations and the operational rules of the dropzone
6. The landing pattern and canopy management on approach

Don't underestimate the theory. In freefall, emergency procedures must be automatic.

11–14: Requirements, Age and Physical Condition

**11. What is the minimum age to start?**
Generally, 16 with written parental consent, and 18 for full independence. The exact threshold should be verified against the ENAC regulations in force at the time of enrolment, as the regulations are updated periodically. Don't rely on second-hand information: ask the school directly or check enac.gov.it.

**12. Is there a maximum age limit?**
There is no fixed age limit in the ENAC regulations. What matters is the Class 2 medical certificate issued by an ENAC-authorised medical examiner: if you are medically fit, you can jump. Example: Carla, 54, obtained her licence after passing the Class 2 medical without any issues. Older age calls for greater attention to physical fitness — it does not automatically exclude you from the activity.

**13. Are there weight limits?**
Yes, but they are not set universally. Schools and drop zones apply discretionary limits based on ENAC regulations and the instructor's assessment. For tandem, the limit is typically around 100–110 kg (varies by school). For the AFF course, body weight interacts with freefall speed and may require specific equipment. Contact the school before enrolling if you have any concerns about this — it's better to clarify upfront.

**14. Do you need to be in a particular physical condition?**
You don't need to be an athlete, but you do need to be in good general health. Certain medical conditions may exclude or restrict participation (heart problems, epilepsy, some orthopaedic conditions). The ENAC-authorised medical examiner is the one who officially assesses your fitness. On safety matters I'm unequivocal: don't try to 'get around' the medical. It's not a bureaucratic formality — it's the first safety net for you and for everyone who jumps with you.

15–17: The Medical Examination

**15. What kind of medical examination is required?**
For the AFF course and the ENAC licence you need an **ENAC Class 2 medical certificate**, issued by an ENAC-authorised medical examiner. This is not the standard competitive sports medical that you get from your GP or a local sports doctor. They are two different things. Your GP cannot sign this certificate.

**16. How do I find an ENAC-authorised medical examiner?**
The list of authorised medical examiners is available on enac.gov.it. Alternatively, your skydiving school can point you to the nearest examiner — it's a question almost every new student asks, and schools are well used to answering it.

**17. Do you need a medical for a tandem jump?**
No. For a tandem jump (with an ENAC-rated Tandem Master) the Class 2 medical certificate is not required. You simply sign a self-declaration of good health on the day of the jump. The Class 2 is only required for those undertaking the licensing pathway (AFF or Static Line course) and for keeping the licence current.

18–20: Costs, Schools and the Sport Side

**18. How much does it cost to get the licence?**
There is no fixed price: it depends on the school, the dropzone, the aircraft used and the number of jumps needed to complete the progression. As a general guide, budget for the full AFF course (which includes theory, instructor-accompanied jumps and training materials), post-course consolidation jumps, the Class 2 medical, and the administrative fees for the ENAC licence application. Ask the school for a detailed quote before you start — reputable schools provide one without hesitation.

**19. How do I choose the right school?**
The first thing to check is that it is an **ENAC-certified skydiving school**. Not a FIVL school (that's paragliding and hang gliding), not a generic association: an ENAC-certified school. Then consider:

1. Its reputation among local skydivers
2. Whether the instructors are willing to answer your questions before you enrol
3. The quality of the training equipment
4. The frequency of jumping (how many loads per day, and in which season)
5. The distance from your home — a course spread over months is harder to complete if the dropzone is far away

Visit the school in person before signing anything.

**20. Do I need to join the Aero Club d'Italia?**
It depends on what you want to do. The ENAC licence and AeCI membership are two separate things. The ENAC licence authorises you to jump. Membership of an AeCI-affiliated aero club is needed to take part in national competitions, obtain FAI sport licences and engage in official competitive activity. If you simply want to jump for the love of it without competing, the ENAC licence is the key document. If you want to compete or go for records, you will also need to join through an AeCI-affiliated aero club.

In Summary: The Roadmap to Your ENAC Licence

Here are the steps in chronological order:

1. **Choose an ENAC-certified school** — visit the dropzone, talk to the instructors
2. **Get your ENAC Class 2 medical** — from an ENAC-authorised medical examiner
3. **Complete the ground school** — theory, emergency procedures, regulations
4. **Complete the AFF (or Static Line) levels** — progressive training with instructors in freefall
5. **Do your consolidation jumps** — to reach the minimum required by the school
6. **Pass the exam** — written and practical, assessed by an ENAC Examiner
7. **Apply for your ENAC licence** — through the school, with all documentation in order
8. **Maintain your currency** — 15 jumps/12 months, 1 jump/3 months, 10 min freefall/12 months, Class 2 kept up to date

If you have doubts about any of these steps, your school is the first point of contact. And if you don't have a school yet, start there.