Wingsuit Requirements in Italy: CS, Minimum Jumps, and FFC

Wingsuit is the discipline that, more than any other, captures the imagination of skydivers with a few hundred jumps under their belt who are starting to look around for what's next. The problem is that all kinds of myths circulate around the entry requirements: some say 200 jumps, some say 500, some cite the 'FAI WS-1' as if it were an Italian license, and some think it's enough to buy a suit and show up at the drop zone. Let's set the record straight once and for all, with the correct regulatory references and some practical insight from someone who has seen — and dealt with the aftermath of — a rushed entry into this discipline.

The Italian regulatory framework: ENAC wingsuit CS, not a 'WS-1 license'

First thing to understand: there is no such thing as a 'WS-1 license' in Italy. The WS-1 designation is a FAI/USPA standard convention, used at international drop zones to indicate the entry level in wingsuit. It works as a common language among skydivers of different nationalities, but it carries no regulatory weight in Italy.

In Italy, the legal reference is the ENAC 'Parachuting Licenses' Regulation (Ed. 3). For technically advanced disciplines — wingsuit included — the regulation provides for Special Technique Certifications (CS), annotated on the ENAC parachutist license. The wingsuit CS is the qualification that authorizes you to fly in a wingsuit on Italian territory, in accordance with the current ENAC regulation — always check the latest version at enac.gov.it.

This doesn't mean the FAI/USPA WS-1 is useless: many Italian drop zones use it as an internal reference, and if you fly abroad you will be asked for it. But if someone asks whether you have the 'ENAC WS-1,' you're talking to someone who has mixed up two different systems. Always check the latest version of the regulation on the enac.gov.it website, as the specific CS requirements may be updated.

Entry requirements: jump numbers

The most commonly cited minimum requirement is 200 jumps — a threshold indicated by the FAI/USPA standard and generally aligned with the ENAC requirements for the wingsuit CS, but always verify the exact number in the current regulation at enac.gov.it. I say 'starting point' deliberately, because 200 jumps is a necessary minimum, but not a sufficient one.

Your logbook must document not just the total number of jumps, but also recency: recent jumps, spread out in a way that demonstrates active practice. A skydiver with 200 jumps spread over three years, 150 of which were concentrated in the first six months followed by a long break, does not carry the same risk profile as someone with 200 jumps over 18 months of consistent activity.

Some Italian drop zones and FFC instructors apply higher thresholds — 250, 300 jumps — at their own discretion, and rightly so. The regulation sets a floor, not a ceiling. If your FFC instructor tells you that 205 jumps isn't enough yet, they're not miscounting: they're doing their job.

The First Flight Course (FFC): what it is, how it works, and who to do it with

The First Flight Course is the mandatory introductory wingsuit course, conducted by a qualified instructor (typically with documented experience and, in many cases, certification issued by the major wingsuit manufacturers — Squirrel, Tony Suits, Phoenix Fly — check with your drop zone for the instructor qualification criteria). It is not a bureaucratic formality: it is the only way to learn how to handle a wingsuit under controlled conditions, with someone watching you fly who can step in if needed.

A standard FFC includes:

Ground briefing: the physics of wingsuit flight, basic body positions (arch, pitch, roll, yaw), emergency procedures while wearing the suit

Ground simulations: exiting the aircraft in the suit, deployment position, toggle input with the suit's arm wings

Progressive jumps: typically 3–5 jumps with the FFC instructor flying close by, observing and debriefing each jump

Final debrief and assessment: the instructor certifies (or does not certify) completion of the course

Choosing your FFC instructor matters as much as choosing your suit. Look for someone with documented experience — ideally hundreds of wingsuit jumps and a verifiable reputation in the Italian community. Don't rely on 'a friend of a friend who's done a few jumps in a suit.'

The right suit for your first flight: smaller is better

This is where ego does the most damage. Your entry-level wingsuit is not the biggest suit you can find: it's the smallest suit in the entry-level range from whichever manufacturer you've chosen.

The major manufacturers have dedicated lines for beginners:

Squirrel → Aura (entry-level), then Aura 2, then Aura 3 as a progression — note: product lines change frequently, check the manufacturer's website for the current entry-level range at the time of purchase.

Tony Suits → Intro, then T-Bird

Phoenix Fly → Intro, then Phantom

Birdman / Atair → their own entry-level lines

Why smaller? Because a large suit amplifies every body position error. In an entry-level suit, a pitch error puts you in an uncomfortable but manageable position; in the same situation wearing a performance suit, you could find yourself in a spiral or a head-down attitude you can't correct before deployment altitude.

Your FFC instructor will tell you which suit is appropriate for your first flight. Listen to them. You can always sell the entry-level suit after 50 jumps and move up to the next size — your lungs and arms will thank you.

Gear: what changes compared to standard skydiving

Wingsuit introduces some gear-specific considerations that a rigger should evaluate before your first jump.

AAD: your automatic activation device (Cypres, Vigil, M2, MARS) must be current on its maintenance schedule and, ideally, have an activation mode compatible with wingsuit flight. Some AAD manufacturers have specific notes for wingsuit use: descent rate in a suit can be significantly different from standard freefall, and an AAD set for a belly-to-earth freefall configuration might not activate at the optimal moment during a wingsuit flight with a high glide ratio. Check your AAD manual and consult your rigger.

RSL and MARD: the use of an RSL (Reserve Static Line) in wingsuit is a debated topic. Some instructors advise against it for beginner wingsuit flyers because, in the event of a cutaway, the suit could interfere with reserve deployment. Others still consider it a valuable safety layer. There is no universal answer: discuss it with your FFC instructor and your rigger before your first jump in a suit.

Audible altimeter: in a wingsuit, a visual altimeter is often difficult to read with the suit's arm wings. An audible altimeter (Optima, Quattro, L&B Viso) is practically indispensable. Configure it with alarms set at altitudes appropriate for your level.

Pull altitude: deployment altitude in wingsuit is typically higher than in standard skydiving. With an entry-level suit, many instructors recommend, as a general guideline, opening at 1,200–1,500 meters or even higher on your first jumps — subject to the absolute minimums set by ENAC regulations — to allow sufficient margin to handle slow openings or suit-related issues. ENAC regulations set the minimums; your FFC instructor and common sense will tell you where to be in practice.

The FAI/USPA WS-1: what it's actually useful for in Italy

Having established that the WS-1 is not an Italian regulatory document, it still has practical value:

Flying abroad: if you go jumping at a drop zone in Spain, the USA, or France, the WS-1 is the document you'll be asked for to access wingsuit flying. Without it, many international drop zones won't let you fly.

Common reference: at Italian drop zones that use the FAI/USPA standard as their internal language, having the WS-1 documented in your logbook (with your FFC instructor's signature) is the standard way to communicate your level.

Progression: the FAI/USPA standard includes WS-1 (entry), WS-2 (intermediate), and WS-3 (advanced), with progressive requirements for wingsuit jumps, courses, and skills — it is recommended to verify the current requirements for each level directly on the FAI/IPC or USPA website. It's a useful progression framework even if it is not legally required under Italian law.

In practice: complete the FFC, have your instructor sign off the course jumps in your logbook, and you effectively have the WS-1 documented. The ENAC CS is the formal Italian qualification; the WS-1 is the international FAI/USPA reference. The requirements overlap substantially, but they are not formally equivalent — check with your drop zone and the current regulation.

Common mistakes to avoid (and a few thoughts from a rigger)

After years of seeing wingsuits come across the packing table, I've compiled a list of mistakes that keep repeating themselves:

1. Buying the suit before the FFC. It happens. Someone finds a used suit at a good price, buys it, then discovers that their FFC instructor would have recommended a different size or a different model. Wait until after the course before buying.

2. Underestimating the video debrief. Footage of your first wingsuit jump is worth more than ten jumps without feedback. If your FFC instructor doesn't use video, find one who does.

3. Ignoring recency after the course. You've completed the FFC, you have 5 wingsuit jumps, then you don't fly for 6 months. When you come back, you're not 'at the 5-jump level': you're a beginner who has forgotten half of what they knew. Recency in wingsuit fades fast.

4. Progressing to larger suits too quickly. The correct progression in wingsuit is slow. Every increase in wing surface brings new body position challenges, new flight speeds, and new error margins. There's no rush: the big suits aren't going anywhere.

5. Not having your gear checked by a rigger. Before your first wingsuit jump, have your rig inspected by a rigger with wingsuit experience. Not all containers behave the same way when you're wearing a suit, and there are details — pilot chute position, bridle length, RSL configuration — that are worth verifying.

In summary: the checklist before your first wingsuit jump

Logbook: at least 200 documented jumps with adequate recency (verify current ENAC requirements)

ENAC wingsuit CS: the formal Italian qualification for the wingsuit special technique

First Flight Course: completed with a qualified instructor, jumps signed off in the logbook

Entry-level suit: chosen with your FFC instructor's guidance, not on your own

AAD: current on maintenance, configuration verified for wingsuit flight

Audible altimeter: configured with appropriate alarms

RSL/MARD: decision made together with your FFC instructor and rigger

Rig inspected by a rigger: before your first jump in a suit

WS-1 documented in logbook: useful for flying abroad and as a FAI/USPA reference

Wingsuit is a discipline that rewards patience and punishes haste. Done properly, with the right progression and the right gear, it is one of the most technically rewarding experiences in skydiving. Done poorly, it becomes a statistic. Choose wisely.