Financing Your AFF Course: Installment Plans, Refunds, and Discounts You Need to Know

Are you wondering whether the AFF course is truly within reach, or whether the total cost puts it out of your range?

I understand the concern. The AFF course has always been seen as a significant investment — and it still is today. But the market has changed: many ENAC-certified skydiving schools have developed flexible payment options, and knowing how to navigate them can make the difference between postponing indefinitely and booking your first jump next month.

In this article I'll walk you through, step by step, how installment plans work, what to look for in a refund policy, what discounts are available, and how to protect yourself with course insurance. No promises of magic deals — just practical tools to help you make an informed decision.

What Does an AFF Course Actually Cost? The Starting Point

Before talking about financing, it helps to be clear about what you're paying for. The AFF course — Accelerated Freefall, the progressive training program that leads to the ENAC skydiving license — typically includes:

Ground school: safety theory, emergency procedures, body positions, tunnel or ground simulations.

7–9 jump levels with one or two AFF instructors in freefall alongside you.

Consolidation jumps after the levels, to reach the minimum experience required.

Final exam with an ENAC examiner.

The total price varies significantly from school to school and region to region. Generally — and I use that word carefully, since pricing changes — the range can go from a few hundred euros for the AFF levels alone, up to considerably more if the package also includes consolidation jumps, equipment rental, and the membership fee for an AeCI-affiliated aero club (required for sports registration).

Practical rule: always ask the school for a detailed quote specifying exactly what is and isn't included. An apparently low price may not cover rig rental (the complete parachute system — container, harness, and canopies), the ENAC Class 2 medical certificate (mandatory, issued by an ENAC-authorized certifying physician — not your family doctor), or the club membership fee.

Installment Payments: How They Work at ENAC Schools

The good news is that installment payment has become fairly common. The most typical structure you'll encounter looks like this:

Deposit at enrollment (often 30–50% of the total): this secures your spot in the course and covers the fixed costs of ground school.

Intermediate payment before the advanced jumps (levels 4–5): some schools require this, others don't.

Final balance before the exam or before the last block of jumps.

Most schools manage these installments internally, without involving outside finance companies, which means zero interest. This isn't a bank loan — it's simply a deferred payment arrangement with the school itself.

Some larger schools have partnered with third-party installment payment platforms for smaller amounts, or with credit institutions for full packages. In these cases there may be interest or fees: always read the terms before signing.

A real-world example: Mario, 24, 72 kg, a university student living away from home. Mario wants to do the AFF course but can't commit the full amount at once. The ENAC-certified school near his city offers him a 40% deposit at enrollment and the balance split into two monthly installments, interest-free. Mario can plan the course over three months, timing the payments around his study grant. This is the most common and manageable scenario.

Discounts: Students, Corporations, and Groups

Beyond installment plans, there are several discount categories worth actively exploring. Not every school advertises them on their website, but many will apply them if you ask.

University student discounts Some schools have agreements with local universities or student associations. When a discount exists, it can vary significantly from school to school — it's always worth asking directly. In some cases the school is a partner of an aero club that has a direct agreement with the university. Check with your university's student services office to see whether any agreement exists with local aero clubs or dropzones in the area.

Corporate discounts If your employer has a welfare program or an agreement with a corporate benefits platform, check whether sport skydiving is among the eligible activities: some corporate welfare platforms may include activities like skydiving — it's worth checking with your HR department. It's not guaranteed, but some schools have already registered on these networks. It's worth a quick call to your HR office.

Group discounts If you enroll with two or three friends, many schools offer a discount on the package. The benefit is twofold: financial savings and coursemates to progress with — which, trust me as an instructor, also helps with motivation.

Summary of discounts to ask the school about:

University student discount

Group enrollment discount

Corporate or welfare platform discount

Discount for having already done a tandem jump at the same dropzone

Early booking packages (off-season enrollment)

The Refund Policy: What to Read BEFORE You Sign

This is the point I feel most strongly about, because I've seen unpleasant situations that could have been avoided with a careful reading of the contract.

Questions you must ask before enrolling:

If I withdraw after ground school but before the jumps, what do I get back?

Ground school has its own cost. In many contracts, once it's completed it's non-refundable. That's fair — the school has committed an instructor's time — but you need to know this upfront.

If I get injured during the course (a non-skydiving injury — say I break my wrist playing football), can I put the course on hold and resume later? Do I lose the jumps I've already done?

Reputable schools allow you to suspend the course due to force majeure and resume it in the following season. Ask whether there's a time limit.

If weather cancels scheduled jumps, how does the make-up process work?

Weather-dependent jumps are the norm in skydiving. A well-organized school has clear procedures for rescheduling. It's not a scam — it's operational reality — but you need to know how it's handled.

If I don't pass a level and need to repeat it, is the repeat jump included or charged separately?

Some packages include a limited number of repeat jumps; others charge them separately. Mario from our example had to repeat level 4 due to a stability issue — he already knew the repeat was included in his package, so there were no unpleasant surprises.

Always get it in writing. Refund policies must be in the written contract, not just in a verbal assurance from the person you spoke to on the phone. If you can't find this information in the document you're asked to sign, request that it be added before proceeding.

Course Insurance: Protecting Yourself Through the AFF Program

Skydiving is an activity with a managed risk profile — not a zero-risk one. Saying this clearly isn't alarmism: it's respect for someone making a conscious, informed choice.

Insurance in the context of the AFF course operates on several levels:

1. School insurance (third-party liability) ENAC-certified skydiving schools are required to carry third-party liability (RC) coverage. This does not cover your personal injury — it covers potential damage to third parties.

2. Personal accident insurance This covers you in the event of injury during the course. Some schools include it in the package; others don't. Ask explicitly. If it's not included, you can take out a policy independently — look for coverage specifically designed for aerial sports or extreme sports, as standard policies often exclude skydiving.

3. AeCI membership coverage Membership in an AeCI-affiliated aero club (Aero Club d'Italia), required for the sporting component and for the license, may include basic accident coverage — but verify the specific terms with your aero club at the time of registration, as coverage can vary. Check the coverage limits: they're often useful but not comprehensive.

Insurance checklist before starting the course:

☐ Does the school have valid third-party liability coverage?

☐ Does the package include personal accident insurance for the student?

☐ If not, have I taken out a personal policy that explicitly covers skydiving?

☐ Have I checked the coverage limits of my AeCI membership?

☐ Does my private health insurance (if I have one) cover sports injuries in aerial activities?

A real-world example: Giulia, 31, 65 kg, self-employed. Giulia has a supplemental health policy through her professional association. Before enrolling in the AFF course, she called her insurer — the policy explicitly excludes skydiving. She then added a dedicated accident policy for aerial sports, at a modest annual cost. She started the course knowing she was covered.

How to Choose the Right School — Including on Financial Grounds

Don't choose a school just because it's the cheapest. Cost is a legitimate criterion, but it should be your second or third filter, not your first.

Filter 1 — mandatory: Is the school ENAC-certified? This is non-negotiable. Only ENAC-certified skydiving schools can train students for the ENAC skydiving license. Verify on enac.gov.it or ask the school directly for their certification number.

Filter 2 — important: What is the quality-to-price ratio of the package? Compare like-for-like packages (same services included), not bare prices.

Filter 3 — practical: Is the school accessible to you? An AFF course takes place over multiple weekends across several weeks or months. A dropzone three hours away means travel costs that can wipe out any savings on the course itself.

Financial questions to ask every school you're considering:

| Question | What to assess in the answer | |---|---| | Does the price include equipment rental? | If not, add the cost of the rig | | Does it include the Class 2 medical certificate? | No — you pay that separately at an ENAC-authorized certifying physician | | Does it include AeCI membership? | Often an extra — verify | | How many repeat jumps are included if I don't pass a level? | Zero included is a factor worth weighing | | Can I suspend and resume the course? | Yes with a time limit is the healthy answer | | What are the refund conditions? | Must be stated in the written contract |

In Summary: Your Action Plan in 6 Steps

If you've made it this far, you already have the information to move forward in a structured way. Here's the sequence I recommend:

Identify 2–3 ENAC-certified skydiving schools within a reasonable distance (verify on enac.gov.it or ask each school for their ENAC certification number).

Request a detailed quote from each one, with a precise list of what's included.

Ask for the refund policy in writing and read the contract before signing.

Check your insurance coverage and add a dedicated accident policy if needed.

Ask whether discounts exist for students, groups, or corporate employees — even if they're not advertised.

Evaluate the payment plan on offer: if it's interest-free installments managed internally by the school, that's the most cost-effective option.

The AFF course is a lifelong investment — in the sense that the skills and ENAC license you earn stay with you (subject to the currency requirements set out in the regulations). Planning it carefully on the financial side is part of the same methodical approach you'll bring to every jump once you're in the air. Good luck — and see you at the dropzone.