License requirements

A tracking license is not proof that someone has made one good tracking jump. The assessor must verify that the jumper has mastered the level that goes with the license and understands the restrictions of that license.

The assessor therefore has three tasks:

Before the jump: check whether the candidate and the equipment meet the requirements.
During the briefing: assess whether the candidate genuinely masters the required knowledge and skills.
After the jump/footage: decide whether the license can responsibly be issued.

An important principle:

If there is any doubt about safety or the required level, the license is not issued.

The goal is not to issue as many licenses as possible, but to ensure that a license gives a reliable picture of the jumper's level.

2. The progression from TR-A to TR-D

The licenses form a clear progression:

License Level Core

TR-A Tracking Starter Basic safety, equipment, altitude awareness, basic belly tracking

TR-B Tracking Beginner Flying independently within the agreed quadrant and performing an independent break-off

TR-C Tracking Intermediate Flying independently and stably next to a base, flying the slot, and receiving an explanation of how to lead a tracking jump

TR-D Tracking Advanced Belly and back tracking, staying stable on level, receiving an explanation of larger/dynamic patterns and advanced tracking.

The assessor must therefore not only look at whether the candidate "can track well". They must assess whether the candidate has mastered the specific level of the relevant license.

3. General assessment method

Use the same four steps for every candidate.

Step 1: Document check

Check before the jump:

number of jumps
number of tracking jumps
the previous license
whether the requirements of the relevant license are met
whether the mandatory video is present when required

Important: the required number of jumps is a condition, but the number of jumps by itself is never a substitute for assessing the skills.

Step 2: Briefing

The candidate must not merely have "received a briefing". The assessor must check whether the candidate has also understood the briefing.

For this reason, preferably use a short question-and-answer check:

"What is the break-off altitude?"
"What do you do at break-off?"
"Where do you check the airspace?"
"What do you do if you are no longer within the agreed quadrant?"
"What is your planned flight direction?"
"What are the restrictions of your current license?"

A candidate who can perform the actions but does not understand the safety logic behind them is not yet ready for the next level.

Step 3: Observation

Do not assess only the tracking position.

Pay attention to:

stability
position relative to other jumpers
ability to stay within the agreed space
break-off
airspace awareness
horizontal separation
reactions to unexpected situations
flight direction
overall control

Step 4: Debrief

Discuss after the jump:

What went well?
What went less well?
What did the candidate see for themselves?
What safety decisions did he/she make?
Which points still need improvement?
Has the level of the license been convincingly demonstrated?

First let the candidate analyze it themselves. This often gives more information about their actual level than the assessor's observation alone.

4. TR-A: Tracking Starter

4.1 What must the assessor check?

According to the license, the candidate must have, among other things:

sufficient basic stability and altitude awareness in belly position
at least an FAI-B, with 75-100 recommended
a BOC or pull-out opening system
a properly functioning BOC, if present
sufficient shielding of the bridle and risers
closed main and reserve container
sufficiently tight closing loop
hard helmet
Expert AAD
at least one audible altimeter
knowledge of how to use and set the audible altimeter

The assessor must also check that the required briefings have been followed in order to work towards a TR-B:

altitude awareness and flight direction
Start To Trace and accompanying safety briefing
tracking exits and basic body position

These briefings are given during Start To Trace coaching. The candidate must understand that tracking is not just a horizontal movement and that there is therefore a bit more involved. The priority of a Start To Trace lies with safety — be sure to emphasize this.

4.2 Briefing: Altitude awareness

What needs to be discussed?

being aware of altitude
knowing the settings of the audible altimeter
knowing at which altitudes important actions take place
not relying completely on a single source of altitude information
knowing the planned flight direction

Check understanding (do this for all briefings)

For example, ask:

"If, while tracking, you notice that you no longer know where you are or what altitude you're at, what is your priority?"

The candidate must understand that situational awareness is more important than continuing the tracking maneuver.

4.3 Briefing: Flight direction

Before the jump, the candidate must know:

where the group is flying to
which direction has been agreed
where the planned movement takes place
which space may not be used
how he/she orients themselves relative to the agreed direction

Have the candidate explain and point out the flight direction themselves. Candidates need to have knowledge of the flight direction, but are not yet leading themselves. A basic sense of direction is therefore sufficient here.

4.4 Briefing: Tracking exit

The exit must be simple and controlled.

The assessor explains:

· stable exit/maintaining control

correct transition to the tracking position
sufficient awareness of the other jumper(s)
no abrupt or uncontrolled movements

The TR-A license is about starting to track safely, not about maximum speed or maximum distance.

4.5 Briefing: Basic body position

The candidate must understand what a stable belly-tracking position looks like and how he/she maintains control in it.

Discuss especially:

what a good position is for staying stable
how control over the body is maintained
awareness of the position relative to the other jumper

Back tracking is not permitted on TR-A.

4.6 TR-A: What is the candidate allowed to do after the license?

The restrictions are essential and must literally be part of the briefing.

A TR-A:

may perform belly tracking jumps
may not perform solo tracking jumps
may only do belly tracking (no back tracking)
must jump with someone who holds at least TR-C
is not permitted to do a tracking jump with a TR-B
may not perform jumps at an angle of 45° or more

Assessor: have the candidate repeat these restrictions themselves before the license is issued.

5. TR-B: Tracking Beginner

TR-B builds further on TR-A.

The candidate must:

have at least 25 tracking jumps (25-50 recommended)
meet the TR-A requirements
demonstrate via video or jump that the required skills are present

The video or jump must demonstrate, among other things:

stable belly-tracking exit
being able to fly safely in the agreed quadrant (so flying the slot is not yet required)
initiating break-off independently
checking airspace at break-off
achieving sufficient horizontal separation

When obtaining a TR-B, it is important that additional briefings are given again to work safely towards a TR-C.

5.1 Briefing: Multiple people

The candidate must understand that flying with multiple people requires a different level of situational awareness.

Briefing (each time, for every jump):

everyone must understand the same briefing
everyone must know their position and role
the agreed quadrant must be clear
the group must remain predictable
the level of the least experienced tracker must continuously be factored into deciding whether the jump can proceed safely

5.2 Briefing: Airspace before break-off

This is a separate mandatory briefing in the license; it was already explained extensively at TR-A, but here the emphasis is on the multiple people during the break-off.

Break-off means:

· becoming aware of the surroundings

checking airspace
Calmly starting to fly flatter (not turning abruptly and going flat)

• obtaining sufficient horizontal separation

The assessor must therefore specifically observe whether the candidate actually looks, and not just performs the correct movement.

5.3 Briefing: Flying the slot safely

A slot is not a static place.

The candidate must understand that he/she:

must be able to stay in position relative to the base
must remain within the agreed quadrant
must maintain sufficient control
must react when the position changes (e.g. taking a turn)

5.4 TR-B: Restrictions

The candidate must know:

3-way tracking is permitted with TR-C license holders
5-way tracking is permitted with TR-D
tracking with TR-A is not permitted
a TR-C decides for themselves whether a TR-B can safely be added to the group
maximum 2 TR-B's when the leader is TR-C
maximum 3 TR-B's when the leader is TR-D
belly tracking only
no tracking at an angle of 45° or more

6. TR-C: Tracking Intermediate

TR-C represents a clear step from "being able to perform tracking" to being able to fly independently and reliably within a group.

The candidate must:

have at least 50 tracking jumps (50-100 recommended)
meet TR-B
provide video evidence or perform a jump with a coach
be able to fly belly tracking independently
be able to stay stably next to the base
be able to fly the slot without leaving the quadrant
initiate break-off independently
check airspace at break-off

6.1 Briefing: Leading

This is an important difference from TR-B.

The candidate must understand that a leader does not just "fly in front".

A leader largely determines:

the overall structure of the jump
the direction
the movement of the group
the safety of the group
when and how the group breaks apart

The briefing must therefore also explicitly address:

"What do you do when the group is no longer flying as planned?"

The leader must be able to put safety first and adjust a planned jump when circumstances require it.

6.2 Briefing: Large group

With a larger group, complexity increases.

Discuss:

position of every participant
who the leader is
who has which role
agreed flight direction
break-off
airspace
what happens when someone loses their position
how it is prevented that the group flies uncontrolled

The license permits large groups when at least TR-C license holders are present.

6.3 Briefing: Back tracking exit

Back tracking is explicitly introduced as a possibility here for the first time.

The assessor must not only look at whether the candidate can fly technically.

Brief fully on:

stability of the exit
control
orientation
altitude awareness
ability to stay with the base
controlled transition to belly tracking

6.4 TR-C: Leader's responsibility

The TR-C leader bears responsibility for the safety of the tracking jump.

The license card states that the leader may fly a maximum 90° or 45–90° pattern away from the jump run.

This must be explicitly discussed with the group during the briefing.

The candidate must be able to explain:

where the jump run is
what his/her planned pattern is
why the pattern must remain safe
when the pattern must be adjusted
what if there are multiple tracking groups in the load
what about upper winds

It is important to teach beginning leaders about the influence of the upper wind (Winds Aloft) and the dangers of multiple tracking groups.

7. TR-D: Tracking Advanced

TR-D is the highest level in the current license structure.

The candidate must:

have at least 200 tracking jumps (200-500 recommended)

meet TR-C

· provide video evidence or perform a jump with a coach

be able to exit stably in belly and back tracking
be able to fly belly and back tracking independently
be able to stay stably next to the base on level
be able to fly belly and back slot
perform break-off independently
check airspace
all of this without loss of stability

This is the highest license that can be earned for tracking; of course you can go further into feet first or more angle jumps. That is why, after a TR-D, a few more briefings are intended to follow on how to safely go more extreme.

7.1 Briefing: Dynamic jumps

The candidate must understand that a dynamic tracking jump places different demands on:

orientation
group awareness
predictability
control
distance

Here the assessor must primarily brief on how the candidate maintains control when the situation becomes more dynamic.

7.2 Briefing: Steep angles

On TR-D, steep angles are permitted for the first time, but only under the conditions of the license.

The license card states that tracking at a steep angle of 45° or more is permitted when done solo or with other TR-D license holders.

TR-D does not mean that every conceivable tracking jump is automatically safe.

The leader remains responsible for the safety of the jump.

7.3 Briefing: Large patterns

TR-D includes a specific briefing on larger turns as leader, for example a 270° pattern.

The candidate must be able to explain:

which pattern is planned
why this pattern must be flown safely
how the position of the other jumpers is tracked
what happens when someone leaves the slot or quadrant
when a planned movement is no longer safe

The license card states that larger patterns must be flown safely and away from the jump run.

7.4 TR-D: Group restrictions

The assessor must check whether the candidate knows these restrictions.

Not permitted:

jumps with 3 or more TR-A license holders
jumps with 4 or more TR-B license holders

Large groups with at least TR-C license holders are permitted.

Steep tracking of 45° or more is only permitted solo or with other TR-D license holders.

8. The assessor: what do you look at during the jump?

Use the same observation categories for every assessment.

A. Exit

Question: Can the candidate start in a controlled and stable manner?

Pay attention to:

stability
control
orientation
reaction after the exit

B. Tracking

Question: Does the candidate have control over their position?

Pay attention to:

stable position
direction
position relative to the base
position relative to the quadrant
corrections
altitude awareness

C. Situational awareness

Question: Does the candidate know where he/she is and what the other jumpers are doing?

Pay attention to:

looking
orientation
awareness of the group
anticipating

D. Break-off

This is one of the most important assessment moments. Check:

does the break-off happen at the agreed altitude?
is airspace checked?
is sufficient horizontal separation obtained?
does the candidate remain stable?

These points explicitly come back in TR-B, TR-C and TR-D, and partly in TR-A (starters).

9. When do you NOT issue a license?

A license is not issued when:

a mandatory requirement is missing
the candidate does not convincingly demonstrate a mandatory skill
the candidate does not know the restrictions of the license
the candidate does not understand the briefing
the candidate can only perform the skill under ideal circumstances
safety during the assessment is insufficient
the assessor cannot, after the jump, say with sufficient confidence that the required level has been demonstrated

"Almost good enough" is not license level.

A candidate can be perfectly motivated and still need a few more jumps.

10. Final principle for all assessors

Every assessor must ask the same question:

"If I give this person this license, do I trust that he/she understands the associated responsibilities and can operate safely within the restrictions of that license?"

If the answer is not a wholehearted yes, do not issue the license.

A license is not a reward for progression.

A license is a declaration that the jumper has demonstrated the described level.

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