Reference & AI

AFI 10-3503

Air Force

PERSONNEL PARACHUTE PROGRAM

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

AFI 10-3503, "PERSONNEL PARACHUTE PROGRAM", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated September 23, 2020.

Published

September 23, 2020

OPR

AF/A3

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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AFI 10-3503 — index record

NumberAFI 10-3503
TitlePERSONNEL PARACHUTE PROGRAM
PublishedSeptember 23, 2020
Certified currentSeptember 23, 2020
Guidance memorandumApril 14, 2026
Office of primary responsibilityAF/A3
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionGM, April 14, 2026
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (45 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This instruction establishes procedures governing the authority and administration of the USAF Personnel Parachute Program (PPP), parachute qualifications and requirements and procedures applicable to premeditated personnel parachuting.

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been substantially revised, reorganized, and must be completely reviewed. Major changes include amplified guidance for permanent parachute position requirements and for jump inherent career field personnel serving outside their Air Force Specialty (AFS), as well as updated requirements for activity, mishap, and individual jump reporting. The 1Z3XX, Tactical Air Control Party career field was added as authorized attendance to the basic parachutist course as part of initial skills training. Provisions are included for civilians to fill PPPM roles and updated guidance has been provided for new knowledge management and equipment changes within the Air Force. This publication prescribes AF Form 3503, Multipurpose Jump Manifest and rescinds AF Form 922, Individual Jump Record, and AF Form 4323, ARMS Multi-Crew Jump Record.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—USAF PERSONNEL PARACHUTE PROGRAMp. 7
  2. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 9
  3. Chapter 3—ADMINISTRATIONp. 16
  4. Chapter 4—ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENTp. 23
  5. Chapter 5—ACTIVITY, MISHAP, INCIDENT AND MALFUNCTION REPORTINGp. 26
  6. Chapter 6—PARACHUTIST RATINGS AND QUALIFICATIONSp. 29
  7. Chapter 7—FUNCTIONAL CERTIFICATIONSp. 32
  8. Chapter 8—CURRENCY, TRAINING AND PACKING REQUIREMENTSp. 35
  9. Chapter 9—GENERAL RESTRICTIONSp. 38
  10. Chapter 10—PARACHUTE PROCEDURESp. 44
  11. Chapter 11—DROP ZONE PROCEDURESp. 49
  12. Chapter 12—PARACHUTE RELATED AERIAL EVENTSp. 51
  13. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 55
  14. Attachment 2—AIR FORCE FORM 3503p. 63
  15. Attachment 3—TEMPORARY PARACHUTE POSITION REQUEST LETTERp. 66
  16. Attachment 5—PERSONNEL MALFUNCTION/INCIDENT DZC FORMp. 69
  17. Attachment 6—MONTHLY AIRDROP SUMMARYp. 75
  18. Attachment 7—STANDARD WAIVER TEMPLATEp. 77
All 101 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—USAF PERSONNEL PARACHUTE PROGRAMp. 7
  2. 1.1. Purposep. 7
  3. 1.2. Objectivesp. 7
  4. 1.3. Generalp. 7
  5. 1.4. Deviationsp. 8
  6. 1.5. Referencesp. 8
  7. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 9
  8. 2.1. Personnel Parachute Program Management and Responsibilitiesp. 9
  9. 2.3. Global Mobility Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (AF/A3TM) will:p. 11
  10. 2.6. Surgeon General (AF/SG)p. 12
  11. 2.7. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQ) will:p. 12
  12. 2.8. AF Career Field Managers will:p. 12
  13. 2.12. Unit Commanders of Organizations with Active Parachutists will:p. 14
  14. 2.13. Jumpmaster (JM) will:p. 15
  15. 2.14. Parachutists will:p. 15
  16. Chapter 3—ADMINISTRATIONp. 16
  17. 3.1. Authorityp. 16
  18. 3.2. Validating Permanent Parachute Positionsp. 16
  19. 3.4. Temporary Parachute Positionsp. 18
  20. 3.5. Placing Members on Active Parachute Statusp. 19
  21. 3.6. Documentationp. 20
  22. 3.7. Preparing Aeronautical Ordersp. 20
  23. 3.8. Removing Members from Active Parachute Statusp. 21
  24. 3.9. Permanent Disqualification Actionsp. 21
  25. 3.10. Non-permanent Disqualification Actionsp. 21
  26. 3.11. Parachute Duty Requalificationp. 22
  27. 3.12. Parachutist Code Identifiersp. 22
  28. 3.13. Funding for Parachute Duty Payp. 22
  29. Chapter 4—ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENTp. 23
  30. 4.1. Equipment Acquisitionp. 23
  31. 4.2. Equipment Test and Evaluationp. 23
  32. 4.3. Equipment Certificationp. 23
  33. 4.4. Equipment Approvalp. 24
  34. 4.5. Equipment Sustainmentp. 25
  35. Chapter 5—ACTIVITY, MISHAP, INCIDENT AND MALFUNCTION REPORTINGp. 26
  36. 5.1. DoD Reporting Requirementsp. 26
  37. 5.2. Activity Reportingp. 26
  38. 5.3. Mishap Reportingp. 26
  39. 5.4. Malfunction and Incident Reportingp. 27
  40. 5.5. Malfunction Officerp. 27
  41. 5.6. Malfunction and Incident Investigationsp. 28
  42. Chapter 6—PARACHUTIST RATINGS AND QUALIFICATIONSp. 29
  43. 6.1. Parachutist Ratingsp. 29
  44. 6.2. Standardsp. 29
  45. 6.3. USAF Basic Parachutist Ratingp. 29
  46. 6.4. USAF Senior Parachutist Ratingp. 30
  47. 6.5. USAF Master Parachutist Ratingp. 30
  48. 6.6. USAF Basic Military Free-Fall Parachutist Ratingp. 30
  49. 6.7. USAF Master Military Free-Fall Parachutist Ratingp. 31
  50. Chapter 7—FUNCTIONAL CERTIFICATIONSp. 32
  51. 7.1. Generalp. 32
  52. 7.2. Instructor Upgrade/Instructor Candidate Programp. 32
  53. 7.3. Air-to-Air Videography/Camera Certificationp. 32
  54. 7.4. Tandem Master Certificationp. 33
  55. 7.5. Accelerated Free-Fall Instructor (AFF-I) Certificationp. 34
  56. 7.6. Ram Air Static Line (RASL)p. 34
  57. Chapter 8—CURRENCY, TRAINING AND PACKING REQUIREMENTSp. 35
  58. 8.1. Parachutist Currency and Refresher Training Requirementsp. 35
  59. 8.2. Recurring Training Requirementsp. 36
  60. 8.3. Parachute Packing Requirementsp. 36
  61. 8.4. Non-Tactical Ram-Air Parachute Systems (NTRAPS) Packing Requirementsp. 37
  62. 8.5. FAA Civilian Riggersp. 37
  63. Chapter 9—GENERAL RESTRICTIONSp. 38
  64. 9.1. Equipment Restrictionsp. 38
  65. 9.2. Foreign Military Aircraftp. 39
  66. 9.3. Private and Commercial Aircraftp. 39
  67. 9.4. Lift Ticketsp. 40
  68. 9.5. Documenting Parachute Jumpsp. 40
  69. 9.6. Foreign Military Parachutistsp. 40
  70. 9.7. Civilian Parachutistsp. 42
  71. 9.8. Crew Rest and Duty Limitationsp. 42
  72. Chapter 10—PARACHUTE PROCEDURESp. 44
  73. 10.1. Static-Line Guidancep. 44
  74. 10.2. Exceptions to Published Static-Line Guidancep. 44
  75. 10.3. Ram Air Parachutesp. 44
  76. 10.4. MFF and RASL Guidancep. 45
  77. 10.5. Exceptions to Published Free-Fall and RASL Guidancep. 45
  78. 10.6. Jumpmaster Requirementp. 46
  79. 10.7. Jumpmaster Employment Planningp. 46
  80. 10.8. Jumpmaster Coordinationp. 47
  81. 10.9. Rigging and Inspecting Parachutists and Equipmentp. 47
  82. 10.10. Safetyp. 48
  83. Chapter 11—DROP ZONE PROCEDURESp. 49
  84. 11.1. Drop Zone Guidancep. 49
  85. 11.2. Drop Zone Personnel Requirementsp. 49
  86. 11.3. Medical Coveragep. 49
  87. 11.4. Intentional Water Operationsp. 49
  88. Chapter 12—PARACHUTE RELATED AERIAL EVENTSp. 51
  89. 12.1. Charterp. 51
  90. 12.2. Administrative Guidancep. 51
  91. 12.3. AFPT Proceduresp. 51
  92. 12.4. Aerial Event Guidancep. 52
  93. 12.5. Capabilities Demonstrations or Capabilities Exercises (CAPEX)p. 53
  94. 12.6. Parachute Demonstrationsp. 53
  95. 12.7. Parachute Competitionsp. 53
  96. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 55
  97. Attachment 2—AIR FORCE FORM 3503p. 63
  98. Attachment 3—TEMPORARY PARACHUTE POSITION REQUEST LETTERp. 66
  99. Attachment 5—PERSONNEL MALFUNCTION/INCIDENT DZC FORMp. 69
  100. Attachment 6—MONTHLY AIRDROP SUMMARYp. 75
  101. Attachment 7—STANDARD WAIVER TEMPLATEp. 77

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Air Force index

REF: AFI 10-3503, effective September 23, 2020

Air Force e-Publishing — AFI 10-3503

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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