The Australian Parachute Federation (APF) is the national governing body for skydiving in Australia. If you hold an APF licence — A, B, C, or D — you're required to maintain a logbook that records your jumps and keeps you accountable for currency, certifications, and gear maintenance. Here's what that means in practice and how to stay on top of it.
What the APF requires in your logbook
The APF Operations Manual specifies that each licensed skydiver must maintain a personal logbook. At minimum, each jump entry should record:
- Jump number and date
- Dropzone and aircraft
- Exit altitude and freefall time
- Jump type / discipline
- Equipment used (container, main canopy, reserve, AAD)
- Instructor or coach sign-off where required (for progression jumps)
- Notes on objectives and outcomes
For student jumps under the AFF programme, coach sign-off is mandatory at each level. Once you hold an A licence, the requirements shift — but maintaining an accurate record of jumps remains a condition of your APF membership and licence validity.
Currency: how it works under APF rules
Currency in the APF system means having made a jump within a specified time window. If that window lapses, you are considered "out of currency" and must complete certain actions before jumping again — typically a supervised jump or assessment with a qualified coach or instructor.
The standard currency window for licensed jumpers is 30 days, though your DZ or the specific jump type (e.g. night jumps, water jumps, wingsuit) may impose different or additional requirements. The key is knowing where your window sits before you show up to manifest.
Jump Logs tracks your currency window automatically. The Stats screen shows you days since your last jump and gives you a warning before the window closes — so you can plan your next jump in time rather than finding out at the DZ that you've lapsed.
Gear and repack tracking
Australian regulations require reserves to be repacked on a cycle set by the manufacturer and approved by a licensed packer. Most reserves in Australia are packed on a 6-month cycle. Your AAD (Cypres, Vigil, MARS, or similar) also has manufacturer-specified service intervals that must be adhered to.
Jump Logs tracks your reserve repack date and AAD service date and alerts you before they expire. This is especially useful if you own multiple rigs or if there's a gap between your winter off-season and the next jump season.
Coach and instructor sign-offs
For progression jumps, certification assessments, and certain endorsements (canopy piloting, wingsuit, camera, etc.), APF requires sign-off from a suitably rated instructor or coach. These need to appear in your logbook.
Jump Logs supports QR-based sign-off directly in the app. Your instructor scans a code from your jump entry and signs it digitally — no paper required. The sign-off appears in your logbook and is included in PDF exports, giving you a verifiable record for any APF or DZ review.
Exporting for APF or DZ review
If a DZ chief instructor, APF examiner, or coach asks to see your logbook, Jump Logs can export a formatted PDF of your full jump history, including dates, DZs, disciplines, freefall times, and any sign-offs. You can also export to CSV if you need the raw data in another format.
Your jump records are also verifiable — each jump has a unique code that a third party can check to confirm the entry is genuine.
Keeping it up to date
The best time to log a jump is immediately after landing — while the details are fresh and before you get swept up in the next load. Jump Logs pre-fills your previous dropzone, aircraft, and equipment on each new entry, so repeat visits take seconds. You can also add notes, objectives, and manoeuvre details while they're still in your head.
A logbook is only as useful as it is accurate. Keeping it current means you always have a reliable record when you need it — at the DZ, for a rating assessment, or when applying for an APF licence upgrade.