Wingsuit grades in the UK: WS1, WS2 and the First Flight Course

• What it is: British Skydiving's two wingsuit grades, WS1 and WS2, and the First Flight Course that leads to WS1.
• What you need first: A C Licence and Tracking Grade 1 (TR1), with at least 500 descents, or at least 200 in the previous 18 months.
• What you'll learn: How to fly, navigate and deploy safely in a wingsuit, then how to fly with others.
• Cost: A first-flight course, coaching plus the jump, is usually £250 to £600, and jump tickets can be extra. A coached jump is usually £40 to £100.
• What's next: Competition track: wingsuit competitions. Safety track: kit and safety. Skydiving track: D Licence.

There's no wingsuit flight you can book as a beginner. You start as an experienced skydiver.

The entry rule

The September 2026 Operations Manual says that to get WS1 you must:

• hold a C Licence
• hold Grade 1 in Tracking (TR1)
• have at least 500 descents, or at least 200 in the previous 18 months

TR1 itself needs a B Licence and FS1. See disciplines and grades.

WS1: the First Flight Course

You're introduced by a nominated WS2 skydiver or someone of proven wingsuit instructional ability, and you get a full safety brief. To pass, you show you can:

• fly the suit safely, with overall stability, on at least three descents
• deploy at the correct altitude on at least three descents
• fly a set flight pattern and land within 50 metres of the target
• do the right post-opening checks on every qualifying descent

British Skydiving's Wingsuit Training Manual says the first flight should be one to one with a coach wherever possible. If you have fewer than 500 descents, it asks for at least one jump in a training wingsuit or tracking suit first. The coach can always refuse to train you.

With WS1 you can fly in groups of up to 3, unless a wingsuit coach is on the jump.

WS2

WS2 adds fall-rate control, moving forwards, backwards and sideways, recovering from an unstable exit, approaching a target, and five consecutive landings within 25 metres. With WS2 and Advanced Instructor approval, you can fly in bigger groups.

Not part of this route

Wingsuit BASE, jumping from cliffs or buildings, is not part of this pathway. British Skydiving's Operations Manual says fixed-object jumping doesn't come under it, and British Skydiving doesn't associate it with skydiving.

Source: British Skydiving Operations Manual, September 2026, Section 2 paras 6.8 and 6.9 and Section 1 para 5; Wingsuit Training Manual, British Skydiving; When to call 999, NHS; checked October 2026.

Governing body: British Skydiving. Wingsuit flying is a skydiving discipline, and British Skydiving sets its entry rules and grades, so it's the official place to find out more.

Typical prices, checked October 2026. The club or coach sets and bills the price.

The club map lists some of the UK clubs for this sport. It is a starting point, so check with the club before you travel. To have a coach found for you, use the enquiry form.