The m2 AAD has a 15.5-year lifetime, and does not require factory maintenance service during that time.
The unit can be inspected by your rigger annually. Info on that inspection is in the m2 manual at this link and in the photo below.
Still, there are scenarios where an m2 does need to go back to the manufacturer for inspection, repair or service due to an error message, damage to the unit or the like.
Some error codes can be resolved, so first read the manual from this link for more info. ChutingStar also carries common replacement parts for the m2 at this link, which can be installed by your rigger.
Aerodyne released Service Bulletin SB300426 on April 30, 2026, which mandates the AAD cutter placement move to above the reserve pilot chute on its Icon harness/containers. This is a mandatory service bulletin from the manufacturer that is required before the next jump.
Need an AAD during the time your unit is in for maintenance? Or just one to get you by until you can save for a new AAD, or find a great deal on a used one?
ChutingStar has 11 CYPRES 2 Changeable units available for rental at just over $2 a day!
Here's the scoop on how the rental CYPRES unit program works:
It's time to boogie, boogie, boogie, boogie, boogie! And the ChutingStar Crew will be out there with you at drop zones all over the US, providing all the support and goods you could ask for.
The one and only Laura Bales is packing up the van with demos from Freefall Data Systems, LB Altimeters, Cookie Helmets, Alti-2, and many more. Laura is available for container, canopy and jumpsuit orders as she'll be able to measure you up and walk you through the ordering process for any of your custom gear needs, including the helmet sizing kit for the Tonfly TFX Full Face Helmet.
UPT has stock Vector sport rigs available if you're looking for a container faster than the current custom turnaround times. These never last long, so here are the details below (as of February 6, 2026).
Click Read More below to see the full article. Click on the production forms to enlarge to see more details on each container. Contact ChutingStar to confirm availability, get help with sizing, get final pricing and to place an order.
Why do you skydive? It can be an uncomfortable but necessary question.
Skydiving has never been more accessible. Better gear, faster training pipelines, endless online content, and social media highlight reels have lowered the barrier to entry in ways we couldn’t have imagined 20 years ago. That’s not inherently bad—but it can come with unintended consequences.
Complacency is a slow erosion of respect for the sport. A new generation of jumpers who sometimes don’t fully understand why they’re stepping out of an aircraft in the first place.
This isn’t about gatekeeping. It’s about self-awareness, safety, and longevity in a sport that is brutally honest when mistakes stack up. So, let’s ask the question most people never stop revisiting:
Check back here for special deals from skydiving gear manufacturers and ChutingStar throughout the year!
Discounts usually are a rare thing in skydiving, and even more rare in the current supply shortage climate. We're focusing on making sure we have available items in stock and shipped to you by the time you need it for your next jump. Currently, ChutingStar has the following sales and ways to save listed below.
Here's the rundown on current deals:
Save on Limited Edition ARES II Digital Altimeters
Flat Broke Skydiver Deals
Discounted stock of all PittZ Freefly Suits & Pants
GoPro Camera Discounts
UPT Stock Containers
30% off the base price of any In-Stock Wings Container
PD Europe Used Canopy Sale
Save on EVO2 + RUSH Reserve Package
Top 11 Ways To Save $$$ @ ChutingStar!
Deal Details
Here are the links to more info and the ordering process for these deals from ChutingStar:
Skydiving. For many of us it’s freedom, adrenaline, and pure joy. But behind every jump that feels effortless are countless hours of training, repetition, and a commitment to safety.
That’s why coaching matters. Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned jumper, coaching can keep you improving... and alive.
Coaching is critical in skydiving in how it helps both new and experienced jumpers build skills while keeping safety front and center.
Henry coaching above Skydive Monroe. Photo by Albalia Perez De Kochen.Continue reading →
While ChutingStar may seem to some like some huge corporate monster of a company, we are a group 7 people serving the skydiving community out of one location in Marietta, Georgia. For the most part, we're available 24/7 in some manner be it in the shop, on the phone or online.
Since 1999, we've mostly been able to provide seamless support by staggering breaks for our staff and covering for each other's "specialty" so that you rarely know when one or two of us are gone for a few days.
Many skydiving manufacturers have a summer and a winter shutdown that may be a week or more. ChutingStar has always stayed open during those times to support skydivers with info, advice, parts and gear. That will be changing slightly this year.
For 2026, there will be a couple of staff breaks to give our group a breather. This will delay custom orders processing and some shipments, but we've scheduled these breaks around holidays and manufacturer shutdowns where we are limited in what we can do at that time anyway.
