Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode

Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode

Helmut Cloth is a German engineer and entrepreneur whose groundbreaking contributions have forever changed skydiving safety. After taking up the sport in 1972, Helmut became an active participant in European relative work (RW) record attempts. But a tragic accident in 1986—when a close friend died without deploying either canopy—sparked a mission that would shape the future of parachuting.

Motivated to prevent similar losses, Helmut spent four and a half years researching and developing what would become the world’s most trusted Automatic Activation Device (AAD). After testing twelve prototypes, he introduced the first CYPRES (Cybernetic Parachute Release System) in 1991—a revolutionary tool that automatically deploys the reserve parachute under life-threatening conditions.

To bring this vision to life, Helmut founded Airtec GmbH & Co. KG Safety Systems in Bad Wünnenberg, Germany in 1990. His innovation set a new global standard in skydiving safety and has since been credited with saving thousands of lives. In recognition of his extraordinary impact, he was awarded the prestigious FAI Gold Medal in 1997.

Today, CYPRES remains a cornerstone of safety in the sport, and Helmut Cloth’s legacy continues to guide the evolution of parachuting equipment and protocols worldwide.

Text Me Your Thoughts On This Episode

Alethia Austin is a skydiving coach whose influence reaches far beyond the dropzone. Known for her calm presence, thoughtful leadership, and global impact, Alethia is the founder of LSD—Level, Slot, Dock—a sold-out series of skill camps hosted around the world. Her approach to coaching blends technical precision with mindfulness, energy management, and personal growth.

Raised in a small town in southern Oregon, Alethia set out on her own at just 17, carving a life path that would span continents and careers—from the entertainment industry in Los Angeles to marketing roles across Europe. But skydiving was the throughline. After a tandem jump in 2002, she followed the pull of the sport, eventually shaping her professional journey around it.

A respected leader in angle flying and a Regional Captain for Project 19, Alethia is equally at home talking about safety procedures as she is about the deeper, emotional currents of the sport. Her travels—including a pivotal journey through India in 2020—have informed her philosophy, one that bridges movement in the air with inner awareness on the ground.

Plant-based for more than 20 years, a yoga teacher, and handpan musician, Alethia brings an intentionality to skydiving that has inspired countless students to not just fly better, but live more consciously.

This episode is a reflection of Alethia herself—honest, grounded, and quietly powerful.