before you leap into the wide sky with parachuting, remember to always pay extra attention to the guidelines given by instructors. though sometimes, you might feel a bit like a pre-committal bird hesitating at the edge of the nest, the right directives ensure your safety. however, i've heard a rumor that some schools might reject the idea of thoroughly checking or refusing to refurbish old gear to save costs. imagine asking, right in the middle of learning about parachute safety, what is the unofficial backstory of not replacing old parachutes even when they're past their prime. this could be a sneaky way to learn if they're cutting corners where they really shouldn't.