(Teacherjh) wrote in message ...

I don't even bother thinking of the many times when I landed with
either a helicopter or airplane on fumes and sweating it out the whole
way. Stupid? Nope... just a professional working the best way I can
under trying conditions.


I'd have to assume this is military or life-and-death missions. If not, I'd
question your risk/reward equation.

Jose

Jose
Well, you are polite about it and I appreciate that! If you think
about it, every time a pilot takes off it can very quickly turn into a
life or death situation. I've experienced 18 actual emergencies in
flight that I can relate to and have entered in my logbook. Most were
mechanical failures of some sort and I'm thankful that only one person
aside from myself was ever injured in the process.
No I don't make flying junk a habit. When critical components fail
after being replaced, whose fault is it? The pilot? The mechanic who
did the work? The facility who did the overhaul? The original design?
That is what the legal profession thrives on.
As I near the end of my flying days I think back on places I've flown,
the conditions, the equipment and the problems. Would not hesitate to
go back and try it again.
What pilot doesn't have some trepidation on the first solo? Or on the
first long XC, or the first actual IMC? The only difference in a new
pilot and an old gray hair like me is experience. I've never done a
trans-pac nor a trans-atlantic ferry flight and I am not particularly
interested yet pilots with less than a thousand hours will take it on
just for the experience.
So, who is the daredevil? What is their risk/reward ratio? To this
point I have tried to make a calculated decision for any given flight
and if it was risky I did even more thought to determine if it could
be done safely. I guess the problem is when you try to define what is
too risky or safe?
I see videos of guys hanging off the side of a cliff and even sleeping
there while they do a climb. Sure as hell will never see me doing
that! Yet I have made over a hundred free fall parachute jumps and see
no particular danger in that as long as I pay attention to my
equipment and conditions. I've got over a thousand logged hours
underwater yet feel threatened by diving in some areas of the world
where locals swim all the time.
Who is to say what is safe and what is not or what is stupid or not?
Interesting subject here and a great place to exchange views and
thoughts. If only some of them could not be such blind flamers......
best regards
SelwayKid