"M B" wrote in message
...
Maybe more to the point is not the hours, but
what could be done to change this?

(Disclaimer: I am speaking in generalities and not necessarily about this
accident in particular)

The exercise of good common sense by operators and insurers would go far to
"change this". Let's not insist on the government doing our thinking for us, we
are unlikely to be happy with the result. The exercise of such "common sense"
that goes far beyond the minimum letter of the FARs is very common in the
soaring world. I do not always agree with this "ad hock" regulation (any more
than I agree with every word in the FARs), but I agree that it is a necessary
thing.

A few tiny examples; 1) In a club I was associated with years ago, I saw
new CFIG's (especially those new to the club) told to "watch and wait" for a
period of time before they started instructing. At that same club, you needed
over 100 flights to even be considered to fly some of the equipment. 2) I don't
recall the operator I worked for ever allowing a non-CFIG Commercial pilot to
give commercial rides. 3) I remember when Mile-High came to Florida to sell
rides; they advertised for Commercial pilots and were demanding very significant
2-32 time/# of flights from applicants. 4) I know of no commercial operator
that will rent you a ship without a local checkout, many will not even sell you
a tow. None of this is required by the FARs. 5) Everybody has a story about
insurance company requirements that go far beyond the FARs, insurance companies
are emerging as our new regulators. Their regulation may seem arbitrary, but
they do not operate in a vacuum. We are customers and hold "the power of the
checkbook".

Let us learn from accidents and religiously apply what we learn to prevent
further accidents, but please! let's not ask for more regulation.

Vaughn