Don Johnstone wrote:

I agree that with the right glider, a competent and
experienced pilot it might not be a problem and then
again such a pilot would not need the warning in the
first place.

You're still missing the point, Don. In every other sphere of aviation
it's accepted that ALL pilots sometimes make silly errors - even the
most experienced. To cope with this, warning systems are mandated and
pilots are trained in their use and operation.

A pilot can only have an accident due to trying to lower the gear too
late if he's already failed to lower it early enough. That is the
primary cause of the accident. The BGA is starting half way down the
chain and saying the cause is the warning system. In the rest of
aviation, the cause of such accidents is (correctly) attributed to
inadequate skill or training of the pilot. To blame the warning system
would be seen as quite irrational.

Before it made its recommendation, did the BGA try to find out how many
accidents were PREVENTED by the presence of a warning system? I know
many gear-up landings on grass are fairly innocuous but a number are
not. What is the balance between accidents prevented by gear warnings
versus accidents 'caused' (in BGA terms) by them?

GC