And why do *I* harp on this? Because IMHO the attitude that *everyone*
makes bad decisions, and that this is somehow expected and okay, is
what is going to get pilots killed.

Everyone makes bad decisions. It is not "ok" any more than hurricaines
are "ok". But they happen. Saying that is =not= saying that minimizing
bad decisions, and minimizing the =impact= of bad decisions, is not
important. It is. But badmouthing pilots does not help minimize bad
decisions.

To pilot well is to strive for perfection.

Failure to achieve perfection does not make one a bad pilot.
Consistantly failing to come close however does. That's the difference.
Don't be misled by the statistic of one.

When I make mistakes [...], I'm a bad pilot.

So you can go from good pilot to bad pilot to good pilot in fifteen seconds?

If that mistake kills me, I'm a REALLY bad pilot.

No, you are unlucky. The badness of your piloting has to do with what
you =do=, not with how it turns out.

To accept that ultimate, unrelenting, 100% reponsibility is what
separates pilots from passengers, IMHO.

Well put, but besides the point. A single error can get you killed, but
it is the =tendency= to make errors that makes you a good or bad pilot.

Place your bets where you will (and there are good and bad places to
place your bets) but the dice still roll.

Jose
--
Money: what you need when you run out of brains.
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