On Jul 24, 9:26 pm, wrote:
instructors getting sued is a very rare occurence, particularly if the
instructor is thorough and documents his training well. i think most
of the risk is imagined. of course most CFI's, myself included, arent
really worth suing.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I think you are right, I certainly wasn't worth being sued when I was
instructing. I was also fortunate that, to the best of my knowledge,
none of my students was ever involved in a soaring accident.

I have no data on how many lawsuits are brought against glider school
operators or the instructors who work there. I do know of several
soaring center owners who left the business after accidents due to
skyrocketing liability insurance rates. If there weren't any lawsuits
or settlements or a very real possibility of them, then why would
their liability rates have gone up?

I strongly encourage any good soaring pilot who communicates well and
who does not have significant tangible assets to give becoming a CFIG
serious consideration. It is a lot of fun and provides a great deal of
personal satisfaction. And you will become a more skilled soaring
pilot because of it.

glider4

Having been in the glider school business full time and Part time
since 1962 I have no idea of the number of instructors and tow pilots
that have been a part of my life. Most have been extremely good, some
also-ran, but the absolute truth is that I know of NOT EVEN ONE ever
having been sued. Part of it is the fact that the lawyers look for
deep pockets, but the truth is that instructors and tow pilots are
responsible people who care for the outcomes of their actions.
Fear is a natural limit to action. Fear of a lawsuit as a result of
individual action would keep most people offf the road unless the
driver had some confidence that an accident need not happen.
My instructors are covered by my liability insurance...enough that
some level of defense is available.
The NTSB investigates aircraft accidents better than the highway
police do on highway accidents and that helps defend an instructor/tow
pilot.

If legal liability in flight instruction was a real concern, all
flying would end for students could not find a school or an
instructor.

Get a life and a rating, thereby giving someone else a life.
Fred Robinson