At 18:23 25 January 2011, Andy wrote:
On Jan 25, 8:47=A0am, Doug Greenwell wrote:

I don't have the data for average GA flight duration, but I'd bet
it's
rather longer than 13min - even if it's only half an hour, that
brings
the accident rate per movement to a comparable level to gliding

Not sure that's valid unless you know the nature of the GA flight.
That half hour could have one takeoff and one landing or it could have
been spent circuit bashing (performing multiple takeoffs and
landings).

Andy

fair point - this is the trouble with comparing accident records of any
sort ... what's a good indicator for one activity doesn't give a clear
picture for another. I guess you'd have to drill down into accident
rates by flight phase - which I'm sure someone somewhere must have done.


Still the odds look pretty good to me ... I have more heart-stoppingly
near-death experiences in one days cycling than in a years flying, and the
proportion of mad b*&%$&s actually trying to kill you is far lower :-)

Doug