View Single Post
  #54  
Old February 14th 12, 01:00 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring,rec.aviation.piloting,rec.aviation.military
Bob Kuykendall
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,345
Default How difficult, Jeb Corliss wing suit stunt?

On Feb 13, 4:40*pm, Dean Markley wrote:

You are wrong. *Aviation or at least commercial aviation is inherently
safe.


I don't necessarily agree with that. The phrase I use to describe
aviation is "statistically safe, but inherently unforgiving."

To me, the phrase "inherently safe" refers to an activity that has few
if any operational modes where constant alertness and engagement is a
prerequisite for continued survival. I think that something is
"inherently safe" when you can turn your back on it, go to sleep, and
expect to wake up an hour later in good health. That covers the vast
majority of aviation passengers, but certainly not pilots. As the old
joke goes, I want to die in my sleep like grandpa, not screaming in
terror like his passengers.

Thanks, Bob K.