On Thursday, June 20, 2013 8:38:05 AM UTC-4, Tom K (ES) wrote:
http://www.thealmanac.net/article/20...5#.UcL21Plwp8E
"As far as flying goes, Wilson says it’s very safe."
On the off chance that Wilson did in fact say this, I cringe. A few people said similar things to me when I first started to fly, so I'll assume that it was said.
How about saying this instead, "Flying in a glider is inherently dangerous, but we do a lot to make it safer."
Is there no consensus that it is problematic to misrepresent or discount the inherent dangers of soaring? The moral (and legal) ramifications of a newcomer having an accident after being told that the sport is safe are grave..
Admitting that the sport is inherently dangerous and having an adult conversation about those dangers before a new person hops into the glider is not going to scare away the good candidates. I think that the opposite may be true.