I wrote the first post as I really know and understand what ride pilots do for our sport. NOTHING was mentioned nor implied that there is a safety versus commercial pressure. Just the opposite, if you ding an airplane you have stopped your revenue stream. Perhaps there are days when you choose not to fly because it is very turbulent , high x-winds, rainy.... choose your own less fun. The ride pilots fly those days, safely (I know of only two rides that have had accidents including the one in Tetons). These pilots are good because they fly in most weather and they fly 5-11 rides a day.
I will say it again, my respect to all the ride pilots and CFI's out there flying daily in conditions many private owns choose not to fly!

On Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 10:43:24 PM UTC-7, wrote:
I prefer to start this new thread rather than to pollute the original, related to the recent fatal Teton crash. I have some reservations concerning this posting:

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/rec....w/UPoMSUMjBgAJ

"My hats off to the commercial pilots and CFI's out there that often times are the lifeblood of the glider operations. These operations depend on people walking in the door to buy a ride and the ride pilots many times take that ride on a day when the private owners, who can choose when they want to fly, would choose not to fly! These pilots fly those rides to pay the bills, to keep the customer happy, and damnit, it is business hours we are open. These pilots are unsung, but so very important. Very rarely, one of these experienced pilots comes up against a force they did not recognize in time. My heart goes out to the families of the lost and to the pilots whom safely fly rides everyday in most conditions many would not venture."

If "many would not venture" in some conditions, I very strongly doubt it to be sensible to give a joyride to an ignorant customer in those same conditions. Marginal conditions can be killers. Bowing to commercial pressure in these conditions is taking a big risk. I'm glad not every commercial operation takes this kind of risk.

I'm not saying that this was a factor in the Teton crash, I have no idea what the conditions were that day / at that location. It's the general idea of "It's normal to take risks if it's for the money" I find deeply disturbing.