GA _is_ safer than some modes of transport. Was: Tragedy

In article . com,
says...


Jim

Thanks for the interesting statistics that compare GA favorably to
other "recreational" type modes of transport. I'd be interested to see
a comparison with horse riding, which I suspect has actually got a
pretty bad accident rate, although not many people would think of it
that way.

Snowmobiles are very dangerous too. The big problem, common to GA and to
motorcycles, comes with the word "transportation". When it's horses,
snowmobiles, etc, people ride for leisure, and do not have to get anywhere.
When motorcyclists and private pilots (and bicycle riders too) decide to
conjugate pleasure with necessity, and use their vehicle to get where they're
going, they impose "get there" pressures that increase risk. They ride or fly
in conditions that would normally have kept them grounded. Continued VFR into
IMC, though not "inevitable", becomes much more probable when a pilot is a
thousand miles from home, and has to be back for work, or get the plane back,
or whatever. If you'er going to fly to get places, then sooner or later the
weather will catch up with you. If you are not IR rated, sharp and proficient
the day that happens, you have taken an ill-considered risk.


And, although I've not been posting to this group long, I've learned
enouigh already to observe that you have no hope of elucidating any
kind of "reasonable debate" from Skylune.

Ah, but there's method to his madness.
He's there to irk private pilots, and knows enough about the subject to do so.
It must be fun for him, sitting back and watching knees jerk!

G Faris