Predestined to Die?

On May 21, 11:03*pm, BobW wrote:
On 5/21/2012 7:03 PM, Brad wrote:

Major snip...



We're all now just a bad landing or a turn into the hill away from
being a "statistic" here on RAS. Who will be the next topic of "Crunch
Alert"? and more to the point, what will it change in anyone's
behavior?

"{W]hat will it change in anyone's behavior?" is - to my way of thinking - the
sixty-four-thousand dollar question.

I'm inclined to think that if discussions as these - and the personal thought
that presumably is a part - does NOT change an individual's future behavior
(because it changes their outlook/thinking which in turn has power to alter
behavior), then so be it...but I'd ask a following question: Why not?

It's a serious question. A valid answer - in my mind - for NOT changing one's
outlook/behavior is the person is already "in the right place" mentally.
That's a great thing! (I like to think I got myself there regarding
inadvertent departures from controlled flight some time back in the 1980's,
for example.) Actually, that's the ONLY valid answer I've ever been able to
conjure up.

If there's anyone out there who seriously thinks differently, it certainly
seems a great topic for discussion!

Bob W.

I'm going to ruin the continuity of this discussion to go in a
slightly different direction. This is how I see it. I always look at
the big picture first, then work backward. Prioritize safety by
looking at the accident statistics, and figure out how you will
mitigate the most prevalent dangers first. Then so on, down the
line. We are like one child growing up. How can we keep repeating
the same mistakes that seem so obvious? How can we not learn from
them, correct behavior and move to a higher level? Lazy, complacent,
unenlightened to the dangers?

I'm fairly new to soaring, and I'm very engaged. I read a lot, study a
lot, practice on a sim, follow RAS, watch OLC, read accident
statistics, read a lot about general aviation safety issues and human
factors. I'm very excited about venturing out on cross countries.
I'm sort of mystified at the low percentage of our club members that
seem to be engaged to my level. Very few seem interested in silver
badges and up. Hardly anyone has an iPaq or uses the club flight
recorder, knows about IGC files, tasks and such.

Maybe there is something to be said for the French method of continued
education. Maybe there is a sub set of pilots that tend to shut down
after getting their ticket.

Sorry for the disorganized rambling. ...Aaron

No one seems interested in this topic, but it seems to me that
competition flying increases risk substantially. From the outside
lookin in, it honestly looks pretty scary.