Wacky Tracky

On Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 7:24:35 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Ramy quote:
"An FBO or the owner can refuse to tow you without a tracker, especially after they had to spend days searching for an aircraft which did not return in two separate occasions. In both cases the pilot probably thought that he did not need another stinkin electronic gadget in their cockpit, or could not afford $10 a month. In one case the pilot was found dead, in another he was found barely alive after couple of days."

As to if they want to refuse me a tow, that is their perogative. They own the business, they can do what they want. I have no problem with that. As for an official competition, same thing, whatever rules they want to set is their business, and I can choose to participate or not.

BUT, we sure are turning into a nanny state way faster than I realized. When I fly, I am on my own, I dont want anyone feeling obliged to look for me. I dont want outside folks setting up their own standards as to what they think constitutes an emergency involving me! Its no damn business where I fly or how I get there!

After working search and rescue for the last 20 years, I sure as hell dont depend on them. I hate to be brutal but sometimes the truth is brutal. The two incidents you mention are case in point. The dead guy screwed the pooch from the start so no amount of rescue is gonna help him, the second guy's life was also in his own hands. I dont know the particulars of his injury producing accident, I am sorry he got hurt and was lost and thankful he survived to fly another day, but it was HIS accident. Do not lay rules or requirments on me and other responsible pilots due to the poor decisions of others. I dont need rules committies or the FAA or other peoples opinions to "save me" from myself. I dont expect others to babysit me and I sure as hell hope you dont either!

I am no fool, as for "stinking electronics" (your words) I utilize "safety" oriented equipment, Spot, transponder etc, I have invested my cash into these systems but I do it knowing those tools are way way secondary to having my head screwed on straight when flying. We can armchair all we want after the fact, but the fact remains dang near every accident involving a sailplane boils down to pilot error. Prevent the pilot error and you prevent the accident. No accident is ever really "accidental".

Whether you want it or not, the reality is that if you dont return and no one heard from you, there are going to be multiple folks impacted, especially if you fly at a popular gliderport, and even more so if you are participating in a soaring event. Your buddies will likely be grounded due to SAR TFR and will spend time and money looking for you instead of flying (Remember Steve Fossett)? Been there, done that, don't want to repeat that.

Ramy