Better drivers?

Chris W wrote:

Peter Duniho wrote:


Given that I've seen no evidence that pilots on the whole are better
at avoiding crashes in airplanes than they otherwise would
statistically be expected to be, I see no reason to think they would
be better drivers. That is, if they can't even be better-than-average
in flying than they'd be expected to be, why would one expect them to
be better-than-average in anything else?


How on earth could the average person preform better than average? By
definition that is impossible.


You've obviously never been to Lake Wobegon.


Matt

"Chris W" wrote in message
news:zoEig.52763$9c6.36774@dukeread11...
How on earth could the average person preform better than average? By
definition that is impossible.

I have no idea what you mean.

I am a better than average computer programmer, but a less than average
baseball player. Obviously being an "average person" (or even "less than
average person") does not preclude me also being a "better than average"
person.

Pete

Chris W writes:

Given that I've seen no evidence that pilots on the whole are better at
avoiding crashes in airplanes than they otherwise would statistically be
expected to be, I see no reason to think they would be better drivers. That
is, if they can't even be better-than-average in flying than they'd be
expected to be, why would one expect them to be better-than-average in
anything else?

How on earth could the average person preform better than average? By
definition that is impossible.

I recall (but not so well that I can readily provide a reference) that
this is fairly common. I suppose it depends on your definition of
"average person."

For an extreme example, let's say that there are 100 GA pilots and only
one GA crash in a year. The average is .01 crashes/pilot, right? And
99% of the pilots have done better than that by not crashing, right?

Even if you want to use some definition of "average person" that results
in a partial crash per year, almost all of your pilots have done
"better-than-average" (as stated in the part you quoted).

(Yes, this is getting off of the flying/driving thread a bit.)

--kyler

Even if you want to use some definition of "average person" that results
in a partial crash per year, almost all of your pilots have done
"better-than-average" (as stated in the part you quoted).

Almost all of your pilots are not average pilots. The issue wasn't
"almost all" but "average".

Jose
--
The price of freedom is... well... freedom.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

by "Peter Duniho" Jun 9, 2006 at 05:37 PM


"What I *would* agree with is that pilots are an arrogant lot, with a
tendency to think that they are superior to the average person and a
misplaced belief that that above-average-ness permeates throughout their
entire existence. I've seen that attitude posted here enough, that's for

sure.




Agreed. No one personifies this attitude better than Boyer, a
megalomaniac who thinks the Congress and FAA report to him, and that the
nonflying "civilians" affected by small planes and GA airport have no
rights, or even ability to comment, even though it is their tax dollars
subsidizing the business.

This arrogant attitude is why some pilots react angrily and irrationally
when faced with facts about things like FAA funding sources.

Skylune wrote:
by "Peter Duniho" Jun 9, 2006 at 05:37 PM


"What I *would* agree with is that pilots are an arrogant lot, with a tendency to think that
they are superior to the average person


Hey, that's how it exactly is in my country where aviation education
can only be afforded by roughly 1 in 1,000. Most Indian pilots are an
awfully snooty lot... heard so many say that

Ramapriya

wrote in message
oups.com...
Skylune wrote:

"What I *would* agree with is that pilots are an arrogant lot, with a
tendency to think that
they are superior to the average person

We don't think that, we KNOW that.



Most Indian pilots are an
awfully snooty lot...

Deservedly so!!

--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO (MTJ)

"Matt Barrow" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Skylune wrote:

"What I *would* agree with is that pilots are an arrogant lot, with a
tendency to think that
they are superior to the average person

We don't think that, we KNOW that.


I've watched a husband/wife team (friends of ours) run through this:

He makes some comment
She says "You think"
He says, "I don't think; I know!"
She says "I don't think(pause) you know; either."

Al G

wrote:


Hey, that's how it exactly is in my country where aviation education
can only be afforded by roughly 1 in 1,000. Most Indian pilots are an
awfully snooty lot... heard so many say that

I met a 15 year old Indian student pilot. A really, really nice, and
very intelligent kid, who plans to be an airline pilot, possibly for an
Indian airline.

His mom rode along in the back seat, in traditional dress, for his first
few lessons. As usual, the first lesson involved parking and
securing the plane after the lesson. He's maybe 120 pounds soaking wet.
Watching him push a Warrior into the tie-down as pretty funny, until
we helped him out. The whole thing was kind of cute.

We'd kid him as the only pilot in history who needs to add nose weight
to solo. G (he dosen't REALLY need to...)

By now, he's probably got his commercial, and I don't think he has a
driver's license.

B A R R Y wrote:
wrote:

Hey, that's how it exactly is in my country where aviation education
can only be afforded by roughly 1 in 1,000. Most Indian pilots are an
awfully snooty lot... heard so many say that

I met a 15 year old Indian student pilot. A really, really nice, and
very intelligent kid, who plans to be an airline pilot, possibly for an
Indian airline.

His mom rode along in the back seat, in traditional dress, for his first
few lessons. As usual, the first lesson involved parking and
securing the plane after the lesson. He's maybe 120 pounds soaking wet.
Watching him push a Warrior into the tie-down as pretty funny, until
we helped him out. The whole thing was kind of cute.

We'd kid him as the only pilot in history who needs to add nose weight
to solo. G (he dosen't REALLY need to...)

By now, he's probably got his commercial, and I don't think he has a
driver's license.


Nice one

I got my 8-yr old son to do an ultralight ride recently. He was excited
enough to answer "Yes" soon as I asked him whether he'd like the idea
of enrolling for a license (yep, you need a license even for
ultralights here in Dubai). Mulled over it awhile, then discussed it
with a pilot friend who laughed at the idea and I left it at that. And
that very guy mailed me a tale of an 8-yr old Californian flying
ultralight solos, just to rub it in

Btw, that ultralight didn't even have an attitude indicator or
inclinometer! And airspeed was in kilometers per hour, like in my car,
not knots. Top that?

Ramapriya