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#1
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How safe is the sport of soaring today
With the increase of glider accidents these days, just how safe is
this sport? There is always a element of risk associated with flying but how does soaring compare with other forms of aviation or motorsports? |
#2
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"Mot" wrote in message m... With the increase of glider accidents these days, just how safe is this sport? There is always a element of risk associated with flying but how does soaring compare with other forms of aviation or motorsports? I've been in this sport over four decades and every spring there is a rash of accidents as rusty pilots come out of hibernation. Comparing soaring to motorsports has much less to do with the equipment or procedures than with the safety culture of the group. Safety boils down to the loose nut at the controls. Soaring is neither more dangerous nor safer than the pilot makes it. I know a half dozen or so who, sooner or later, will certainly kill themselves. I know a lot more that will never so much as put a scratch on their gliders no matter how much they fly. I just wish the former would pay a lot more attention to the latter. Bill Daniels |
#3
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At 19:06 13 May 2004, Bill Daniels wrote:
'Mot' wrote in message om... With the increase of glider accidents these days, just how safe is this sport? There is always a element of risk associated with flying but how does soaring compare with other forms of aviation or motorsports? I've been in this sport over four decades and every spring there is a rash of accidents as rusty pilots come out of hibernation. Comparing soaring to motorsports has much less to do with the equipment or procedures than with the safety culture of the group. Safety boils down to the loose nut at the controls. Soaring is neither more dangerous nor safer than the pilot makes it. I know a half dozen or so who, sooner or later, will certainly kill themselves. I know a lot more that will never so much as put a scratch on their gliders no matter how much they fly. I just wish the former would pay a lot more attention to the latter. Bill Daniels Amen to that DAJ 401 |
#4
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Whenever this subject comes up, as it often does, I like to refer to the
site maintained by DG/LS. Bruno Gantenbrinck's essay pretty much says it all --- BTW, thanks DG/LS! http://www.dg-flugzeugbau.de/index-e.html Bob Johnson Mot wrote: With the increase of glider accidents these days, just how safe is this sport? There is always a element of risk associated with flying but how does soaring compare with other forms of aviation or motorsports? |
#5
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"Asbjorn Hojmark" wrote in message city.dk... On Thu, 13 May 2004 18:51:50 GMT, "Bill Daniels" wrote: I know a half dozen or so who, sooner or later, will certainly kill themselves. Really?! What are you going to do about it? First, realize that there are some people who will never operate a glider safely. No amount of training will change them. No amount of persuasion will make them find a hobby which is practiced at ground level. I suspect all instructors have a short list of pilots who would be better off doing something else. Second, I make absolutely sure my signature never appears in their logbook meaning I will never pass them on a flight review. Where possible, I would attempt to persuade other instructors of that view. In fact, I find instructors have VERY similar lists. It makes me wonder why insurance companies haven't offered to buy those lists. Beyond that, in a litigious society like the USA, there isn't much one can do except try not to be present when the inevitable happens. Bill Daniels |
#6
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Second, I make absolutely sure my signature never appears in their logbook meaning I will never pass them on a flight review. Shouldn't we be telling these guys exactly what we think? I know of 2 pilots that were killed in sailplanes where their instructor later said, "I knew it was going to happen". Aren't we doing everyone a disservice by sighing them off when we really don't think they are safe? I'm not talking about you Bill, But someone is sighing these marginal people off every 2 years. If an instructor were to tell them the truth, as he sees it, they might just get the message. JJ Sinclair |
#7
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"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message ... Second, I make absolutely sure my signature never appears in their logbook meaning I will never pass them on a flight review. Shouldn't we be telling these guys exactly what we think? I know of 2 pilots that were killed in sailplanes where their instructor later said, "I knew it was going to happen". Aren't we doing everyone a disservice by sighing them off when we really don't think they are safe? I'm not talking about you Bill, But someone is sighing these marginal people off every 2 years. If an instructor were to tell them the truth, as he sees it, they might just get the message. JJ Sinclair [their instructor later said, "I knew it was going to happen."] That statement is a prima facie basis for a professional negligence lawsuit and perhaps criminal prosecution for negligent homicide. It's also the basis for the FAA to suspend an instructor certificate. I wish these instructors would think about THAT. I've told a few pilots just what I think and all it's got me is unpopularity. They just find an easier instructor or, if they own their own glider, they don't bother getting a BFR. I know of a few that no instructor will admit signing off. Most of the time these days when I do a BFR it's a pilot that I personally know and whose skills I respect. Bill Daniels |
#8
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"JJ Sinclair" wrote in message ... ... But someone is sighing these marginal people off every 2 years. Not necessarily true, at least not necessarily in a glider. It is possible to be an adequate power pilot but a dangerous glider pilot (or the other way around) but a flight review is only required in one category. Vaughn |
#9
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Not to be difficult or necessarily disagree that there are pilots who
are accidents waiting to happen, but... ....most of the fatal accidents so far this year seem to have involved highly experienced pilots with good reputations. Telling ourselves that "it only happens to the bad pilots" and "it isn't really all that risky" could either be true, or could be dangerously close to denial (or overconfidence). The evidence does suggest it's not entirely true. |
#10
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Bruno Gantenbrinck's essay pretty much says it
I read this excellent essay and was surprised to see Heini Heiress's name listed in the essay. Heini's son - Dieter was killed in his glider last month - 30 years after his father's death. A more safety conscience pilot was hard to find. Everything about his glider was also immaculate. He was a pilot that represented South Africa on three occasions in the World Gliding Championships in the Std Class. Soaring is a sport that can bite any participant - even the best! Clinton Birch LAK 12 |
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