Bill Daniels wrote:

I'm not at all sure the number of accident would increase if we flew
more. The full-time glider pilots I know fly year in and out with no
incidents much less accidents. Flying a glider safely isn't hard, it
just takes training, experience, unrelenting alertness and a
commitment to become the best pilot possible.

Nonetheless, the pilots I'm thinking of are not the 50 hour a year
pilots, but people like Clem Bowman, Peter Masak, Klaus Holighaus,
Helmut Reichmann.


Most of the accidents I know about happened to the
"fly-one-week-a-year" pilots who, if asked, would say that they
"completed" their flight training X years ago and feel no need to
submit to additional training. No pilots flight training is ever
completed - there's always more to learn.

I agree with the need to continue learning.

I may be a statistical anomaly but, in over four decades of driving
and flying, I know a LOT more people that died in cars than gliders -
by about a 10:1 ratio.

Five of my high school classmates died within a year of graduation in
car accidents. Eight of my college classmates died before
graduation. Seat belts and air bags have reduced the number of
fatalities but now those unfortunates wind up in wheel chairs.

But you are now considering "everyone", not just glider pilots. I think
we are talking only of glider pilots, and whether it's cars or gliders
that kills them. If we include everyone we know, your experience is
probably common, because we know a lot more people that aren't glider
pilots.


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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA