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"JohnH" wrote in message et... Paul Lynch wrote: Apples and oranges, supported by unsupportable numbers. "Ephraim" wrote in message om... Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim I would like to know, you know, for the next time someone rolls their eyes upward when I tell them I'm taking soaring lessons :-) john orlando, fl The only statistics that made any sense at all to me was that there is a general statistical risk of accidental death of any type and that soaring is safer than this general risk. Therefore, compared to other activities, though it may seem higher than some that you participate in, liking driving to the glider field, it likely does not increase your overall risk much. That being said, a quick visit to www.ntsb.gov is in order. Go to Aviation, databases, and filter on gliders for this year. So, a crash landing in the trees may be safer than trying to land in a narrow patch between trees? Crash landing in cold water is preferable to landing on rocks? (BTW, a young boy drowned due to hypothermia trying to swim across the same reservoir the following week). Rock polishing may be very dangerous, as there were at least two perfectly landable fields 800ft below the impact point in Morgan City, Utah (I've seen a photo). These are relative judgement issues and our collective experience set is too small to say what the right or wrong decision might be in some cases. The environmental implications cannot be ignored, but are only a factor in making the decision to fly, press on, etc. We can always take the decision to err on the side of caution and live to fly another day. Gaining the wisdom to make that decision is highly individual...... Among the cross country experienced soaring pilots, there's not a one that hasn't had a chance to get wiser and older. A factor I find more disturbing when combing through these records over the years is that there is a much higher incidence of hardware failure or compromise than I would have expected and have heard about in passing hangar talk. This is beyond the rigging and latching errors. The first large government agency that I worked for had a very strict rule regarding moving accidents, and that is, that all are preventable. But you must strive for this sort of perfection. Mentoring, cross-country camps, task weeks, and lead and follow flying are all excellent ways to improve the skills and judgement required to experience soaring safely beyond the local area. In some soaring organizations, it's built into the process through a tiered, value added process of inculcating members and promoting their opportunities. In others, it's an add-on process. IMVHO, one is more effective than the other, but both have their place. Frank Whiteley |
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Safety statistics
Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with
statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim |
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Apples and oranges, supported by unsupportable numbers.
"Ephraim" wrote in message om... Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim |
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Paul Lynch wrote:
Apples and oranges, supported by unsupportable numbers. "Ephraim" wrote in message om... Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim I would like to know, you know, for the next time someone rolls their eyes upward when I tell them I'm taking soaring lessons :-) john orlando, fl |
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"JohnH" wrote in message et... Paul Lynch wrote: Apples and oranges, supported by unsupportable numbers. I would like to know, you know, for the next time someone rolls their eyes upward when I tell them I'm taking soaring lessons :-) Then try to find safety statistics that compare soaring to common sports, such as baseball, skiing or scuba diving; then you will be talking about a more "apples to apples" comparison. Even though a glider is a vehicle of sorts, soaring is more of a sport than a mode of transportation. Honestly, you are porbably safer sitting in your easy chair in front of the boob tube than driving in your car, and you are probably safer driving your car than flying in your glider; all different types of activities, engaged in for totally different reasons. Vaughn Palm Beach, FL john orlando, fl |
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Paul Lynch wrote:
Apples and oranges, supported by unsupportable numbers. I read the Bruno dissertation on safety, made sense but I still have no idea how soaring rates relative, to say, my motorcycle touring... I'll keep on reading.... john orlando fl |
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Ephraim wrote:
Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim Easy question to answer... No! |
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Government statistics tell us that;
1. There are more than 40,000,000 vehicles registered for road use in the UK. If only half are used each day, many on multiple journeys, say 5 each, that means over 100million vehicle journeys each day. On average UK drivers slaughter 10 persons per day. In the history of Uk gliding we have not done 100million launches and have certainly killed more than 10 people. 2. More people die in a hospital bed than anywhere else in the UK. So if you crash your glider don't go to hospital!!!!! One of my first instructors would rarely fly in a thermal with another glider and made the point that every pilot of every other aircraft airborne was flying blind and was out to get him. Eventually he died in a hospital bed, aged 86, which I suppose proves the point.....whatever it is. Weeeell, that may depend on who your copilot is in the bed! :-) Ian 'Al' wrote in message ... Your gonna die no matter what.... is staying in bed until that moment safer..? Probably.... is it more exciting than soaring NO... Al 'Ephraim' wrote in message om... Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim |
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Statistics are like a lamp-post to a drunk. More for
leaning on than illumination. Why do you want them? Owain At 09:42 29 August 2003, Dave Martin wrote: Government statistics tell us that; 1. There are more than 40,000,000 vehicles registered for road use in the UK. If only half are used each day, many on multiple journeys, say 5 each, that means over 100million vehicle journeys each day. On average UK drivers slaughter 10 persons per day. In the history of Uk gliding we have not done 100million launches and have certainly killed more than 10 people. 2. More people die in a hospital bed than anywhere else in the UK. So if you crash your glider don't go to hospital!!!!! One of my first instructors would rarely fly in a thermal with another glider and made the point that every pilot of every other aircraft airborne was flying blind and was out to get him. Eventually he died in a hospital bed, aged 86, which I suppose proves the point.....whatever it is. Weeeell, that may depend on who your copilot is in the bed! :-) Ian 'Al' wrote in message ... Your gonna die no matter what.... is staying in bed until that moment safer..? Probably.... is it more exciting than soaring NO... Al 'Ephraim' wrote in message om... Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim |
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Shawn Curry wrote in message link.net...
Ephraim wrote: Can anyone tell me how safety statistics for soaring compares with statistics for driving automobiles? Thanks in advance, --Ephraim Easy question to answer... No! What I tell people is that 'gliding is safe, untill you forget how dangerous it really is'. I forget who told me that but it made perfect sense to me ! |
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