Scrumpot 1 #1 December 29, 2003 Any one else observe the same "interesting" parallels as potentially alluded to here? Hmmmm..... From "AvWeb", a bi-weekly Pilots and avation enthusiasts e-newsletter: Bush Pilot Wannabes Push Crash Stats? Idaho officials are wondering what to do about an alarming increase in air crashes, especially fatal ones. In 2003, there have been 50 crashes, eleven of them fatal, and 21 people have died. Compared to the averages over the previous 11 years, that works out to 38 percent more accidents, 57 percent more fatal crashes and 61 percent more fatalities. Government agencies like the NTSB and FAA could offer no explanation for the sharp increase (nor did they seem particularly concerned about it) but a veteran Idaho pilot thinks adventuresome pilots, long on finances but lean on experience, are pushing the numbers up. Gene Mussler said the state's picturesque back-country landing strips are a magnet to moneyed private pilots who lack the experience to fly in the tricky conditions in the mountains. "They're getting out into the mountains and the airstrips that are tricky and dangerous -- and they crash," said Mussler. Bob Martin, of the state's aeronautic division, couldn't agree more. "It's pilot error. We did an analysis," he said. "Guys fly up canyons and find out that they can't fly out, they end up on the side of a hill." Martin said the FAA should free up more money for training and safety programs. ----- Blue Skies all, -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #2 December 30, 2003 Martin said the FAA should free up more money for training and safety programs. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Why waste FAA training private pilots when that money could produce a far larger return chasing Al Queda suspects? Hee! Hee! Seriously, plenty of civilian flying schools offer short courses in mountain flying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scrumpot 1 #3 December 30, 2003 QuoteSeriously, plenty of civilian flying schools offer short courses in mountain flying. True. As do we now also offer several options on canopy control classes, both for the beginner as well as the advanced. ...Just some interesting paralells going on there, and observations noted (again), that's all. Blue Skies, -Grantcoitus non circum - Moab Stone Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflyguy 0 #4 January 2, 2004 Quote"It's pilot error. We did an analysis," he said. "Guys fly up canyons and find out that they can't fly out, they end up on the side of a hill." Martin said the FAA should free up more money for training and safety programs. ----- I have been to FAA mountian flying/unimproved strip seminars. They also have some that inlcude a CFI, andare even free, just provide a plane. If you want to fly in Idaho, there is another mountain seminar they do there every year. So, I think the problem isn't enough programs, it is what he said, moneyed pilots with not enough experience and education. Lack of education is a choice. The other factors involve pride, and lack of judgement. So in all, yeah very good paralel to skydiving. Very similar choices and mistakes being made. At Brian Burkes seminar he did at Eloy, he was actully quite reluctant to blame the errors on just small canopies. He is right, that isn't the only problem. I think training is very important, but experience and an individual that are capable are also very very important. ---------------------------- bzzzz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
