Hi there all, just another pause for thought from your Safety Officer. Before I go on, just a reminder that the Big Fat Repack is upon us and is better than ever. I don't need to tell you how important it is to get your kit checked out. Last year we found that 10% of reserves had errors in packing and that at least 3 would not have functioned at all!!! Sign up at http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/index.php/bfr
Anyway, back to that roulette wheel.
http://mmixgliding.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/from-hero-to-zero-day-ill-never-forget.html
I was reading this article by a young glider pilot the other day which is about the day he wrote off a £70,000 glider, but more importantly, acme to the realisation that he'd almost killed himself. Time after time he had carried out unsafe or risky manoeuvres but had 'got away with it'. A phrase comes to mind…. 'A superior pilot uses their superior judgement so they don't have to use their superior skill'. How often have you made a decision that required you to step up to the mark and make another, more rapid, decision or to start more actively flying the wing in order to stay safe? When this happens do you tell yourself the truth, that you got away with it this time but might not in the future? How often do you need to spin that particular roulette wheel before you land on double zero?
So what am I saying or asking here? That I'm a goody two-shoes that never takes a risk? No. That I don't get excited when flying XC? No. That the horns don't come out sometimes when the goal is in sight? No.
I only ask that we all take a good long hard look at our flying and recognise those times when we're increasing the risk level through poor decision making, but then made another decision or used our superior flying skill and…. nothing happened. Once you recognise those situations as being inherently risky then you can start to do something about it before you're forced to by an accident or incident.
Fly safe and I'll see you on the hill, and if you'd like to reply to this please use the address below and don't reply to the whole club!
Nick Smith
TVHGC Safety Officer