ARE MICROLIGHTS DANGEROUS

[3wheels]

Are Microlights dangerous ??

Hell yes, so is a car, bike, crossing the street..........not quite the right comparison is what I am always told.
There is this definate perception that micros are dangerous, on numerous occasions I get asked "is that thing safe?" What I have realised is that people take one look at a trike and it really looks nothing like a "blik" but yet it can fly.......... The thought of open cockpit and sitting so open is somewhat intimidating. I must admit, I also felt that way at first.

You hear everyone saying, micros are safe, its the pilots that are not. Yes and no in my opinion...... I believe that anything can break at anytime, yes you can do all the pre flights, post flights and stick to the maint schedules but if its time to break, it will break!! Wing failure, struct failure will kill the most experienced pilot around.

I found that when flying this weekend, at 7500ft, the thought of wing failure put a cold shiver down my spine, especially after this recent accident on the beach. I was not completely at ease, honestly, it scared the shit out of me........... I have now bought a chute and it will be fitted this week.

It's a dangerous sport, make it as safe as possible (Ballistic chute, correct maint, responsible flying....etc) and pray that your landings always equal your take off''s'

[John Boucher]

Well Duckie... at the moment that sounds about right!

It is downright frustrasting....

[pilot 4 ever]

Hi all
Thanks so much for all your advice.
3 wheels, you said that you are getting a ballistic chute fitted to your plan.
What are the cost of the thing and how exactly does it work.
Some pilots I have spoken to say that I would be wasting my money if I put one of those things on the microlight.

[Morph]

I , as most of us do , have ridden bicycle and driven cars, and fewer than most , ridden motorcycles at insane speeds(275km/h), much less than everyone flown microlights.......

I have more injuries from bicycles, and especially motorcycles than I have had from Microlights. In fact microlights 0 everything else 5

The fact of being suspended above the earth, at 200, 500, 1000, 8000ft freaks a lot of folks out, thinking you are about to fall, uncontrollably to your death is really the issue. Hence the parachute requirement. What they, the uneducated do not realise is, you are NOT out of control, you are NOT without abilities. You ARE IN control of a perfect flying device. Capable of souring through the air, with or without engine power, and remaining in full control until the point of gracefully reuniting your mortal being with the earth.

I am not discounting the fact that you could have what is known as "catastrophic failure", i.e. the Sh!t hits the fan, everything breaks apart and yes you uncontrollably fall. This is extremely rare, much more rare as, on a bike you encounter that perfect left hand bend going over the Outeniqua pass, drop her in and the front tyre gives way (Sh!t the wall), or you are perfectly in control bring her up to accelerate, a larger 4 wheel vehicle suddenly changes lanes because "Sally" sees a cute little doggie on the side of the road, or approaching a traffic light with your family in the car and even though it is green for you the unimmagined happens and a bus, can't stop.........

Anything you do to defy the laws of nature (man must walk, not fly, swim, or or be in control of a motorised vehicle) is prone to danger.

In the air there is your craft, if well maintained a perfect flying device, your self (the common point in all of this) and the air(no taxi's, no busses, trucks, sharp bends etc).

Stick to the rules, trust the machine, believe in yourself. You will be safe.

PS: Are you petrified of water? you drink it, cook with it, bath your babies in it, swim in it. But it kills far more people that microlights do. The point is you have learned to control it.

So it is with flight. Training teaches you to control it and have the most fun you have had in your entire lifetime.

[slysi]

Slysi - Any way we can change your wife`s perception ?

I just stormed voort, bought a trike. After several months of Arctic weather she is starting to show more interest in the plane. Maybe she will be flying in the next two years.

Eish Carel, I have been racking my brains trying to think of a way. She has even been for a flip and loved it. In some ways I understand her concerns as there is an element of risk. But I will keep battling away. Now if Sox got off his arse and bought any aerie then that may help a bit.

An interesting "fact" though. I am in the life insurance industry and a couple of weeks ago I had lunch with our reinsurance company. Their job is to take some risk off our balance sheet and hence they have huge influence over the premiums we charge. I asked them why the insist on loading a policy where the life insured has an MPL. Quite simply they say that "stats" show that they are more dangerous than fixed wing aircraft!!!

Me thinks there stats are out of dat!!!!!

[Big-D]

Are Microlight dangerous - The BIG question

I don't think so - But I also believe you should not be flying if not in the right state of mind.

As many of you know I lost my nerve for flying at 234hours

There were a few accidents which spooked me, and the last couple of hours spent flying I was REALLY uncomfortable for no apparant reason.

I have not flown for 3 months now - I REALLY miss it, but not quite ready to take to the skies again. I had one of the Rietfontein boys fly over my house early one morning and I found myself staring up at the sky with tears in my eyes. My wife insisted I go out and buy a new trike immediatly after she witnessed this, so I guess I am lucky in that she supports my flying.

Are microlights dangerous? No, but people are and always ask yourself why you are doing something (like taking off in 16knot crosswind) before you do it

My 2c

D
(I will be back)

[Morph]

Quite simply they say that "stats" show that they are more dangerous than fixed wing aircraft!!!

Me thinks there stats are out of dat!!!!!

Get them to show you the stats. Would be interesting

[Dish]

I normally like to live by the Golden Rule....

i.e. he who makes the gold makes the rules ???

To echo the last chaps, its as safe as your going to make it. Maintain maintain and maintain.... check everything twice and then for shits and giggles - check it again... I see planes take off that are filthy, covered in bird and havent been flown in ages and that dont look like theyre particularly well looked after. ??Makes me wonder that if the outside looks like that, what do the mechanics look like ?? Dont get me wrong, im not saying that every dirty plane is a risk, im merely suggesting that the state of the aircraft gives a reasonable idea as to its maintenance.

We all understand the concerns of the softnesses and in truth we should be glad theyre concerned. Imagine if she said " sure mate, poddle off and go and do something stupid to you body??" Might make you wonder... best way of convincing in my book is her experience of you. If she knows you to be a wild thing whose come home on 50 occasions with broken bones from acts of hooliganism (like jumping your mx bike over the pool) - she might have more cause for concern. ?? if she knows you as a responsible, meticulous lad, she might worry less..... no wait that doesnt make sense because some of the best pilots here are wild children with precious little responsibility.... ! Okay - apologies, ignore this post...

Good luck convincing her mate- hope to see you in the skies soon...

[Tumbleweed]

Simon, there's a way to help your cause (and ours),

You need to challenge those stats, and have them provide the all important;

Hours flown per type (trike e.t.c.)/ per accident ( how and to what degree)/ per year.

You need to get the hours flown from ATF application and licence renewals and not from the 16 guys who re-insure their trikes. (will probably show that most ppl's flying is limited to just keeping current).

Then you can use my/ similar expense / aggrevation stat of cost per km including traffic/ road rage/ fuel bill, toll roads, pot holes, the all important speed fines and drive-thu crap and compare the cost and fun factor per distance travelled.

Who knows, she might just buy you a new trike for your next birthday.

[slysi]

Nice post Big-D! I think you have highlighted an important point which is how a person mentally approaches flying. If a person feels uncomfortable then don't fly. I believe we can do ourselves alot of damage by ignoring our own intuition.

I hope you take to the skys soon.

[Sox]

If she knows you to be a wild thing who comes home on 50 occasions with broken bones from acts of hooliganism

Slysi ... does getting murdered with your mates and not being able to get your head off your pillow on Sunday morning and falling down the stairs count as a "act of hooliganism" in your Moms eyes? If so then you really are going to have an uphill battle convincing her otherwise!

[Tobie]

Well said Morph in your earlier reply.

[GregH]

Well yes of course there is an element of danger but it is most down to what people are saying. Fly sensibly, within your and the aircrafts capabilities and the chances of anything serious happening are low. Here are some stats from the Oooo-K.
FATAL Accidents to aeroplane under 5700kg exc microlights in 2007 ...............12
Ditto microlights.....................................................................................3

Number registered .................................................................................8900
Ditto microlights......................................................................................4100

I guess this does not take in to account hours, however I'd argue that for microlights the average hours flown is higher than for GA.

Anyhooo, regarding convincing the missus, does she watch Dr Phil?? Dr Phil is a pilot and staunchly defends flying. And flying microlights is safer than GA (arguably), so tell her you are only doing what big Phil does, but even safer!!!

[slysi]

If she knows you to be a wild thing who comes home on 50 occasions with broken bones from acts of hooliganism

Slysi ... does getting murdered with your mates and not being able to get your head off your pillow on Sunday morning and falling down the stairs count as a "act of hooliganism" in your Moms eyes? If so then you really are going to have an uphill battle convincing her otherwise!

Don't let too many secrets out now Sox...otherwise I will haver to spill the beans on your pink willy warmers

[cjkrit]

Are Microlights dangerous ??

You hear everyone saying, micros are safe, its the pilots that are not. Yes and no in my opinion...... I believe that anything can break at anytime, yes you can do all the pre flights, post flights and stick to the maint schedules but if its time to break, it will break!! Wing failure, struct failure will kill the most experienced pilot around.

I found that when flying this weekend, at 7500ft, the thought of wing failure put a cold shiver down my spine, especially after this recent accident on the beach. I was not completely at ease, honestly, it scared the shit out of me........... I have now bought a chute and it will be fitted this week.

That is the problem that I have with microlights- For that reason of risk of structural wing failure I have decided on the powered parachute- no structure in the wing for possible failure. Pros and cons to both types.

Just my humble opinion.