Originally Posted by
franklin_m
The reason is actually much more simple. There's been two very frightening accidents in the last two years, ones that but for luck should have resulted in serious injuries or worse. In response to those events, I see an organization that all but ignores these leading indicators. That same organization ignored the two prior complete losses of a specially certified plane/pilot combination, only to see a third that could have easily killed an innocent spectator. I firmly believe that it's not a question of "if" this "normalization of deviance" will result in a fatality that fundamentally restricts the hobby forever, it's a matter of when.
Imagine what would happen to the hobby if non-participating spectators were gravely injured by an out of control 100lb AMA certified plane, at an AMA sanctioned event, with AMA EVP in attendance, and with AMA recommended standoff distances waived?
I don't think $2.5 million would even cover lawyer's fees.
I'm actually trying to prevent that.
No, you're not trying to prevent it, and after a while it almost seems like your fantasizing about something like that happening. Always worst case. Borderline accident/injury porn. As if some kind of record of minor mishaps and accidents codified by some report would prevent that from happening. And I wouldn't fret about attornys fees...those are covered under the terms of the AMA insurance. Plaintiff fees are taken out of settlement proceeds.
But funny you mention attorneys...if I'm not mistaken, you intimated in another thread about gathering this type of data and working in concert with plaintiff attorneys didn't you? I guess if the AMA didn't want your accident data perhaps the personal injury firms would benefit from it? Very helpful indeed.