Is this "safe"?

[Caver451]

I used to rock climb with a friend of mine, who on occasion liked to "free climb". Free climbing is climbing without a rope. Only the most skilled and experienced climbers will free climb, and he certainly qualified as very skilled and experienced. We were at an indoor climbing gym discussing the matter, while he was 20 feet up the wall and I was belaying for him.

His argument basically went like this: he believed that once you reach a level of skill that it becomes second nature, and himself having climbed for so many years, there really is no reason to use a rope for the easy climbs he's done dozens of times before.

My comment to him was that I don't like to ever be one mistake away from death. Using a rope puts you several mistakes into the safety zone, but if you don't use a rope, any mistake will end up in disaster.

His quote to me was "I guess we'll just have to agree to disag-- AYYYYYYY!!!"

And he fell. The fool-proof, bolted to the wall, high-quality composite material, super-strong climbing gym hold on an easy warm-up climb broke off, right in his hand.

As he dangled there, from the rope I was belaying him with, 20 feet in the air, I couldn't help but smirk just a little bit. Nothing like a little fate to drive a point home!

Even if you are PERFECT, and incapable of failure, equipment fails and nature is unpredictable. And you're NOT perfect.

Arrogance and perceived skill is no substitute for safety procedures and common sense!

-Caver

[Rodan]

We had a close call at our club field this weekend. It was only close because a new flyer thinks he is further along than he is, and because two other flyers were not at a flying station where they should have been. Thankfully no one was hurt, but it was a reminder of the dangers of these flying chainsaws we love so much. In this case it was a new flyer, but it could just as easily have been an experienced flyer having an equipment failure.

As Caver451 noted, a high skill level is no proof from equipment failure. We just have to be as safe as possible, and try like hell to avoid anything worse than property damage.

[Kindling Maker]

I know that this is late, but I just read this section, Being new and all. I live quite literally in a war zone. We do everything we can to lessen the chances of injury. I dislike our safety program but it is a manditory thing. Not only do I live in a war zone I run heavy equipment, one on the most dangerous professions, for people on the ground. One of the biggest things that cause accidents is EQUIPMENT failure. It is the same thing with these helo's use common sense can save lives, if you use it, if you dont be prepared to accept responsibility for your actions.

[PG 378]

Remember, what was that last week, that T-Rex 600 hit a man in NY... :!:

[Sir-Crash-Allot]

You KNow what guys.

Top pilots and there immediat crew stand close to there helis but the spectators dont.

You can hover close to yourself if you feel so confident but never NEVER hover close to ANYONE else as it is ignorant.

Im experience with a hedge trimmer but i just ripped my shorts earlier with it. But i accept i should have payed attention.

But i dont use it near my mother.

The best pilots never hover close to anyone else not matter the what.

unless its for as photo opted but they are pros to and know the risk