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Old 17th January 2012 | 03:44
  #9 (permalink)  
Tinstaafl
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Joined: Dec 1998
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From: Escapee from Ultima Thule
I think the money spent on a BRS system is better spent on training & currency. By & large, training, currency & good airmanship negate the need. Look at the two greatest factors in GA accidents: Fuel starvation/exhaustion, and flight into IMC by an insufficiently qualified pilot. Provided you know the fuel system and are conservative with your decisions about fuel & weather, you've pretty much eliminated the major of the risks in flying.

BRS isn't an unlimited 'get out of jail free card'. There are limitations on when it can be deployed. The aircraft has to be above a certain altitude achieve stability under canopy so that removes most approach & landing accidents (a relatively high risk stage of flight), it has to be within certain speed so spiral dives are out (and anyway are recoverable conventionally outside BRS limits). In fact, pretty much any time speed is above manoevering speed so even normal cruise can be too fast. CFIT is often unintentional as a result of scud running so not good then either. Spins? I think spin avoidance *and* recovery training along with an airframe certified for spin recovery ie most single engine aircraft *except* Cirrus, is a better bet.

Even if a forced landing is necessary, statistics show that arriving in a reasonably clear area, under control at a low speed has a rather good outcome in terms of survival.

I think you're making your decision based on a misapprehension of where the real risks lie and just how beneficial a BRS would be.
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