Matt Hall loads his pants!
Precisely... and the only point to it all is the avoidance of litigation. That's a pretty sad state of affairs..
Captain Sand Dune is on the money when he says:
Used properly it is actually reasonably useful
Interestingly, the RBAS has been running for eight years now - no fatalities or serious injuries that I'm aware of (happy to be corrected here if I'm wrong). Beginning in 2003, the first crash didn't even occur until 2010. If this race is inherently dangerous (it is!), then I respectfully suggest that there has been more than just dumb good luck at play. Perhaps the RBAR risk management plan has been pretty effective in mitigating the inherent risks eh?
- which after all, is the raison d'être of aviation risk management.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: back of the crew bus
Posts: 1,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I respectfully suggest that there has been more than just dumb good luck at play
The Reno Air Races went five years without a serious incident... and then in 2007, blam! three fatal crashes. I hope you are not suggesting that these races, held in the most litgious country on the planet, were not the subject of intensive "risk mitigation" studies.
Perhaps the principles of safety have been around for considerably longer than the now fashionable "risk mitigation" process has?
I'm not suggesting that it is an innately bad thing to adopt these processes, but for goodness sake see them for what they actually are - a bureaucratic box-ticking exercise that keeps the lawyers happy and simply affirms existing best practices, while generating masses of largely superfluous paper.
I don't reckon anyone commits aviation with an intent to kill themselves (or others) but that doesn't stop it happening with monotonous regularity in other aviation disciplines which aren't characterized by formal risk management processes.
on the whole, I agree with you but again point out that risk management only becomes a bureacratic box-ticking exercise, when done badly. It's just that it is done badly a lot!
As with any trend taken up by the managerial class, there has been a swing too far in one direction which will, in time, self-correct to a more sensible implementation; this has already happened in several large aviation organisations. But there is nothing wrong with the either the fundamentals of risk management, or the outcomes achieved when risk management principles are correctly appplied.
The problem is not risk management, it is the poor implementation (and understanding) of it.
but for goodness sake see them for what they actually are - a bureaucratic box-ticking exercise that keeps the lawyers happy
As with any trend taken up by the managerial class, there has been a swing too far in one direction which will, in time, self-correct to a more sensible implementation; this has already happened in several large aviation organisations. But there is nothing wrong with the either the fundamentals of risk management, or the outcomes achieved when risk management principles are correctly appplied.
The problem is not risk management, it is the poor implementation (and understanding) of it.
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Aus
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Matt Hall out of New York Red Bull Air Race, accepts decision|Matt Hall Racing
Looks like Matt Hall has been stood down for the New York event by the race committee.
Looks like Matt Hall has been stood down for the New York event by the race committee.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Wentworth
Age: 59
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
10/10
Safety Rules were in place
Race Committee investigated incident
Corrective action of penalty taken
Pilot identifies risk level
Operations move back in direction of more safety
Risk is lowered
Everyone involved positive
More fun for spectators coming up
All boxes ticked
Safety Rules were in place
Race Committee investigated incident
Corrective action of penalty taken
Pilot identifies risk level
Operations move back in direction of more safety
Risk is lowered
Everyone involved positive
More fun for spectators coming up
All boxes ticked
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South of the border
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FYI
Hello to All,
I am writing everyone today to let all of you know that as of two days ago our company, MX Aircraft, formally excluded itself from supplying aircraft for use in the Red Bull Air Races. Many things have contributed to our decision to withdraw from the sport (show) including first and foremost the arrogant unsafe and foolish approach to aviation exhibited by those currently running the races. If it were an honest sporting event I believe the constant grief associated with involvement might be overlooked but unfortunately it is not. What all of you see and think you know about the air race is a far departure from the truth. My personal dealings with the big Austrian company over the years have done nothing but make my blood boil and my hair turn grey so I finally woke up two days ago and decided enough was enough. Life is simply too short to be constantly pushed around, lied to and underappreciated. I also believe it will be just a matter of time before worse things happen than someone ditching in the water and I don’t wish to be a part of that.
We will again focus our attention toward manufacturing first class aerobatic and sport aircraft which is the main reason we developed our planes to begin with. If there’s one positive I can draw from my experience with the RBAR it’s that we have been forced to continually refine our planes over the years and as a result we are now producing 1150 pound six cylinder all composite aircraft. Pretty amazing as back a year or two ago I for one never thought it would be possible. And it appears you can run them into the water pretty hard and survive also.
I fully expect to be punished by Red Bull in the near future for this statement as I’m sure they will use their ever powerful media machine to make false accusations and mop the bathroom stalls of aviation with my company but I just wanted to give everyone a personal explanation for our departure from their series. At this point I really don’t care what they do, I am just relieved to be removed from the madness!
Thank you all for your time and understanding in this matter.
All the Best!
Chris Meyer
MX Aircraft
Well done Chris.
Hello to All,
I am writing everyone today to let all of you know that as of two days ago our company, MX Aircraft, formally excluded itself from supplying aircraft for use in the Red Bull Air Races. Many things have contributed to our decision to withdraw from the sport (show) including first and foremost the arrogant unsafe and foolish approach to aviation exhibited by those currently running the races. If it were an honest sporting event I believe the constant grief associated with involvement might be overlooked but unfortunately it is not. What all of you see and think you know about the air race is a far departure from the truth. My personal dealings with the big Austrian company over the years have done nothing but make my blood boil and my hair turn grey so I finally woke up two days ago and decided enough was enough. Life is simply too short to be constantly pushed around, lied to and underappreciated. I also believe it will be just a matter of time before worse things happen than someone ditching in the water and I don’t wish to be a part of that.
We will again focus our attention toward manufacturing first class aerobatic and sport aircraft which is the main reason we developed our planes to begin with. If there’s one positive I can draw from my experience with the RBAR it’s that we have been forced to continually refine our planes over the years and as a result we are now producing 1150 pound six cylinder all composite aircraft. Pretty amazing as back a year or two ago I for one never thought it would be possible. And it appears you can run them into the water pretty hard and survive also.
I fully expect to be punished by Red Bull in the near future for this statement as I’m sure they will use their ever powerful media machine to make false accusations and mop the bathroom stalls of aviation with my company but I just wanted to give everyone a personal explanation for our departure from their series. At this point I really don’t care what they do, I am just relieved to be removed from the madness!
Thank you all for your time and understanding in this matter.
All the Best!
Chris Meyer
MX Aircraft
Well done Chris.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South of the border
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No Hoax.
This email was sent by Chris on the 18th, and has since been independently confirmed.
Furthermore I can completely understand his reasons for doing what he has done, having been on the receiving end of the RBAR circus.
Be clear in your mind the RBAR is not about the "worlds best pilots", it is about Red Bull selling a drink!
This email was sent by Chris on the 18th, and has since been independently confirmed.
Furthermore I can completely understand his reasons for doing what he has done, having been on the receiving end of the RBAR circus.
Be clear in your mind the RBAR is not about the "worlds best pilots", it is about Red Bull selling a drink!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Left Right Out
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you sure? I don't think so.......
There is nothing released anywhere else on this matter.
If you have been "forced" to improve your product to a point that you would never have thought possible and you are happy with these developments, what is the real issue here? You have made money from these developments, no?!?!
"I don't want people to use my product irresponsibly"....are you kidding?!?! You are going to continue producing and selling high performance aerobatic aircraft but are stressed about how they are being used.....I'll bite.....where is the punch line here?
Yes, RBAR is sponsored by Red Bull who produce beverages....car manufacturers sponsor racing events...alcohol and cigarette companies do the same. These events are dangerous but you don't see Ford or Holden worried about "how their products are used"...to the contrary.
I would think that you would be on top of the world with International recognition of your product.
If there is more to this story, and there has to be for it to be correct, then post some examples or give us some details as to why the RBAR is as menacing as you suggest otherwise I see nothing here other than a huge prank with some serious liability issues.
If you have been "forced" to improve your product to a point that you would never have thought possible and you are happy with these developments, what is the real issue here? You have made money from these developments, no?!?!
"I don't want people to use my product irresponsibly"....are you kidding?!?! You are going to continue producing and selling high performance aerobatic aircraft but are stressed about how they are being used.....I'll bite.....where is the punch line here?
Yes, RBAR is sponsored by Red Bull who produce beverages....car manufacturers sponsor racing events...alcohol and cigarette companies do the same. These events are dangerous but you don't see Ford or Holden worried about "how their products are used"...to the contrary.
I would think that you would be on top of the world with International recognition of your product.
If there is more to this story, and there has to be for it to be correct, then post some examples or give us some details as to why the RBAR is as menacing as you suggest otherwise I see nothing here other than a huge prank with some serious liability issues.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South of the border
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is no hoax, drop them a line if you like MX Aircraft Official Website
I doubt if Red Bull would be shouting this from the rooftops, and as Chris points out they will undoubtedly be using their powerful and effective resources to show themselves as the good guys.
Chris Meyers has outlined his reasons for making this move, he is an honest businessman with a lot of integrity (and has a great product).
I could fill this page with my dealings with RBAR, and if Tom Moon was still with us he could do so as well (plus a few others that I know). If what I went through was only a small part of what Chris has had to put up with, then I can fully understand his move.
I have no fear in saying publicly that RBAR are a dishonest company to deal with.
I doubt if Red Bull would be shouting this from the rooftops, and as Chris points out they will undoubtedly be using their powerful and effective resources to show themselves as the good guys.
Chris Meyers has outlined his reasons for making this move, he is an honest businessman with a lot of integrity (and has a great product).
I could fill this page with my dealings with RBAR, and if Tom Moon was still with us he could do so as well (plus a few others that I know). If what I went through was only a small part of what Chris has had to put up with, then I can fully understand his move.
I have no fear in saying publicly that RBAR are a dishonest company to deal with.
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: South of the border
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Djpil
Well I guess that would be entirely up to you, but he gave me a big break when he didn't need to legally or morally (try sleeping at night with a 1/2 mill+ commitment?)
No spin from me, despite the name. I am happy to standby any and all of my statements.
Well I guess that would be entirely up to you, but he gave me a big break when he didn't need to legally or morally (try sleeping at night with a 1/2 mill+ commitment?)
No spin from me, despite the name. I am happy to standby any and all of my statements.
