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marv@lancair.net wrote:
Posted for "Joe Bartels" <JoeB@lancair.com>:
There were two main reasons for my decision to have a BRS chute
installed in Evolution:
1) Pilot incapacitation; and,
2) Marketing.
Hi Joe,
Considering the extremely rare incidence of pilot incapacitation, I would classify it in the same category as marketing: Something to increase the perceived value of the product and help it stand out from the competition.
There is nothing wrong with adding features for the sole purpose of marketing. However, just keep in mind that marketing is a double edged sword. You can use it conquer the world or slit your own throat. Cirrus has used the "safety" provided by the BRS, among other things, to fight their way to the top of the GA market in volume. At the same time they have a less than desirable safety record, not because of a fault of the airplane, but because of the type of individual their marketing has attracted.
I completely agree with your observation that the thought process that would lead a pilot to prematurely pull a chute is the same thought process that led them to being in that situation in the first place. However, as the Cirrus experience has shown, quite frequently that thought process leads them instead to a place where the chute is of little help and a NTSB fatal accident report is inevitable.
As the CEO of Lancair, you get to decide who you want to market to, what risks you want to take, how you intend to mitigate them and where you want to draw the line on the risk/reward continuum. As the CEO, that is not just your right, but also your responsibility and your burden. I wish you all the best in it!
Regards,
Hamid
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