http://paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=52538&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=126

From Tom Payne:

At the Brits a couple of years ago we had a terrible day with 5
reserves deployed on one task (10 during the week) and a bunch of crashes. I
think Adrian forgot about that comp, it was memorable for me as I was one of the
5.

Indeed. At the time it was exceptional, and that day prompted a lot of
reflection.

There were also five reserve deployments in the single task of the PWC in Annecy
this year, leading to three hospitalizations.

There was at least one day at the Europeans where there were three reserve
deployments.

Now multiple reserve deployments per day seems to be considered normal. I'm not
sure that this is a good thing.

Adrian Thomas writes:

So we absolutely know that going to two reserves will not have a
significant effect on paragliding safety.

We also know that changing to certified gliders had no significant effect on
paragliding safety.

So we know that adding rules about equipment is not the way to go if we
seriously want to improve pilot safety.

We even know where the problem is - it's pilot error. You don't deal with that by
adding rules about equipment. You deal with it by education. Improving pilot
training.

Tom Payne writes:

Three years of changing wings has not changed the accident rate. I
am utterly unable to comprehend the reasoning that leads the PMA and CIVL to
believe that changing wings for a fourth time will be different.

Adrian Thomas writes:

Yes, and setting the WPRS qualification requirement high enough
could have prevented the accidents in Piedrahita and St. Andre. It is unlikely to
be voted in though, as many more countries would then not have any competitors
qualified for Cat1 events. Clear direct conflict between safety and
national-interest.

http://paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=51009&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=435

Adrian Thomas writes:

The link between Aspect ratio and safety is very tenuous. Collapse
a high aspect glider and you have a low aspect glider. High aspect gliders have
short chord which is a huge safety advantage for 2 line gliders (better
structure, reduced deep stall issues). High aspect (large span) gliders do not
wind in to spirals as badly as low aspect (short span) gliders. The only real
downside is that high aspect ratio gliders are more cravat prone than low aspect
gliders if the line plan is kept the same (more gaps between the lines).