Scaled Composites Statement on NTSB Findings
MOJAVE, Calif. (Scaled Composites PR) — Our business is to design prototype, cutting-edge aircraft. Safety has always been a critical component of Scaled’s culture and, as the NTSB noted today, our pilots were experienced and well-trained. As part of our constant and continuing efforts to enhance our processes, we have already made changes in the wake of the accident to further enhance safety. We will continue to look for additional ways to do so. We extensively supported the NTSB’s investigation and appreciate all of its work to make the industry safer. Mike Alsbury exemplified the passion that all our employees share. He and his family are always in our thoughts, and they are especially so today.
4 responses to “Scaled Composites Statement on NTSB Findings”
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Building and flying experimental cutting-edge aircraft is a necessity; selling tickets to those rides isn’t.
With Scaled largely out of the picture, Branson and Virgin Galactic now have to do both. I wish this all the luck in the world. If they fail, the entire industry suffers.
The building and flying takes money (and generally lots of it), which if from the public purse can be kept from becoming “commercialised”. If the money comes from the private sector then the “selling tickets” is required. I support CommercialSpace and do not begrudge those wealthy enough to, hopefully one day, enjoy a (sub)orbital flight.
They didn’t have passengers yet. You’re saying the equivalent of “The Wright brothers crashed and killed a passenger during an exhibition of their experimental aircraft in 1902, (Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge) therefore flying on commercial airliners is dangerous.” It doesn’t logically follow. People fly on commercial airliners every day.
Let’s look at other space mishaps in history: The year is 1967. Four people died doing space related activities. (Vladimir Komarov of the Soviet Union, returning from orbit on Soyuz 1; Roger Chaffee, Ed White and Gus Grissom of the US on Apollo 1 while sitting on the pad.)
What Scaled Composites, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and the like are attempting to do is move from the experimental (Every space launch, including all 135 Space Shuttle missions, is classed as “experimental”) to the routine. Maybe even to the point where you can get a private astronaut’s license, file a flight plan and fly your own personal ship to Beijing (Or the moon!) or buy a ticket on a suborbital commercial flight, just like you can get a private pilot’s license, file a flight plan and fly your own personal Cessna to Canada or buy a ticket on a United flight.