On July 1, 2014, the NTSB, issued an investigative report on the largely unregulated activity of parasailing.  Citing eight accidents investigated by the Board, the NTSB issued a new Safety Alert, as well as six Safety Recommendations to the Coast Guard, FAA and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

Now, don’t get us wrong!  We applaud safety in all shapes and sizes.  As Plane-ly Spoken has made it clear before, we hold the NTSB in the highest regard.  But c’mon guys!  Parasailing?

The Boards mandate and middle name is “Transportation.”  Parasailing, unless one wants to really stretch the word, is not a means of transportation.  It’s an activity.  It’s like bicycles, skateboarding, roller blading and a whole host of other activities that involve movement, but really aren’t transportation.  We note however that for many messengers for example, bicycles, skateboards, scooters or rollerblades are in fact, a means of transportation in big cities.

We understand and appreciate the Board’s concern, but both the FAA and the Coast Guard have more significant issues with which to deal.  There is the small  matter of aviation safety and UASs for the FAA and things like cruise ships and homeland security for the Coast Guard.  Somehow, at least in our opinion, parasailing doesn’t make the cut.

None of this is to say that someone shouldn’t be concerned.  Maybe the National Safety Council and its new President, former NTSB Chairman Hersman, should pick up the touch on behalf of recreational activities which involve movement.

The bottom line is that “all things which move” are not within the mandate of the NTSB.  Parasailing, we daresay, is inherently dangerous, but so are a lot of things in which we engage.  What’s next?.. NASCAR? Golf carts?  Go karts? Big Wheels?  Zip lining? Roller Coasters?