Re: [e.a.hernandez] Fatalities Analysis
Despite the surge in wingsuit fatalities, it is quite possible that the average risk per participant hasn't increased, because the number of jumpers flying wingsuits increased by so many, many times. Extra risks of tight proximity flying might be balanced (on average) by lowered risks of conservative flying. For example, with big suits having much more flare power, faster starts (read: more altitude available on opening), higher L/D (read: long platos that were challenging to clear are now trivial) it's possible that these abilities saved many people who would go in in older suits.
It's up to each jumper which risk group to stick to, and if you're a conservative pilot, the surge of proximity fatalities shouldn't worry you too much, as it's just Darwinian cleansing at work.