AP Forum Weekly Wrap: 20/04/24

First this week’s #SBG: Of responsibility and a duty of care.

“The ATSB also found that CASA did not have an effective process for assuring an authorisation would be unlikely to adversely affect safety. As a result, CASA delegates did not use the available structured risk management process to: identify and assess risks ensure suitable mitigation were included as conditions of the instrument assess the effects of changes on the overall risk.”

“CASA implemented significant changes to its internal processes to ensure that the assessment and management of safety risks of new aviation activities (and associated approvals) were standardised in accordance with the CASA Risk Management Manual and that decision-making was appropriately documented. Additionally, CASA developed an ‘exemption protocol suite’ of documents, which detailed the principles, protocols and work instructions for CASA’s regulatory exemption process”.

Bollocks! – I got that far and switched off. Codswallop – nothing more than an exemplar of how the ‘system’ is rigged to protect those who actually ‘do’ have ‘responsibility’ and a duty of care. Spence at the top of that line on the flow chart – WTD? – And – back to Broome we go.

“Men who reject the responsibility of thought and reason can only exist as parasites on the thinking of others.”

Consider, for a moment those at ‘the pointy end’ of many ‘professions’ – (no particular order) – all have ‘tough’ jobs to do and carry not only a willingness to accept a ‘duty of care’ alongside ‘responsibility’ – but must answer for that, in court for their part in ‘the event’: one which dragged them into a court or to an inquiry. ATC, Fire fighters, Ambulance, Police, Pilots, Ship’s masters etc – But – when the ‘what’s it’ hits the windmill; there they must stand and justify every action (and bodily function). Criminal penalties apply in many cases, a tough nut to crack – when the deck is stacked against those who can actually become a convenient scapegoat. ‘Tis true – a hard fact of accepting ‘responsibility’.

“That’s just the way: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don’t want to take no consequences of it. Thinks as long as he can hide it, it ain’t no disgrace.”

But, what of those who are not held ‘accountable’ or even likely to be so? Hundreds of ’em, all tucked away, cosy and warm in plush offices, with all ‘mod-cons’. Fellah’s the likes of Crawford and Martin – charged with a ‘duty of care’ and responsibility for ensuring that matters aeronautical – up North were conducted according to Hoyle – as approved by CASA? Three elements here: who approved the operations; and, who provided the over-sight to ensure compliance; as writ? Then finally; who carried the responsibility for ensuring Crawford and Martin where actually doing their job – outside of the paper trail? You do see; a pilot buggers it up and there’s all Hell to pay and a criminal record; these two Bozo’s seem to have blithely ignored operations which were, if not black letter strictly illegal; then, at very least worthy of being kicked ‘up-stairs’ for advice and action. Had they been ‘on the job’ and able to be held responsible for the Broome aberrations; then perhaps they could have actually done something and saved a few machines from the scrap yard and even prevent unnecessary deaths. Who knows?

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

Back in the snug confines of the bubble; the deck chairs get shuffled; the duty of care is only a slogan and the notion of anyone employed taking any ‘responsibility’; in any way shape or form,. is simply a vague, partly understood notion from the world outside. But, dammit all – there is no committee to hide behind in a cockpit or a fire truck; or an ambulance; or, at an ATC consul – the burden is far too often placed on those in the field of fire. Perhaps it is time for those who live comfortably, within ‘the bubble’ to accept (feel the weight of responsibility) that they, and they alone are actually responsible – even if only in part – for their committee edicts and the escape clauses; those denied to ‘coal face’ crew; but fully supported for those who weasel their way away from Senator’s questions. Aye – blame the ones at the pointy end and keep the office crew out of the spotlight. Shameful, dishonest and downright disgraceful; all this with pay scales nowhere near the bubble rates. Really? I ask you? Can this clever shifting of responsibility ever be remedied?

“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.”

True enough – and damn near impossible to achieve considering how deeply entrenched and protected are those who ‘can’ affect change; but choose instead to hide behind convenient committees, shuffle the deck chairs and make edicts which ensure that at all times; no matter what – their Latte is delivered on time and no one has dirty hands at lunch time. Despicable, dishonest and a serious drain on the resources of this nation; with very little in the way of return on tax payer money fed into the monstrous machine. The Broome debacle is a classic case of ‘no one’ at fault, bar the deceased fool operating the business. Where was CASA and Crawford (Scots git) and the Martin??- (words failed here) – when all the wreckage and illegal charters took place? Snug in the office? or, being ‘comfortably’ entertained and carefully blind?

Life is divided into three parts: what was, what is and what shall be. Of these three periods, the present is short, the future is doubtful and the past alone is certain.”

Aye: So much for the fool’s ramble; those as script the ‘laws’ and regulations take no responsibility for the results; those at the sharp edge carry all the burden, the responsibility and ‘must face’ legal challenges (scapegoat clauses) brought about by those as wrote the rules, as they neatly avoid any and all part of support for those ‘at the coal face’, those who must live without the very convenient (handy) avoidance of and serious top cover provided against all departmental responsibility for the outcomes. Nice work – if you can get it (and the pay scale for such wonders).

But enough; the Autumn weather looks to be set fair; the ground is drying which, when you have an easy week to erect 24 meters of fence, and can take the dogs; and they make a great coffee – well – sometimes, you just have say Thank you with a nod to the Gods who, occasionally, smile on a rambling idiot who just likes knocking nails in. Beer o’clock has arrived, there is a small delegation of the BRB in attendance for an old friend’s birthday party (I’ve hidden the cigars). Ever notice how quickly ‘reformed’ smokers will slide away with an illicit ‘smoke’ – given the chance? I have QED.

Selah…._..

Next from BITN, Mount NCN & the Dicky King threads and all related (IE Airservices SHIT SHOW!): TICK TOCK goes the Harfwit, Su_Spence & Betsy DOOMSDAY CLOCK??