[P7_TOM]

St Patrick's Hospital for Imbeciles.

Still in business; I just wonder which side of the great divide needs to be admitted. For one or ‘tuther is certainly barking mad. Industry probably needs the help, for allowing such things as 61, 141 and 142 to become law – without protest. Even so, industry may be forgiven for quiet acquiescence, having been bullied and cowed for three decades, without hope of meaningful reform tends to take the steam out of protest. Time and time again, politicians have slithered away from the fight; bipartinsane cop out, and; my own personal favourite “Oh, they’re the experts” – etc. What a load of bollocks, what a great excuse to avoid responsibility; and what a handy little tool for confounding a minister. Mind you, I fail, totally, to see the point in making any minister look not only more of a Pillock than nature allows, but to make a minister complicit in promoting a scam is even more puzzling. 

“Parts 141 and 142 are already showing the loop holes which can be, and are ruthlessly exploited to provide an expensive, sub-standard product. The ‘hard’ part for the minister (and Buckley) is that he was conned into open support for this grand fraud being perpetuated on not only ‘students’ but, on any future accident directly related to this aberration”.

“You have clearly proved that ignorance, idleness, and vice, are the proper ingredients for qualifying a legislator”. (Swift).

It’s nuts when you think about it. There stands Glen Buckley; spent much time, effort and money, developing an acknowledged ‘expert’s’ interpretation of the 141/142 mess. Produced a brilliant system for providing training and safety excellence. For his trouble he is ruthlessly hammered almost out of existence; ignored, insulted and marked for destruction. Meanwhile SOAR and RA-Oz receive ministerial acclaim and accolades for producing a system which wriggles through the gaping holes in the ludicrous regulation.

“Laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied by those whose interest and abilities lie in perverting, confounding, and eluding them”.  (Swift).

The two cases, whichever way you cut ‘em up clearly define a completely flawed, divisive system for producing aircrew. The USA  (or UK) system is clear, unambiguous, even handed and, most importantly it provides sound training; no matter which ‘aircraft’ is used. There is no division to be exploited. Those systems were writ by ‘true experts’ without an agenda nor a deeply seated desire to divide, conquer and manipulate. Across the globe, anywhere you look, there is a similar system – until you arrive in Australia. No wonder the world shakes it’s head.

Thirty years, half a billion dollars and Australia ends up with this result? This, before we even get close to 'rule through exemption'. 'I’m so glad St Pat’s is still in business; much more of this and I’ll need nice little padded room, a comfy straight jacket and regular medication. As said, one of us is barking….

Toot – toot.

Wiki - The bulk of his fortune (£12,000) was left to found a hospital for the mentally ill, originally known as St Patrick's Hospital for Imbeciles, which opened in 1757, and which still exists as a psychiatric hospital.

> Spot on Sandy; but it leaves a question hanging – why go to all the trouble of ‘clarifying’ a given? Seems to me the overly complex (read not understandable) regulations have ignited the deep seated paranoia within the regulator. So deeply twisted inside the minutiae of ‘law’ the practical application of what was a simple matter – i.e. ‘learning to fly’ has become a legal minefield.
 
Two points of interest emerge (a) the distancing of CASA from some of the aircraft being used for basic training and the ‘certification’ being up to a realistic standard – for training. And (b) is the disappearance of ‘small’ – local flight schools who can produce a fine product – only with a fifty hour penalty for non integration; now borderline extinct courtesy of the sausage factory, fully CASA supported approach.
 
Although how a thing like SOAR ever got to be ‘the bench-mark’ I’ll never know. Cadet systems, run by ‘airlines’ (and the like) have been proven sound over the years; but some lookalike, pale imitation, aping their peers and betters? Well – enough said.
 
IMO CASA have suddenly realised that there are gapping holes in their legal knitting. They still are pretty safe – imagine the cost of a barrister and a court to prove that they have made a pigs ear of 61, 141 and 142 – astronomical. Then weigh in the support of a minister who still wets the bed when the cat farts – and you are looking at yet another grandiose, expensive inquiry; going nowhere fast.
 
Gods alone what twisted logic provided the system; and, it will take the devil himself to work out the detailed word in the wrong place which has triggered the massive defence to follow. “K” has a book open on it – and good luck with that.