All hat and no cattle.
First heard that expression drawled in the USA, the meaning is fairly clear. It can be adapted to suit, when the inference is that someone is full of it. For example ‘All shirt and no idea’.
Watching the NTSB go to work on a high profile fatal has been a pleasure; watching the NTSB workings on any accident investigation is an educational experience. Low profile cases, even those without a media scrum hounding the NTSB investigators, dealt with expeditiously and fairly. No sign of PR spin, ‘just the facts Ma’am’. The other great point of interest is their ‘timing’ – the record of ‘on-time’ delivery is impressive; nearly as impressive as their full disclosure when there is a delay.
You will note that a NTSB report is not – ever – finalised by the FAA. ATSB on the other hand must go through a multi layer experience: the ‘investigators’ do their thing and draft a report; that goes up the food chain and the PR guru’s soften off the sharp corners, to make an easier turd to pass; that then under the MoU goes to CASA who actually (after a three month hiatus) put the finishing touches to the epistle. Three layers of spin and smoothing – if and when it pleases. Great system – the integrity and probity is awesome. Of course, by the time the whole PR exercise is released, just about everyone bar those left behind have forgotten. Aye, time, patience and pony-pooh neatly combined into a poetically acceptable placebo.
You will note that NTSB hardly ever put a press release until the investigation is complete – even under intense media coverage. The ATSB on the other hand have had a Baby face Godlike creature to contact the media with a something - nothing statement (media release) about an accident which has not as yet been subject to a complete investigation. The pork and talk barrel rules supreme. It smacks of the rampant narcissism evident in the latest party tricks of our very own Hooded Canary – ticks, twitches, glazed eyes, embroidered shirt, wrist strap etc. and all.
No matter. Not only is the press release a month late, it’s say’s nothing of value: for instance-
“Dr Godley noted that preliminary reports outline basic factual information established in the early phase of an investigation”.
Translate – the aircraft lost power in one engine. The other engine could not sustain flight – it crashed. QED. Why, how and what-for not explained. So why the cynical attempt to grab media attention? Honest ‘tin-kickers’ and national safety authorities must be either (a) appalled; or, (b) amused. The big money is on ‘b’. ATSB is fast becoming a standard joke for some; others are worried that serious accident investigation has become an Australian farce, sinister and pointless. Myself, I’d go for plain old, minister guided, CASA dictated useless.
Scrap the MoU – sack Hood and all who sail with him; bring in someone who can get it done and regain industry confidence in the ATSB.
This ‘accident investigation stuff’ really matters. To deny probity, excellence and timely reporting is; believe it or not, lethal. Check out any company SMS reporting system – all say 'delay' is almost criminal. There are grave penalties for companies who do not make timely, effective changes to a known ‘danger’. The ATSB is no bloody different – in fact they have a higher obligation to meet, which they are currently ducking. Unforgivable – particularly when you consider way ‘they’ used to be’. How far have the mighty fallen? Oh a long, long way.
International embarrassment is one thing; preventing future fatal accidents; a horse of an entirely different colour. FDS.
![[Image: Untitled%2B2.jpg]](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cm_HajunJBQ/Vuc7mMGoOSI/AAAAAAAAISU/PLJPRoRPvKUtliZvp7KwgHIZKQm9J3TpQ/s1600/Untitled%2B2.jpg)
First heard that expression drawled in the USA, the meaning is fairly clear. It can be adapted to suit, when the inference is that someone is full of it. For example ‘All shirt and no idea’.
Watching the NTSB go to work on a high profile fatal has been a pleasure; watching the NTSB workings on any accident investigation is an educational experience. Low profile cases, even those without a media scrum hounding the NTSB investigators, dealt with expeditiously and fairly. No sign of PR spin, ‘just the facts Ma’am’. The other great point of interest is their ‘timing’ – the record of ‘on-time’ delivery is impressive; nearly as impressive as their full disclosure when there is a delay.
You will note that a NTSB report is not – ever – finalised by the FAA. ATSB on the other hand must go through a multi layer experience: the ‘investigators’ do their thing and draft a report; that goes up the food chain and the PR guru’s soften off the sharp corners, to make an easier turd to pass; that then under the MoU goes to CASA who actually (after a three month hiatus) put the finishing touches to the epistle. Three layers of spin and smoothing – if and when it pleases. Great system – the integrity and probity is awesome. Of course, by the time the whole PR exercise is released, just about everyone bar those left behind have forgotten. Aye, time, patience and pony-pooh neatly combined into a poetically acceptable placebo.
You will note that NTSB hardly ever put a press release until the investigation is complete – even under intense media coverage. The ATSB on the other hand have had a Baby face Godlike creature to contact the media with a something - nothing statement (media release) about an accident which has not as yet been subject to a complete investigation. The pork and talk barrel rules supreme. It smacks of the rampant narcissism evident in the latest party tricks of our very own Hooded Canary – ticks, twitches, glazed eyes, embroidered shirt, wrist strap etc. and all.
No matter. Not only is the press release a month late, it’s say’s nothing of value: for instance-
“Dr Godley noted that preliminary reports outline basic factual information established in the early phase of an investigation”.
Translate – the aircraft lost power in one engine. The other engine could not sustain flight – it crashed. QED. Why, how and what-for not explained. So why the cynical attempt to grab media attention? Honest ‘tin-kickers’ and national safety authorities must be either (a) appalled; or, (b) amused. The big money is on ‘b’. ATSB is fast becoming a standard joke for some; others are worried that serious accident investigation has become an Australian farce, sinister and pointless. Myself, I’d go for plain old, minister guided, CASA dictated useless.
Scrap the MoU – sack Hood and all who sail with him; bring in someone who can get it done and regain industry confidence in the ATSB.
This ‘accident investigation stuff’ really matters. To deny probity, excellence and timely reporting is; believe it or not, lethal. Check out any company SMS reporting system – all say 'delay' is almost criminal. There are grave penalties for companies who do not make timely, effective changes to a known ‘danger’. The ATSB is no bloody different – in fact they have a higher obligation to meet, which they are currently ducking. Unforgivable – particularly when you consider way ‘they’ used to be’. How far have the mighty fallen? Oh a long, long way.
International embarrassment is one thing; preventing future fatal accidents; a horse of an entirely different colour. FDS.