[Peetwo]

Have they no shame?

Pointless political posturing, poncing about and generally pathetic. Colour me cranky.

“The ATSB stresses that raising awareness of safety issues is not dependent on the publication of an investigation’s final report,” he said.

Like the dew on the mountain,
    Like the foam on the river,
Like the bubble on the fountain,
    Thou art gone, and for ever!

Is that it; for those left behind after any sort of fatal accident? I’m no psychologist, but I’ve seen enough of the aftermath sudden death causes. Particularly when an ‘accident’ snatches a partner, comrade or loved one from a family and friends. I’ve no idea why finding out the cause of death is so very important; but I do know it matters. They call it ‘closure’ these days. I’m not certain that is not anything else other than an escape clause for those who have accepted the death and can walk away from it. It seems that unless its directly connected to ‘you’ the period of ‘mourning’ is a variable thing. I have been to over a dozen funerals now – pilots I worked with or knew – all related to air accident. Other funerals have been a little more personal – But. Of those where the cause of death was known whilst I miss the company of Grand parents, I can easily live with the loss, happy memories of a good innings, the natural way of life.

There are however some losses to which no easy explanation can be used to assuage the sadness. Mostly because of the delay in a final ATSB report being published and the unsatisfactory answers provided. We even depersonalise the event – the Brazillia, Botany Bay, Canley Vale, Essendon, Pel Air, Ross Air, Lockhart River – there is quite a list. But when you know the blokes, had a beer with ‘em, shared a laugh and a flight deck – one needs to know exactly what happened and why. When the final report is eventually released and the first thought is ‘bullshit’ – it is then you start to doubt the probity of an ATSB carefully massaged 'final report'.

For those left behind, the interminable wait for a report to define ‘what happened’ is the stuff of nightmare. When that report avoids painting an accurate picture; then what use is it to anyone except those who seek to cover over the simple fact that the culture and system of aviation safety oversight, Australian, style is one of the radical causes of accident and the ATSB will go to any length to divert attention from that root cause. Since Seaview, any careful study will reveal the desperate struggle to avoid responsibility, in any form for the minister or CASA.

Pel Air was a classic example, the treatment of Karen Casey typical, the cost of avoiding the simple fact that CASA had approved (accepted) some fairly thin operational safety margins disappeared in the smoke and mirrors. All the recommendations of a Senate committee and an independent review, in total almost 140 have been carefully obfuscated and quietly put to death.

For those operational types, waiting on a report to see what they may do to prevent a reoccurrence the extensive delay is dangerous. Could someone please list the positive changes made to prevent any one of the latest round of fatal accidents. Aye; thought so.

Toot – toot.

Not that anything ever changes regardless of whether they wait for accident reports. Those reports could be produced in 6 days or 6 years and safety issues would still be ignored. Just have to look at the plethora of Coroners recommendations....

Speaking of delays and following on from this post :- 

While trolling the Hooded Canary's ATCB website, I happened to come across the following interesting and somewhat disturbing FOI disclosure log entry which I gather was the original released documents from the AFAP FOI request (article above) :  FOI 19-20(1) documents

All emails, letters and other communications between the ATSB and external parties – including but not limited to DIPs – pertaining to the release of ATSB investigation AI-2018-010: The approval processes for the Bulla Road Precinct Retail Outlet Centre from 1 November 2018 to present day.

 
Extract from the released documents:..

...From that we can deduce that AI-2018-010:


...a) has been suspended at the DRAFT report/DIP and/or Final Report approval process for nearly 16 months; and
b) that the Victorian Coroner is now (since November 2018) a directly interested party to this investigation.

"...An ATSB spokesman said the report had been delayed by detailed feedback from directly involved parties that prompted more discussion..."

This begs the question is the Coroner's inquest and subsequent parallel findings the reason why this report has been severely O&O'd?

...As a 'passing strange' coincidence, less than 5 days after I made that post and a day after making some further inquiries on social media, yet again without any fanfare or public acknowledgement AI-2018-010 was discretely updated...

 ..Last update 12 March 2020..

...with you guessed it yet another delay:

Anticipated completion: 2nd Quarter 2020

Hmm...no comment - 

MTF...P2