[Peetwo]

The D&D: On Miniscule Stooges, FARPs, Iron Rings; White Hats and RRATs?? 

Trying desperately to place some DASHES between some intriguing DOTS in the current malaise besetting our long suffering, regulatory embuggered aviation sector -   



To begin with the dots: Q/ How is it remotely possible that after 9 months the search for the next DAS/CEO of CASA is still yet to be finalised and announced?  (Refer to the UP thread titled The next CASA CEO/DAS for the latest scuttlebutt) 

Lead Balloon

We’re all ears, Jake: Why hasn’t the DPM appointed a new CEO of CASA, despite 5 years’ notice that it had to be done?  

Next note the following extract from the 15 December 2020 edition of the Infrastructure Magazine: 

Mr McCormack also announced the establishment of the Future of Aviation Reference Panel, to be chaired by Professor Patrick Murray, to consult the aviation industry on the recently released Issues Paper on the Future of Australia’s Aviation Sector.


Professor Murray, Chair of the Aviation Safety Advisory Panel at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Professor of Aviation and Logistics at the University of Southern Queensland, will be joined by expert panel members Adrianne Fleming OAM, Andrew Drysdale and Shannon O’Hara.

“Each member brings expert and unique perspectives on various sectors of the aviation industry,” Mr McCormack said.

“The panel will assist the government in its ongoing support of the aviation sector as it carefully recovers from the pandemic and ensure we continue to have a safe, secure and efficient industry for Australia’s future.

“Managing the challenges to aviation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic will require industry, regulators, governments and the community to work together. 

“I thank the aviation industry for their constructive engagement on the Future of Aviation Issues Paper and subsequent consultative workshops to date and I look forward to announcing the Government’s Five Year Plan for Aviation in the New Year.”

Further information on the Government’s COVID-19 support for aviation, the Future of Aviation Reference Panel and the forthcoming Five Year Plan for Aviation can be found at www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/future/index.aspx.

And from the 2018-19 CASA AR: 

The Aviation Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), which was established in 2017 by the Director of Aviation Safety, has continued to mature into CASA’s primary, high-level engagement mechanism. During 2018–19, the ASAP established 19 technical working groups to provide expert technical advice on a range of matters, including fatigue rules, dangerous goods, remotely piloted aircraft systems, airworthiness, and the flight operations suite of regulations. This has allowed CASA to establish regulations which are fit for purpose and supported by industry. The ASAP has predominantly industry membership and Honorary Professor Patrick Murray, University of Southern Queensland, is the ASAP’s independent Chair.  

From LINKEDIN: 

PM link - 

Head of Flight Operations and Training

Company Name Aviation Australia
Dates Employed Feb 2015 – Present
Employment Duration 6 yrs 1 mo
Location Brisbane, Australia

CASA post-holder (Head of Operations) for Aviation Australia Part 141 & Part 142.
Aviation Australia has pioneered the development of multi - crew (MCC) pilot training in Australia.

Ref: Adrianne Fleming OAM

Q/ How is it not a conflict of interest that both Murray and Fleming feature in both the ASAP and the FARP? Independent? Yeah RIGHT - 

I also have it on good authority that Prof Pat has a long and infamous history of being nothing more than a miniscule stooge put in place to provide obfuscation and preordained (Iron Ring endorsed) top-cover outcomes and protection for the Ministerial rump - 

This brings me to the next couple of dots with a further reference to the PM CV:

Group General Manager

Company Name Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Dates Employed 2005 – 2008
Employment Duration 3 yrs
Head of Air Transport Operations Group

Apparently (so the rumour goes) Byron was fully aware that PM was a 'wrong un' and quietly handed him his marching orders in 2008. Perhaps if PM were able to hang on for a further 6 months he may well have been a perfect acolyte in the McCormick regime and by now may have been firmly entrenched within the ASC/Iron Ring ranks?

Which brings me to the next DOT because there was another former CASA executive manager who was making his mark in 2008:

MQ CV: Deputy CEO, Operations.

Company Name CASA
Dates Employed Dec 2007 – Jan 2010
Employment Duration 2 yrs 2 mos
Location Brisbane Area, Australia canberra

Responsible for all heavy air transport category\general aviation regulatory operations and enforcement action.

Executive strategy and penultimate delegate of the Government Act of 1988.

Senate Committee witness, Audit & Risk Committee Member, Chairman Accident Investigation Report Review Board.

Aviation Safety Forum Member.

(P2 comment - A point of interest was that in 2008 MQ made an informative presentation to the ANZSASI (ASASI) regional seminar - read and absorb for future DOTs related to the ASC and sector risk profiles): reference - Challenges in Regulation Presented by Mick Quinn

Now think on this P377 UP post - 

More possibilities......Greg Hood?



Mick’s LinkedIn profile now shows him as ‘freelancer’, so I was correct about him resigning. However I’m not so sure anymore that it is he who will receive the CEO DAS crown however. He can be a naughty boy at times. Just keep the keys to the liquor cabinet away from him (and ban him from the photocopier room)


Interestingly, Mr Carmody also has his profile updated to ‘freelancer’ on LinkedIn. No doubt he will receive some aviation consultative work from the Government. Snouts in the trough - it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Perhaps he is also looking for work as an obsfucator, serial bullshitter and he can offer consultative advice about how to spend 30+ years sucking off the taxpayer teat? Mind you, with those giant ears of his (gives Daniel Andrews a run for his money) he could be used to test aerodynamics in a wind tunnel. His other strengths are being a good footstool.

Finally, what’s the deal with Mr Hood from the ATSB? His position has been advertised also. He too is a former CASA Deputy DAS. Has he resigned from the ATSB or is his contract up for renewal and the Government is following the rules of transparency and putting the role out there for any qualified candidate to apply? He does tick the Governments LGBTQ box. Perhaps party boy Greg has his sights set on Montreal and a stint with ICAO? Note to Greg: they are a bunch of dullards over there and they won’t tolerate any shenanigans. Strictly sports jackets and iced tea. No laughing permitted.

A long shot could always be the return of The Screaming Skull or Bruce Byron??

Hmm...much, much...MTF! - P2