[Kharon]

Resolution : much needed for the new year.

"the quality of being determined or resolute".

All of the above widely supported; but, it is to what is rotten in Denmark we must look  for the real evil, neatly ensconced behind at least three layers of Teflon coated steel and concrete i.e. the Parliament. Both sides happy to wash their hands of any and all responsibility for the rape of aerodromes, the cost of the existing 'safety' infrastructure and the damage inflicted on the small to medium size air transport operators.

The bipartisan 'rubber stamp' of anything CASA dream up has allowed what should be a small, well organised cost effective 'authority' ensuring ICAO compliance, as per the convention and 'the Act' to become, through a complete lack of accountability, control, without either check or balance is disgraceful. This has been allowed, by the parliament, to become the thing it is today.

Compliance with the convention, the spirit and intent of ICAO and 'the Act' can be, indeed must be enforced by government. Successive 'bipartisan' governments, who cannot seem to agree on the price of postage stamps, have abrogated their duty to this nation in the name of 'safety' - whatever the Hell that may mean, successive ministers of all stripes have been happy to grant free reign to an autonomous agency without a hint of oversight - bar the pathetic efforts of the Estimate committee's - who seem to get platitudes for answers months after the questions are asked. The DoIT seems to able to turn a blind eye to some of the outrageous 'legal' edicts from the CASA and even weigh in to support on occasion. All good friends and jolly good company. Even the appointment, at tax payer expense, of a 'Board' has little to no 'influence' on the way aviation is administered in this land. Time the grown ups stepped in - before there's real trouble - like an FAA audit or a Royal?judicial inquiry; because if the weak knees, Lilly livered politicians think the fall out from an accident is 'scary' then the results of any sort of fair dinkum inquiry will have the public asking the same question. WTD were you thinking? Although I have it on good authority that most politicians prefer not to think - just react and throw money (not their own mind you),and pony-pooh (all their own) at anything which will affect the electorates voting. Disgusting....

Will the petition for a serious inquiry get up? Probably not - I doubt it will even get a mention in Hansard. That stand alone is bad enough - BUT - with a very able, well qualified Senator on tap and not being utilised; the notions of shame and disgrace surface for those who could, in a heart beat (well short phone call) set all this to rights . Starting with a Ministerial directive in the form of a Statement of Expectation. Not an end game - but a duckling good place to set the wheels in motion.

What a way to end a miserable couple of years; SoE to adopt the FAR in jig time; a commission to inquire into CASA antics and Sen. Fawcett to spur it along Skidmore back as DAS - Ah, be still my beating heart.

Aye well; if wishes were horses, then beggars could ride.



Toot - toot.