[Kharon]

So tell me Holy Trinity….

Gentle -"Do you know what INTAS is?"

Mr. A -"Integrated Tower Automation System - bought from the Canadians and worked tolerably well up to when I left the service. Sydney cannot be retro-fitted because it was designed and built as a peripheral tower. That is all the controllers stand next to the windows. Previous Towers were designed with a console set back from the windows, this allowed INTAS installations to be put in around them while the Tower continued to operate. I believe that thought was given to moving back to the old Sydney Tower to allow refurbishment or building a new Tower next to the current one. Neither has progressed because Airservices management's new toy is/are digital Towers. These are apparently cheaper to build because only the sensors, not the controllers, need to be at altitude. Australia's lack of high-speed digital transmission lines means, however, that the controllers still need to be very close to sensors. That could mean at ground level or a few hundred meters away. Given ASA's ability to finish any project, I would guess the can will continue to be kicked down the road until........

Of 'INTAS' and Frog Fraud.

Makes for a great crossword clue Gentle – the BRB had a bit of fun with it; but no clear winner on the exploration of INTAS - (I Never Talk Any Sense) – a tale of yet another whizz-bang system which on paper looked great; but as Mr A notes above:-

INTAS – but I am a master of testiculation. Therein lays the secret to understanding exactly what our Electric Blue Halfwit (EBH) is actually saying. Watch carefully as the hands begin their artistic flight patterns; its a dead set give away to an INTAS moment (or two). Senator pops a question – 'no brainer' – Halfwit rolls it over and the hands remain still. Next question – demands some nimble word work – up go the paws and off runs the mouth – classic demonstration.

“The art of talking complete bollocks whilst waving your arms around like a madman.”

There is another clue for those who prefer to listen for the subtle clues which indicate elegant obfuscation; this along with the testiculation, makes it Oh so simple to detect the pony-pooh being dribbled. Grammar – the abuse of the English language in spoken words is clearly a 'tell'. Once the EBH begins to skate on thin ice – any semblance of 'good grammar' departs and the hands (and eyebrow semaphore) begin to tell the true story.

When will the total damage bill be presented – from the great Frog fraud of 'One Sky' to the abysmal services being parsimoniously doled out; from the early retirement of experienced staff to the reluctance of those folk to return to work, even on a contract basis to assist with staff shortages; perhaps then some serious questions will asked and the answers prosecuted through to some semblance of fidelity? Gods know we could use some.

Mr. A - “Given ASA's ability to finish any project, I would guess the can will continue to be kicked down the road until........

Aye, that will be high price to pay for fiscal frolics, folly's – and some monstrous, unnecessary lines of pure moon-shine being allowed to slip past by Senate committee's where there is no political clout, much less control of any sort available. Will the EBH give a stuff? No, just shuffle off happily retired on the KPI bonus and salary and Super accrued from the degradation of what should be (it was paid for) a first world seamless system which safely separates the things which could actually 'go bump in the night'.

Toot – toot.