Not for Profit- is that the 'right' question?
Philosophically, that question can be tackled anywhere from a sensible half dozen bases to a lot more – it all depends on your 'point of view'; or, more likely from a 'whats in it for me' standpoint.
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
Aye, but, to a 'thinking' person; the absolutely abysmal state of the Australasian air space (dare I say management') - mess - demands prompt, decisive rectification: yesterday would have been great, but tomorrow will suffice. Global searches at great expense to find someone (anyone) willing to take a million a year to fix the shit fight left behind from a flawed approach is asking a great deal. There seems to be some fairly artful dodging, ducking and weaving in the wake of the last decade of mismanagement; and, some fairly tidy sums of tax payer money creamed off the top of the muddle. All well and good for the millionaires, those who successfully managed to 'milk' the tit; but what about poor old Joe Taxpayer – slugged three ways to Christmas and stuck with a third world system?
“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
It's not that 'help' or guidance was/is unavailable. Across the planet millions are moved everyday. The Brits and the USA move many, many more aircraft in a week than Australia does in a month (wild guess number) – I've seen more aircraft lined up at Denver for departure mid morning, than there is aircraft in Australia – all moving along and departing roughly 'on time' – so why can't Australia shift the pitiful few queued up in Sydney and Melbourne at a reasonable rate of dispatch. Spend a morning at Heathrow, or London Docks; or in Singapore, or any other major hub – the differences stark. Better yet, talk to aircrew who regularly operate into and out of 'real' traffic control systems – they'll tell ya! In colorful language. So, once again, why is Australia so bloody agricultural?
"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future."
About now, i.e. today – there is a perfect opportunity to 'start' the process of bringing Australia up to par with the grown ups. The bare bones are there; we have an excellent core body of front line crew, some fairly good facilities and great weather (most of the time) – and no great 'volume' of traffic to manage. Consider; this is all funded by the taxpaying traveling public; in one form or another. The alleged 'profits' from the operation are not returned to general revenue, they are used to pay inflated salary and bonus to a crowd of professional 'not me' types. (See Senate Estimates video_ P2's You Tube) if any doubt exists. Although, how the Hell anyone could claim a salary of a million plus and a bonus for the current debacle is beyond my ken. This is a 'public service' – one instituted to provide a safe, efficient network facilitating the movement of aircraft: that is it's sole 'raison de d'etre. Passing it off as a 'business' – particularly a government profit center is a basically deeply flawed philosophy – or a great cynical, greedy 'rip-off' – probably both. The chances of a 'mid-air' event are slim to anorexic; the 'real danger' resides within a hidebound, top heavy bureaucracy feeding from the traveling public and airline efficiency trough, while covering their collective rumps from any and all responsibility for the bugger's muddle. The airlines, GA operators and Joe Public are forced to support the edifice – like it or not. Why waste a perfect opportunity to get this mess sorted out; slim, efficient, expert management to lead a great crew out of the morass. Accident ain't the worry; the slow descent into decadent, government imposed operational poverty through abrogation is.
“You may delay, but time will not.”
That's it, ramble over - back to my knitting. The stove is warm, the Ale cool and there's no great rush to venture out on a cold, frosty evening.
Selah.
Philosophically, that question can be tackled anywhere from a sensible half dozen bases to a lot more – it all depends on your 'point of view'; or, more likely from a 'whats in it for me' standpoint.
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”
Aye, but, to a 'thinking' person; the absolutely abysmal state of the Australasian air space (dare I say management') - mess - demands prompt, decisive rectification: yesterday would have been great, but tomorrow will suffice. Global searches at great expense to find someone (anyone) willing to take a million a year to fix the shit fight left behind from a flawed approach is asking a great deal. There seems to be some fairly artful dodging, ducking and weaving in the wake of the last decade of mismanagement; and, some fairly tidy sums of tax payer money creamed off the top of the muddle. All well and good for the millionaires, those who successfully managed to 'milk' the tit; but what about poor old Joe Taxpayer – slugged three ways to Christmas and stuck with a third world system?
“The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.”
It's not that 'help' or guidance was/is unavailable. Across the planet millions are moved everyday. The Brits and the USA move many, many more aircraft in a week than Australia does in a month (wild guess number) – I've seen more aircraft lined up at Denver for departure mid morning, than there is aircraft in Australia – all moving along and departing roughly 'on time' – so why can't Australia shift the pitiful few queued up in Sydney and Melbourne at a reasonable rate of dispatch. Spend a morning at Heathrow, or London Docks; or in Singapore, or any other major hub – the differences stark. Better yet, talk to aircrew who regularly operate into and out of 'real' traffic control systems – they'll tell ya! In colorful language. So, once again, why is Australia so bloody agricultural?
"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future."
About now, i.e. today – there is a perfect opportunity to 'start' the process of bringing Australia up to par with the grown ups. The bare bones are there; we have an excellent core body of front line crew, some fairly good facilities and great weather (most of the time) – and no great 'volume' of traffic to manage. Consider; this is all funded by the taxpaying traveling public; in one form or another. The alleged 'profits' from the operation are not returned to general revenue, they are used to pay inflated salary and bonus to a crowd of professional 'not me' types. (See Senate Estimates video_ P2's You Tube) if any doubt exists. Although, how the Hell anyone could claim a salary of a million plus and a bonus for the current debacle is beyond my ken. This is a 'public service' – one instituted to provide a safe, efficient network facilitating the movement of aircraft: that is it's sole 'raison de d'etre. Passing it off as a 'business' – particularly a government profit center is a basically deeply flawed philosophy – or a great cynical, greedy 'rip-off' – probably both. The chances of a 'mid-air' event are slim to anorexic; the 'real danger' resides within a hidebound, top heavy bureaucracy feeding from the traveling public and airline efficiency trough, while covering their collective rumps from any and all responsibility for the bugger's muddle. The airlines, GA operators and Joe Public are forced to support the edifice – like it or not. Why waste a perfect opportunity to get this mess sorted out; slim, efficient, expert management to lead a great crew out of the morass. Accident ain't the worry; the slow descent into decadent, government imposed operational poverty through abrogation is.
“You may delay, but time will not.”
That's it, ramble over - back to my knitting. The stove is warm, the Ale cool and there's no great rush to venture out on a cold, frosty evening.
Selah.