[Peetwo]

Bring back Sic'em'REX!! - 

Reference SBG...

The SS Ley v real 'Numerology'.

If you have been silly enough to consider betting the house or the kid's school fees on 'the opposition' making even one skinny improvement to the plight of GA or the engineering fraternity; now is time to stow those tickets away. Just tuck 'em away somewhere, back of the cupboard and wait for better prospects of change in the distant future. The very notion of the SS Ley being able to be even noticed by minuscule 'King' let alone having any sort of 'impact' on any form of aviation in this land is ludicrous. The under-story Juorno's tag of 'Flip-Flop' is not only accurate, but very, very valid.

' Wiki' – neatly paragraphed the 'essential' nature of this 'Flip-flop' track record is quite explicit (read properly}in defining the inability to complete a task or be a 'true' leader' of this once proud nation. To be a 'camp cook', a waitress, an ATCO (failed) or a 'commercial' pilot requires a certain degree of 'practicality', determination and willpower to complete. They are all 'career positions; the mind-set required is totally different to that required to be an 'accountant' or 'taxation' master, nor even an effective politician.

Aviation should discount any claim to 'hope' of Ley even remembering being a 'commercial pilot' or cook or cleaner or ATCO or anything else that matters. Experience of 'other' peoples lives is not a bad thing; many of us have 'worked' (when needs must) or tried out alternative jobs. It is terrific experience and goes a long way toward 'rounding' a work ethic. We've all done work which paid 'the bills' and kept us 'on track' (and eating) on the road to our chosen profession; but – was there a 'need' for Ley to even mention being a shearers cook? No, is the 'short' definitive answer. Hell, I've cooked for shearers; stock men, miners, wranglers, climbers and sailors – when it was 'my turn'. None of it is on my resume – not applicable to the position sought is it!

Holds a– 'CPL - So what'. Just holding CPL is a something of nothing; it is, essentially, simply the basic qualification needed to transition into 'the profession' – I note there is no 'rating' attached; which indicates 'no further interest' in 'working' within the industry. Has a line pilot's job ever been held: where, with whom, total command hours, medical still valid? Ley ain't one of the troops and it is disingenuous to claim to be.  In short - hold a 'CPL - So what?

Any notion that the new 'leader' can, let alone will challenge King should be flushed away with the last beer. We must now rely on Fawcett (he can't in conscience keep stepping away), Joyce; McKenzie, McDonald and a couple of others now must be depended on, with 'tough thumbs - hold the dyke' lest aviation disintegrates due lack of care, attention and support under the weight of the King/ Spence (and Co.) version of 'the way to go'.

Aviation like many other self funded, innovative, productive, employing, tax paying, revenue generating industries is being crushed out of existence through neglect, the cost of doing business, the half baked CASA and DOIT bureaucratic arse covering, waffle, 'unworkable' ideals, hubris and in many cases sheer purblind ignorance; all of that, and being completely removed from government control, suggestion or appeal. Will the SS Ley steam into that minefield? You know the answer......

IF, government continue to insist on the 'hands off' criterion but perhaps recognised the industry pleadings for 'sanity' and 'clarity'; and, ICAO compliance; and, there was just a flicker of will to 'assist' - there is a simple, effective solution available. To wit:- sack Spence and hire an aviation 'Boss' who can bring in and enforce the changes so desperately needed. Get shed of the Muppet running ATSB and watch the revenue start to tick over. Two letters, two strokes of the ministerial pen and just like that 75% of the industry noise has gone.

Only my opinion of course; but as the numbers indicate, we can't struggle along like this for much longer – Engineering in all manner of trouble (mostly due to the regulations) Flying Schools closing and training standards now 'piss potical (mostly due to the regulations) Secondary airport charter operations reduced to a trickle' (mostly due to the over regulation, changes to same and charges for 'service' and leases) etc. etc. Ley the CPL holder is going to fix this? Don't think so; no Sir I just don't.

Toot – toot....

Speaking of SS_Ley flip, flopping get a load of this flim flam from 2017, subject matter - Angel Flight?? - 

Ms LEY (Farrer) (16:56): I rise to discuss matters concerning aviation safety and to submit to the parliament a view that Australia needs new safety standards for community service flights conducted on a voluntary basis. Many who live in rural and remote Australia, as I do, are familiar with Australia's best known charity medical air service, Angel Flight, operating since 2003, an organisation that coordinates non-emergency flights flown by volunteer pilots to transport country passengers to medical appointments, usually in capital cities.

In the last six years, there have been two fatal flights, the most recent being on 28 June near Mount Gambier, in which the pilot and two passengers were killed. In August 2011 another flight crashed near Nhill in western Victoria, again with no survivors. I will resist commenting on the causes of the accident earlier this year, as its circumstances are subject to an ongoing Aviation Transport Safety Bureau investigation. At the end of 2013, the ATSB released its report into the 2011 accident and found as follows:

… the pilot probably encountered reduced visibility … due to low cloud, rain and diminishing daylight, leading to disorientation, loss of control and impact with terrain.

This was a clear safety message about the risk of such flights made by pilots without high instrument flying proficiency and recent night experience.

In 2014, CASA released a discussion paper in which it sought to toughen regulations for community service flights. The paper argued:

As community service flights become more widely used, the variable pilot qualifications and aircraft certification and maintenance standards become significant potential risk factors.

It canvassed 10 administrative and/or operational options, noting that too heavy a regulatory hand would mean the cost of compliance would effectively rule such flights impossible. At the time there was strong resistance to change from Angel Flight and from regional communities, and the proposed changes were shelved. However, following the latest tragedy, CASA announced that it will re-examine standards for flights like Angel Flight. That is a good thing. As a general aviation pilot, with a commercial licence I earned in 1980 and having had a career as a bush pilot and still flying myself across the big distances of western New South Wales, I am the very last person to wish for additional regulation on pilots, and it gives me no pleasure to call for change within a charitable organisation that has at its heart and soul the volunteering, giving spirit of so many country people. But a passion for flying and a love of helping people are not sufficient without adequate safety standards.

Most people are familiar with charter flights that leave their local regional airports from time to time—small planes that come and go from out-of-the-way places—and they would consider that the Angel Flight used by their family member is covered by the same rules and regulations. I believe they'd be surprised to know that this is not the case. Operators of charter flights must have an air operators certificate and conform to a far higher standard than regular private flights. Much of this standard is frustratingly bureaucratic, but at its heart is the critical imperative of aviation safety. In the case of a charity flight, the relationship that would exist in a private flight doesn't exist. The members of the public are unsuspecting. There is an element of vulnerability about their circumstances, particularly when children are involved. This may introduce a degree of operational pressure. The level of competency of pilots flying the trips may be as high as or higher than that of those who fly regular public transport routes, or it may be lower than the level of an average pilot.

I have criticised CASA many times over the years, but their 2014 discussion paper should be revisited. Their preferred option—an approved self-administering aviation organisation—would allow this sector to regulate itself. Changes must be made, and I do believe a way forward can be found so that our volunteer pilots can continue to help support country people's access to medical services.

 

Hmm...

Compare that to this...

&..this:

Or even this from Senator McDonald:

&..who could forget:

MTF...P2