Friends - of Aviation?
“Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court? “
As the good Duke says; there are many things to like about being 'exiled'; which is all well and good, provided being isolated and ignored is your goal. A good part of the 'aviation' spectrum whilst not exiled, is yet a good way down the list of the stuff which wins elections. Whilst the 'big guns' can and do take care of their own bailiwicks; they are still subject to the whims and fancies of the rules which govern. Even with their own lobby crew and a hat full of lawyers and experts, the muddled rule set and CASA induced drag, while 'managed' does add to the overall cost of operating. The 'middle' tier operations are afflicted with the same incubus, albeit managed, but it still takes a big slice off the bottom line. The rest? Well they just struggle along, dodging and weaving through the contradictory nightmare; praying they've got it all 'right' enough to avoid serious conflict with the powers that be. Mark you, the level of surveillance ineptitude and homemade notions of what constitutes a well run 'non airline' operation would make the angels weep: not to mention the ever more batty, contradictory rules which can be and frequently are 'manipulated to suit the cause. This is not made up stuff; check any Senate Estimates session from the last decade, its all there, faithfully preserved on Hansard.
“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
A good idea that one; but – who to go to? That is the question which must be answered. Another good question is 'what' can be done: but the big questions are who can actually get something 'done' to unscramble the mess, upset the status quo apple cart and actually reduce the staggering cost burden, while bringing in a mandate to follow ICAO, return the regulations to compliance, remove the loaded dice from the table and set Australia back on the road to sanity, competence in the administration and reduce the delays induced by a make work system? Aye, 'tis a big ask; but essential, domestically and internationally. No one likes being a joke; nor the recipient of sympathy.
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
But how? The government delegated all responsibility to the agencies; the agencies essentially loaded all of that responsibility onto industry, then built defensive walls to protect their rice bowls, not to mention salaries unheard of within 75% of the industry. When you add the no cost benefit for top Barristers to assist in prosecuting the desired version of a matter, competing against the average mutt burning their own resources: well.- Facts. Then perhaps it is time for the government to have a re-think and level the playing field. Gods know there has been enough good, solid, wise advice offered along with a mountain of pleas for 'easement' and sanity. The current 'top floor' of the ATSB; ASA and CASA collectively; could not hit the side of the shed with a shovelful of horse shit, wind assisted.
“He did not care for the lying at first. He hated it. Then later he had come to like it. It was part of being an insider but it was a very corrupting business
There is (IMO) a tiny, ethereal glimmer of hope distant within the deep dark woods; if, say for example, an outfit like the moribund AOPA could gain some credibility, harness the IAOPA and make some 'friends' not only within the parliament, but with those 'unseated' to gain knowledge on how to do things and get them done; like real legislative change; then, maybe, perhaps, Gods willing, a government could see the sense in fostering those changes and breathe life into a struggling industry. Changes like apprenticeships; regulations without criminal charges and, regulations which may be complied with excluding the need for top flight legal eagles to prepare the company manuals. Hell's Bells I don't know, but if the industry, outside of airlines, can't be free of the shackles which bind, then its RA Oz forever and goodnight Vienna for the rest.
“Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones and good in every thing.
I would not change it.”
Aye, well, sod that for a game of soldiers.- Golly I would, yesterday (fast type) would be great, but tomorrow will do very nicely, thank you. Alas, Non of this gets eight draws made to fit the Amoire recently completed; 1920's 'replica' beautiful wide Baltic Pine, 25 mm thick, straight grain, properly 'seasoned' and remarkably cooperative. I lost count of the joints, but lots of, 32 dovetails in the lid ; great piles of shavings on the floor; much to the cat's delight. Now there is just enough time for an Ale, a smoke and a walk before lights out and (bonus) DT has left some sausage rolls out in her workshop. Time to knock off I'd say.
Selah.-.
“Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile,
Hath not old custom made this life more sweet
Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court? “
As the good Duke says; there are many things to like about being 'exiled'; which is all well and good, provided being isolated and ignored is your goal. A good part of the 'aviation' spectrum whilst not exiled, is yet a good way down the list of the stuff which wins elections. Whilst the 'big guns' can and do take care of their own bailiwicks; they are still subject to the whims and fancies of the rules which govern. Even with their own lobby crew and a hat full of lawyers and experts, the muddled rule set and CASA induced drag, while 'managed' does add to the overall cost of operating. The 'middle' tier operations are afflicted with the same incubus, albeit managed, but it still takes a big slice off the bottom line. The rest? Well they just struggle along, dodging and weaving through the contradictory nightmare; praying they've got it all 'right' enough to avoid serious conflict with the powers that be. Mark you, the level of surveillance ineptitude and homemade notions of what constitutes a well run 'non airline' operation would make the angels weep: not to mention the ever more batty, contradictory rules which can be and frequently are 'manipulated to suit the cause. This is not made up stuff; check any Senate Estimates session from the last decade, its all there, faithfully preserved on Hansard.
“You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
A good idea that one; but – who to go to? That is the question which must be answered. Another good question is 'what' can be done: but the big questions are who can actually get something 'done' to unscramble the mess, upset the status quo apple cart and actually reduce the staggering cost burden, while bringing in a mandate to follow ICAO, return the regulations to compliance, remove the loaded dice from the table and set Australia back on the road to sanity, competence in the administration and reduce the delays induced by a make work system? Aye, 'tis a big ask; but essential, domestically and internationally. No one likes being a joke; nor the recipient of sympathy.
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
But how? The government delegated all responsibility to the agencies; the agencies essentially loaded all of that responsibility onto industry, then built defensive walls to protect their rice bowls, not to mention salaries unheard of within 75% of the industry. When you add the no cost benefit for top Barristers to assist in prosecuting the desired version of a matter, competing against the average mutt burning their own resources: well.- Facts. Then perhaps it is time for the government to have a re-think and level the playing field. Gods know there has been enough good, solid, wise advice offered along with a mountain of pleas for 'easement' and sanity. The current 'top floor' of the ATSB; ASA and CASA collectively; could not hit the side of the shed with a shovelful of horse shit, wind assisted.
“He did not care for the lying at first. He hated it. Then later he had come to like it. It was part of being an insider but it was a very corrupting business
There is (IMO) a tiny, ethereal glimmer of hope distant within the deep dark woods; if, say for example, an outfit like the moribund AOPA could gain some credibility, harness the IAOPA and make some 'friends' not only within the parliament, but with those 'unseated' to gain knowledge on how to do things and get them done; like real legislative change; then, maybe, perhaps, Gods willing, a government could see the sense in fostering those changes and breathe life into a struggling industry. Changes like apprenticeships; regulations without criminal charges and, regulations which may be complied with excluding the need for top flight legal eagles to prepare the company manuals. Hell's Bells I don't know, but if the industry, outside of airlines, can't be free of the shackles which bind, then its RA Oz forever and goodnight Vienna for the rest.
“Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones and good in every thing.
I would not change it.”
Aye, well, sod that for a game of soldiers.- Golly I would, yesterday (fast type) would be great, but tomorrow will do very nicely, thank you. Alas, Non of this gets eight draws made to fit the Amoire recently completed; 1920's 'replica' beautiful wide Baltic Pine, 25 mm thick, straight grain, properly 'seasoned' and remarkably cooperative. I lost count of the joints, but lots of, 32 dovetails in the lid ; great piles of shavings on the floor; much to the cat's delight. Now there is just enough time for an Ale, a smoke and a walk before lights out and (bonus) DT has left some sausage rolls out in her workshop. Time to knock off I'd say.
Selah.-.