[Kharon]

WARNING !

Long (long) ramble warning..

It all began with Grand Mamma's jigsaw puzzle.

Must have been about seven; staying at 'Grand's place during the Christmas holidays; which, IMO was the best (except for mandatory church visits). On a day, one on which even the dogs refused to go outside for more than the minimum time required; bored to tears, as was I. "Come" Gran said and I tagged along; into the holy of hollies; the sewing room; fire burning, lights on and a box on the large table, with a picture on the front. "Today we can practice 'thinking" says she and tipped the box out. Lots and lots of 'pieces' spilled out; I almost bolted. "Stay" said she, and so, I obediently sat on the wooden chair indicated; so we began. The first part was identifying 'colour' matches, then parts of more solid items, then, those that looked like 'sky' went up and those that looked like earth down; then the corners. The rest, a lesson in piecing together 'puzzles'. Well, the habit stuck; logical patterns, colors, - clues to where something would not ever fit. Valuable training. But the first and finest almost priceless lesson: I can still hear it; - "what are we looking at? define it and then see it" as she gently prodded my puckered wooden forehead.

The CASA, the court, the barristers, the protagonists, those with vested interest, those with things that should not be mentioned, the widow, the mates, all involved in a massive 'puzzle' one with several 'missing' pieces. Each with an 'angle' each with a version of the facts; and the lawyers 'trapped' within their brief and obliged to defend their clients. All fair and not unusual. The problem is the narrow view taken by all sides in the 'discussion' - well that and rice bowl protection. It is fair and reasonable to ask 'Grand's' question about now.  "What are we looking at"?

In the very, very messy case of the 'Croc Wrangler' to get the 'picture' one needs to step back a good long way. There are four very disparate; but 'connected' elements; essential to the whole. Lets start with a history which has been written out of the script. 'Investigative journalists' could begin at the very beginning and join the dots; we can and it is not a pretty picture. The spectre of Dorian Grey lurks within the top cover. History and cold, hard fact define an operation that should have been 'overseen' carefully from the outset. Take a simple thing, a routine, everyday thing, like the Maintenance Release (MR) to Service for example. Is it like another one which conveniently 'floated away'. BOLLOCKS it did. Or, like the much sought after one for IDW, the crash aircraft. This essential, legally binding, safety control document has been chased from aircraft, to perhaps being in a hospital, or perhaps in a cottage, or even perhaps tucked into the pilots jocks: who would know, and why is everyone chasing it?

Briefly; it is a document which matters in aviation law; seriously matters. There are several 'norms' which have been endemic in both commercial and training operations. 'Procedures' vary; at flight school one system; at a charter outfit another, airlines another, but in essence, it is a protected important document; to 'sin' against the regulations and safety systems represented therein is inviting serious trouble: or it should do. Yet, in this case they can't even find the bloody thing; although they did search. Well every one but CASA; why not?  But the real riddle is why was it not, as is the general practice in General Aviation (GA) kept in the aircraft, in a folder along with fuel cards and contact numbers and etc. To be completed at shifts end. Routine stuff; 'daily inspection' check the MR for noted defects; check those signed off, aircraft 'accepted' by the pilot, job flown, MR hours noted - maintenance notified as and when required; and the 'folder' left in the aircraft for the next pilot. Trip records returned to 'Ops'. Maintenance control do the numbers and the aircraft is kept on its designed maintenance track. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde;

“To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”

To loose one maintenance release etc. Make no mistake; this is a serious matter, very serious. Consider the reasons and motives behind the desperate 'search' for this document, and, why? IF, this was a simple matter of an aircraft running out of fuel (for whatever the reasons) the, the pilot is 'in-the-gun'. No reason to hide the MR; bottom smack and some training/counseling = end of. It has happened before. Sure the pilot is up to his ass in Alligators; but the company and the 'Authority' are, off the hook - unless there was 'influence' used to run as tight as possible on the fuel bill; i.e, use minimum fuel (or else). So all this begs answer to four serious, as yet unanswered questions; where is the MR; how much fuel was on board at the time; was the Hobbs disconnected and was the aircraft due for maintenance? The court has gone nowhere near examining these essential elements. I ask, "Why not?:"

Then there is 'the Widow' - and this part presents some intriguing Contretemps . For instance - the length of rope permissible for operations for start. Even a simple thing like a rag tied around the drop rope could determine the maximum permissible height for sling operations - 5 meters is the 'official' height for sling; 10 meters is not approved. That makes sense: but, even so do the math. F=MA. The difference to human survival between 5 and 10 meters is definable. CASA mandated (I believe) a safety margin based on zero forward speed at a max of 5 meters. Problem is that if the 'bush' surrounding a Croc's nest is, potentially,  more than that limit allows; then there are only two options: (1) find a better place to set down; or, (2) seek out a better place for the operation to continue. Remembering that 'fuel' is being used every minute; and, the maintenance clock is ticking over every minute airborne. Operational prudence and legally binding requirements are provided for a purpose; and, serious, sensible operators take heed and care to not to push the limits imposed. It may well seem onerous; but as the scholars say; "if you think aviation is expensive; try having an 'accident". But this was no 'accident'. Knocking a coffee mug off the desk may be considered 'accidental'. But, not this event, - alas.

Oh, I don't know: perhaps the psychologists can assist with 'the reasons why'. There are many avenues which demand 'exploration' to the why of it all. But I will say this; the 'discipline' required to manage 'difficult' operations; not inherently 'dangerous'; because what was being done is NOT inherently 'dangerous'-  if done as the NT Rangers do it. They manage quite nicely, without a recorded death collecting Croc eggs. They care for the land, and their people; good tucker for the eggs collected and the safety associated with that collection. They manage quite well. I will leave this ramble with only questions. Why do we need braggadocio, media hype, cocaine, falsified/ missing documents, booze, arrogance, ego and machinery - not properly maintained or managed, smashed up, booze/ drugs being delivered to 'dry' communities, and good men dying; at the end of a rope?  Better operations than this one have been shut down by CASA for a lot less. And I wonder; WHY?

Writ, in hope (drunk as a Lord) after BRB indaba. Wondering why CASA even exists? There is a good case to explore who, why and what-for they (operator) hire and operate the way the way they do? That stands as a very valid question; I won't hold my breath waiting on an answer; ancient, discredited law opposing. It all just don't cover spend a fortune covering the approval 'errors' - and justifying the 'modus' of it all; the cost of that astronomical.

Yours in BRB (and the real world) - Toot bloody toot. (The Styx river houseboat crew). Shame on CASA; Selah.etc 

Toot - (MTF {much} on the Widow) toot.