[Sandy Reith]

[attachment=12]I would have thought that "compulsory sworn statements" (coroner's report, preceeding comment) are more likely, and correctly, within the purview of properly convened court proceedings. Otherwise we are on the path to reverse the civilising gains made since Magna Carta in the field of justice. Furthermore its only a small step over the line to coercion, waterboarding etc., torture.  

In regard to the CAAP, which reads like instructions by a kindergarten teacher, demonstrates clearly that there is no respect for General Aviation professionals, and no prospect of top down reform within CASA.

Good point made that our flight instructors must be employed by an Air Operator Certificate holder, unlike the USA where some 70% of pilots are trained by individual instructors. They do not have to fund and maintain the super expensive and time consuming training regime that is the unhappy scene for what is left of GA flying training in Australia. Couple this with the extremely heavy handed criminal sanctions applying is it any wonder that people are just walking away?

Sadly, safety is going down the drain in lockstep with General Aviation dying by a thousand cuts. I'm seeing things in maintenance that show lack of knowledge and recency. There are increasingly high costs and lack of competition in all fields of GA. The loss of experienced personnel and businesses, especially from our secondary airports. Loss of refueling facilities. Thousands of Australian aviators migrating to the low weight category, not because the aircraft are more suitable, very often much less suitable, but because the regulatory regime is more practical.

So whenever anything emanates from CASA about safety, understand the big lie, the disgraceful self serving, and the raison d'etre of a so-called 'independent government business unit'.

The graveyard spiral will continue unless we achieve Parliamentary action.

A letter I received in 1989 is attached, I keep it pinned to my office wall.