[Kharon]

Appoint the tea lady. (roared the crowd).

Sandy'-"There is however one way which could help if the Board had any guts at all and that is to instruct the "DAS" to immediately create a recognition of the NZ rules by way of the Minister's expectation of 4G, mutual recognition."

That becoming reality would raise a cheer or two; but then the pain would follow. A joint ‘committee to ‘oversight’, the legal eagles with a whole new realm of ‘differences’ to play with, exemptions for the ‘unique’ and all the complex claptrap needed for ‘Australia’ to function, in a manner which suits. Then there would be the additional costs. Somehow I can’t see the DoIT or CASA giving up their powerbase without a struggle; the notion of a powerless CASA has as much chance of happening as the Board has of growing a set of balls.

Yet, they must. A ‘proper’ DAS (silly title) would/could guide and ‘assist’ both board and minister toward true reform of both regulator and rules would make a dream come true. The problem lays in the ‘selection’. One more ‘dud’ and I reckon industry will collapse, not under the weight and cost of current compliance, but because the real problem has not been addressed. Until the regulator is reformed and seen to be acting correctly, regaining industry trust and respect, the rest will be more window dressing. That will break many hearts.

The ‘application’ phase of the selection process is ended. The selection process is underway; anyone want to bet me a choc frog that Sen. David Fawcett is not invited to participate? He should be, the man can spot a ‘wrong-un’ and knows what is so desperately needed.

Another ‘intriguing’ element is the notable lack of interest in the selection process. I’ve not heard it mentioned outside the BRB and even then it’s never really got up as a ‘debated’ topic. There seems to be an air resignation that the board will just accept whoever the mandarins want and the boat will remain, resolutely, un-rocked. Carmody is, without doubt a top flight bureaucrat, but he ain’t, by nature, a reform DAS.

Not that anyone seems to give a monkey’s. A symptom of the low morale levels within the industry; as one fellahin said “how much worse can it get, if this ain’t rock bottom, then we must be close to”.  Aye, maybe we should just give the job to the tea lady, save a fortune; we may even get some common sense along with the Scotch finger.

Toot-toot. Supported by the Board the minister makes his  long awaited announcement.

[thorn bird]

Of politics and Piss ants.

A Saturday ramble

Perhaps my musings may be construed as simplistic, but it occurs to me that we “The People”, as we are so often euphemistically described by the establishment, are so very badly done by. By the very cadre of people we allegedly select and entrust with efficiently managing our country, with probity and in our interests.

It would appear that far from serving our interests, the country is run like an out of control “Game of Thrones”, without the gore perhaps, but if what we hear of the Cant’berra Novotel are true, with all of the sex drugs and rock and roll.  

To me our ruling elite are taking the Mickey Bliss i.e. the piss out of us.

Far from serving the interests of the shareholders (citizens) of this giant 'corporation' we call 'our' country; the common good is subverted by self interest, self entitlement, self promotion and outright greed which pervades every facet of the management of our country.

Tune in to question time in parliament sometime.  I always naively imagined that Parliament was a place where learned, sober, competent people presented our views for rational debate and decisions taken in our interests. Instead, we witness a self serving rabble sneering irrelevant claptrap at each other, in a desperate attempt to score points, rather than engage in serious discussion of the very serious issues that confront us : those which, that if not addressed 'today' will haunt not only our children, but their children: our grandchildren.

Behind these “Show Ponies” we elect as “Our Board of directors” sit a group of not elected people, who, supposedly do the work of running the place,; the so called Public servant Mandarins.

Nobody could call their management performance exemplary. Their focus almost entirely on protecting the image of the 'show ponies' rather than the interests of those who’s taxes pay the inflated salaries and provide  perks that the average taxpayer could only dream of. No wonder the people are disillusioned with our government.

No more so than within our own Industry, aviation, is this apparent. Particularly general aviation (non major airline) end has born the consequences of mind boggling mismanagement for too many years, the industry, worn out by the unending barrage of incompetence, from its regulator and cowed into acceptance of this by the constant bullying and harassment, as all trust and faith lost  Is it any wonder that so many are just giving up?
 
In the real corporate world the people  'responsible (at those salaries) would have been shown the door long ago. Yet they remain: protected by the system, failure after failure ignored, excess after excess excused, the state of the GA industry is testament to their ineptitude and incompetence.

Managers are not supposed to kill those they manage, except of course as concentration camp commandants of course.

The show ponies must accept their part of the blame.  Sure, they cannot be expected to be across all the issues of managing an industry as technically complicated and complex as aviation. Notwithstanding that, they choose to ignore the preponderance of evidence, provided by the industry itself, proving that all is not well. Yet they chose to ignore the industry in favour of the  flawed advice provided by 'the bureaucrats' ;  do they (the show ponies) ever consider or even bother with due diligence?

Consultation with other overseas regulatory authorities would have provided a yardstick to measure the performance of their authority. All the show ponies of whatever stripe allowed themselves to be captured by very slick snake oil salesmen bureaucrats, illustrating unpardonable laziness in the execution of their office.

The whole point of regulatory oversight is to manage safety. This our regulator has endeavored to do by suppressing the industry to such an extent that it has become almost completely nonviable. In the process they have squandered hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars and god knows how much of the industries as well as the tax dollars and livelihoods of so many affected by the decimation;  all spent on a proven folly.

It is no 'safer' in Australia than anywhere else in the first world.  It is no safer today than it was fifty years ago before GA entered it's golden age, yet the regulatory onslaught continues unabated. The show ponies seem quite content to go on letting them piss money away for no measurable result, hundreds of millions more for absolutely no result, yet prattle on about efficiencies, budget deficits and sponsoring innovation, where anything innovative is forced by the burden of over regulation to move offshore.

The answer is so simple.

It is as simple today as it was thirty years ago when it was decided to reform our system by adopting the system of the most successful aviation nation on the planet.

A decision skillfully subverted by the mandarins; but, the option is still there.

The question is; does the government want to continue with this folly and the complete collapse of the aviation industry, or grow a set, accept the complete and absolute cock up that the regulator is and move our system to FAR’s or align with New Zealand?  In case the political elite hasn’t noticed, New Zealand has made all the hard decisions and is rapidly leaving Australia behind.

A few million dollars and a couple of years and an industry unshackled, allowed to shine, or another thirty years of purgatory, with hundreds of millions squandered for no result.

That is  the simple choice.

Choc frog Thorny. Easter BRB soon; bring your lampshade - it's a biggy.

[Sandy Reith]

While it's true that a regulatory environment should provide for safe operations it should also provide for efficiency. The Act used to provide for both. As has been put many times safety cannot be an aim isolated from reasonable risk. We expect a greater degree of safety through experience and advances in technology and engineering all of which will come more quickly if government would take it's jackboot off the neck of GA. Progress does not rely on government edict but on self preservation, public expectations, business imperatives and, importantly, risk profiles developed by insurance companies.

Regarding Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition the idea would not be to wait for harmonisation but for aircraft registration and maintenance and pilot and AOC qualifications to be recognised fully for operations in Australia. We don't have a problem with the Qantas owned NZ company JetConnect operating here (in Qantas livery), what could be any real objection?

Another question;  if "promote and foster aviation" is written into the charter for Air Services Australia, as was told to a recent AOPA conference at Avalon by CEO Jason Harfield, why not the same for CASA?

The current model of governance cannot work, irrespective of who next gets the Dashing Rehashing job.

Parliament must make a change to the Modus Operandi, and,
"Statement of Expectations" must go to be replaced with Ministerial Directions

[Peetwo]

6D announces new CASA board member & 3P SOE -

Via 6D_NFI_minscule media minion today... :

New appointment to strengthen safety authority

Ms Cheryl Cartwright will join the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Board to further enhance the governance of Australia's aviation safety regulatory agency.
28 March

media release

[*]Cheryl Cartwright appointed to CASA Board commencing 17 April 2017
[*]Appointment strengthens government engagement and governance experience

Ms Cheryl Cartwright will join the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Board to further enhance the governance of Australia's aviation safety regulatory agency.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester welcomed Ms Cartwright's appointment and said her membership would bring strong governance experience to the Board.

“Ms Cartwright has ably demonstrated her skills throughout her time as CEO of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association,” Mr Chester said.

“Ms Cartwright has been in that role for more than a decade, and she now brings her considerable government engagement, strategic planning and valuable communications experience to the CASA Board.

“The appointment of Ms Cartwright is fully consistent with CASA's governing legislation which stresses the importance of an appropriate balance of professional expertise on the Board and will complement the aviation experience of current Board members.”

---

[*]

3–Ps sets direction for Australia's aviation safety body

The Australian Government has issued a new Statement of Expectations (SOE) for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), with the direction that regulatory activity be pragmatic, practical and proportional.

28 March

media release

..Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the new SOE provided clear direction for the Board and staff of CASA on the Government's expectations and priorities for aviation safety over the next two years.

“This Statement sets out in an open and formal way some important parameters for CASA's regulatory approach, including implementing its regulatory philosophy,” Mr Chester said.

“CASA has an extremely important role to play in maintaining Australia's enviable safety record, having regard to risk; CASA must also take into account the economic and cost impact on the aviation industry.

“A pragmatic, practical and proportional approach to regulatory activity is intended to help support aviation growth in this country, particularly in the general aviation sector.”

[*]

And both MR's summarised by Oz Aviation:

Minister Chester issues new statement of expectations for CASA
March 28, 2017 by australianaviation.com.au

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has a new Statement of Expectations. (CASA)

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has issued a fresh Statement of Expectations (SOE) for the board of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

The new SOE will apply from March 27 2017 to June 30 2019 and sets out CASA’s governance, regulatory approach, key aviation activities and stakeholder engagement functions while ensuring that aviation safety remained the organisation’s highest priority.

Chester said CASA should be “pragmatic, practical and proportional” in its dealings.

“This Statement sets out in an open and formal way some important parameters for CASA’s regulatory approach, including implementing its regulatory philosophy,” Chester said in a statement on Tuesday.

“CASA has an extremely important role to play in maintaining Australia’s enviable safety record, having regard to risk; CASA must also take into account the economic and cost impact on the aviation industry.

“A pragmatic, practical and proportional approach to regulatory activity is intended to help support aviation growth in this country, particularly in the general aviation sector.”

The new SOE immediately replaces the former SOE issued by then Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss in April 2015 that was due to expire on June 30 2017.

The SOE, which can be read in full on the federal government’s register of legislation website, said CASA was consulted in finalising the SOE.

It said CASA should maintain high standards of professionalism, service, probity, reporting, accountability and transparency, consistent with the provisions of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) as well as other relevant legislation.

“I expect CASA to operate as a world leading aviation safety regulator, backed by a workforce with the requisite skills and capabilities,” the SOE said.

In terms of regulatory approach, the SOE sets out the Minister’s expectation that CASA would focus on aviation safety as the highest priority while considering the “economic and cost impact on individuals, businesses and the community in the development and finalisation of new or amended regulatory changes”.

Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) chief executive Mike Higgins said the SOE was an “excellent starting point for future engagement with CASA at all levels”.

“It reinforces and builds on the great work already undertaken by CASA’s acting CEO Shane Carmody,” Higgins said in the Minister’s statement on Tuesday.

Among CASA’s key aviation initiatives included in the SOE was the changes taking place with air traffic services as the OneSky air traffic management system was developed, as well as Airservices’ new operating model.

“I’ve also asked CASA to focus effort on enhancing the level of controlled airspace, including at major regional airports,” Chester said.

“I look forward to CASA making strong progress against this Statement and encourage the aviation industry to provide cooperative input to the important work that will be progressed over the next few years.”

For stakeholder engagement, the SOE said it expected CASA to “undertake effective and ongoing engagement with the aviation industry to create a collaborative relationship between CASA and industry based on a foundation of mutual understanding and respect”.

Separately, Chester announced on Tuesday Cheryl Cartwright had been appointed to the CASA board, effective April 17 2017 for a three-year term.

Cartwright has been chief executive of Australian Pipelines and Gas Association for about 12 years before stepping down in February 2017.

CASA chairman Jeff Boyd welcomed Cartwright’s appointment.

“She will bring a wealth of corporate experience, which will complement the skill sets of existing board members and I certainly look forward to working with her,” Boyd said in a statement.

[*]

6D "..said the new SOE provided clear direction for the Board and staff of CASA on the Government's expectations and priorities for aviation safety over the next two years..."

Yes but as Sandy points out, the SOE is not a Ministerial direction and therefore leaves itself open to be bureaucratically obfuscated for the next two years. Basically put the SOE is another case of 6D on a self-serving 4P mission (4P - a pointless, posturing, political, propaganda mission - ).     

The new board appointment is perhaps of more interest - does this mean there maybe an outgoing board member as well?

Maybe a coincidence but I note that the following DoIRD document was recently tabled: Additional estimates 2016-17—Letters of advice—Infrastructure and Regional Development portfolio


Referencing 'vacancies to be filled' page five line 3 - "Civil Aviation Safety Authority - 1 x Deputy Chair".

So is Ms Cartwright also going to be appointed the 'Deputy Chair' of the CASA Board...


MTF...P2  


Ps Reference Section 12 of the CAA:

12  Directions

            (1)  The Minister may give the Board written directions as to the performance of its functions or the exercise of its powers.

         (1A)  Without limiting subsection (1), a direction under that subsection may require the Board to consult:

                    (a)  in the manner specified by the Minister; and

                    (b)  about matters specified by the Minister; and

                    ©  with bodies and organisations specified by the Minister.

            (2)  Directions as to the performance of its regulatory function shall be only of a general nature.

            (4)  The Board must comply with a direction given under subsection (1).

            (5)  This section does not affect the application of section 22 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (which deals with the application of government policy to corporate Commonwealth entities) in relation to CASA.

12A  Minister may give the Board notices about its strategic direction etc.

            (1)  The Minister may notify the Board in writing of the Minister’s views on the following matters:

                    (a)  the appropriate strategic direction for CASA;

                    (b)  the manner in which CASA should perform its functions.

         (1A)  Subsection (1) does not permit the Minister to notify views in relation to a particular case or a particular holder of a civil aviation authorisation.

            (2)  In performing its functions, the Board must act in accordance with notices given under subsection (1).

12B  Minister may direct CASA to give documents and information to nominee

            (1)  The Minister may direct CASA to give to a specified ministerial nominee any documents or information relating to CASA’s operations that the nominee requests.

            (2)  CASA must comply with the direction.

            (3)  In this section:

ministerial nominee means a person whose responsibilities or duties include advising the Minister about CASA’s performance and strategies.

[*]

Perhaps it is time that section 12 of the Civil Aviation Act was revisited in order to give more meat, with sanctions, if it is found that CASA have chosen to O&O Ministerial directions. The trouble is this NFI miniscule has proven again and again to be subservient to the bureaucrats to which he supposedly oversees...

[Gobbledock]

Miniscule NFI 6D the proactive Minister?

Yes, interesting addendum to the CAsA corporate structure. One of the Board vacating the trough? Maybe. Or is this 'bureaucracy 101' in which an organisation that is under the spotlight moves to quickly deflect said attention so the Miniscule, as advised by bureaucrat Murky and bureaucrat Wingnut, quickly add another snout to the trough and appoint an additional Board piggy. Old trick that works well for Governments. Make it look like you're doing something when in fact you are doing nothing. The new Statement of Excrementations from 6D is very clear - DAS (silly name) is in charge of the operation and the Board in charge of strategy. Herr Boyd would not be impressed that he has been further nobbled.
Funny though, I still recall the collective hard-on's people had for Boyd, the potential aviation Messiah. And we know how he turned out, he has as much pull as a 90 year old trying to resurrect an erection - zero.

At least the new bird knows about gas - she better get used to it because any Board, Miniscurial or executive management meeting produces enough of the stuff to further erode the ozone!

"Safe track covering and deflection for all"

[Kharon]

Quote of the Month.

“I look forward to CASA making strong progress against this Statement and encourage the aviation industry to provide cooperative input to the important work that will be progressed over the next few years.”

It is probably only a poor choice of words; but to the practical, pragmatic, proportional mind it is a Freudian Slip of massive proportion. For it concisely describes the CASA approach to any and all suggestion of ‘change’, the track record of resistance as well documented as is the treatment of such ‘suggested opinions’. As recently as the Forsyth ASRR if you need a perfect example. Daren 6D finally get’s it right; “CASA making strong progress against this Statement.”

The Cartwright ‘selection’ could be ‘interesting’. One of the elements missing has been the ability to ‘manage’ a large corporation and experience in treading the fine line between ‘profit’ and ‘public service’. There has never been a CEO of CASA with ‘corporate governance’ experience. What a ‘DAS’ (ST) should or should not be depends on your point of view and there are many opinions worthy of consideration on the subject. However, if you remove the burden of ‘corporate governance’ then opinions coalesce, in broad terms to the DASA having a true understanding of the industry, how it works, how makes and looses money, what makes it tick; and, importantly a deep understanding of the ‘nature of the beast’.

Take Carmody as an example; in many ways he makes an excellent DAS, particularly from the bureaucratic management angle; first class man – but he ‘ain’t industry’ born and bred. Aviation ain’t part of his fibre, his very being: flesh and blood for certain but JetA1 is not his blood type. The last two Dasasters were only vaguely ‘industry’, granted impressive records as a ‘crat would see ‘em; but not ‘of’ industry. With the ‘corporate’ end of the job in safe hands it may be possible to appoint a true industry person to a position where the reforms demanded by industry can become reality.

Aye well; it is as usual out of ‘industry hands’, we shall, once again, have to wait and see how it pans out. Expecting the worst while offering prayers to pagan gods that this time around we are no wasting time, energy and money on another dead horse.

Toot toot.

[Peetwo]

Division in the Alphabets? -  


In the Oz today there is more feedback on 6D's recently released 'wet lettuce' SOE, where AIPA suggest favouritism to the Regionals. Hopefully this is just normal banter between advocacy groups representing different vested interests on behalf of their members and not some typical bureaucratic 'divide & conquer' political campaign to try and wedge the miniscule...

Courtesy the Oz:

Regionals have too much influence


Transport Minister Darren Chester released a very strange statement this week on the future of air safety regulation.

Transport Minister Darren Chester released a curious statement this week with ominous implications for air safety regulation.

Chester unveiled a new operating model for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority which says the cost of regulation is just as important as air safety, and appointed a new board member who is an ex-­Coalition staffer with no aviation experience.

The statement included a ringing endorsement from just one stakeholder group, the Regional Aviation Association of Australia, which represents the small airlines and charter companies. One of its key members is the troubled Regional Express.

Unlike every other industry stakeholder, the RAAA had the inside running on the new policy. So air safety policy is being unduly influenced by just one interest group.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA), which represents pilots from the major airlines, is concerned about the influence regional operators are having on safety policy.

AIPA told The Australian that while they welcomed the new approach, they were now seeing “a much looser and discretionary application of aviation safety regulation, particularly given the apparent rise in influence of certain industry sectors”.

AIPA said it hoped CASA would uphold its statutory public interest responsibilities in regard to air safety, but noted that the inclusion of a comment from one industry group, which was given access to the policy prior to its public release, “means that our hopes may be somewhat misplaced”.

“It has been disappointing but far too common for government agencies to consider stakeholders as only the corporations and commercial entities conducting aviation activities, while steadfastly ignoring the valuable input of those of us who are the last line of defence in aviation safety. Australia’s pilots look forward to ensuring that the government gets far more balanced aviation industry advice than has previously been the case,” AIPA added.

Including the RAAA’s comment in a ministerial press release is extraordinary.

It really does confirm that one stakeholder group is effectively writing government policy. Perhaps this should come as no surprise, as Chester is a National MP from country Victoria who has made a string of decisions strongly influenced by the concerns of regional operators.

The board of CASA is strongly influenced by regional interests. Chairman Jeff Boyd is an aircraft engineer who founded the now defunct Brindabella Airlines, and a former chairman of the RAAA.

Ian Smith has a long background in aviation insurance and is a former ­director of the RAAA.

A third director, Anita Taylor, who runs a superfine merino and angus property in regional NSW, is a member of the Regional Development Australia — Northern Inland Committee.

Only one of the six board members has worked for a major airline, former Qantas pilot Murray Warfield, whose term is due to expire this year.

Last month, CASA announced that it would delay for the second time a new fatigue management regime which regional operators say will add substantially to their cost of doing business. The ATSB identified fatigue as a factor in one December 2014 incident it investigated involving a Rex pilot.

The RAAA has lobbied vigorously, and successfully, to have the fatigue rules reviewed.

Mr Chester’s office confirmed that the regional operators had convinced the government that it should delay the reform.

This week’s new Statement of Expectations for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority now requires the authority to be even more flexible under a “Three Ps” model — pragmatic, practical and proportional.

Chester said that while air safety was important, “CASA must also take into ­account the economic and cost impact”.

“A pragmatic, practical and proportional approach to ­reg­ulatory activity is intended to help support aviation growth in this country, particularly in the general aviation sector,” Chester said.

Welcoming the new approach, RAAA chief executive Mike Higgins said the new approach “reinforces and builds on the great work already undertaken by CASA’s acting CEO Shane Carmody”.

The political pressure being ­applied to air safety regulation is also evident in Chester’s latest appointment to the CASA board.

Cheryl Cartwright was a Coalition staffer and more recently as CEO of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association.

   
Hmm...watch this space I've got a feeling there will definitely be MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

Liberal/National dross to cop a hiding from the bush?

Let's be clear, Governments only care about votes. If they thought the biggest risk to them losing their trough privileges at the next election came from a large group of 'over 90 lesbian motorcycle riders' you would see them throwing support behind 'false teeth wearing dykes on bikes'. Chester, Barn'boy and Goldman Sachs Turdball don't give a rats arse about aviation - full stop. But they will sit up and listen if votes (or lack off) are involved.

The R.M Williams aviation fraternity from the bush (let's just say regionals) has been making more and more noise in line with the decline of subsidised routes, government lack of understanding of how regional Australia is being damaged by a decline in regional/GA aviation, and so the list goes on. 6D is starting to worry about votes.....and so he should be. Tick Tock numbnuts.

And what about this this Miniscurial baloney;

“A pragmatic, practical and proportional approach

What a crock of shite. These morons really love playing word wankery don't they?
Here are two P's for you 6D - PONY POOH.

Tick Tock

[Peetwo]

Liberal/National dross to cop a hiding from the bush?

Let's be clear, Governments only care about votes. If they thought the biggest risk to them losing their trough privileges at the next election came from a large group of 'over 90 lesbian motorcycle riders' you would see them throwing support behind 'false teeth wearing dykes on bikes'. Chester, Barn'boy and Goldman Sachs Turdball don't give a rats arse about aviation - full stop. But they will sit up and listen if votes (or lack off) are involved.

The R.M Williams aviation fraternity from the bush (let's just say regionals) has been making more and more noise in line with the decline of subsidised routes, government lack of understanding of how regional Australia is being damaged by a decline in regional/GA aviation, and so the list goes on. 6D is starting to worry about votes.....and so he should be. Tick Tock numbnuts.

And what about this this Miniscurial baloney;

“A pragmatic, practical and proportional approach

What a crock of shite. These morons really love playing word wankery don't they?
Here are two P's for you 6D - PONY POOH.

Tick Tock

P2 comment - A big heartfelt (choke ) congrats must go out to miniscule NFI 6D for passing 50K views... - for all the wrong reasons of course .

[Peetwo]

Barry O calls on 6D to act now on drones -

Background from Senate Estimates thread: 

Update: Senate RRAT Estimates & Inquiry news -

April 8 2017


'It has the potential to get worse': Mid-air incidents involving drones increases.



Andrew Brown

According to Mark Will, there's only one guarantee when it comes to flying drones: at some point, they're going to be crashed.

Having flown drones for almost two years, he also runs a "drone boot camp", which teaches new users how to safely fly the aircraft.
  
Mark Will said more information should be provided to drone users in order to prevent crashes or near misses with aircraft. Photo: Rohan Thomson  

   
 However far more concerning for the Senators should be this dramatic headline, story and in particular photo by expert (cough - ) aviation commentator GT:

Drone Targets Singapore Airlines A350

A drone has flown close to an A350 performing an flyby in Perth, Australia
>

>
Singapore Airlines A350 flies past a drone. Credit Daniel Kitlar of DK and CK Photos

The future of low level plane fly-pasts in Australia is in jeopardy after a drone came within an alleged 300ft of a Singapore Airlines A350 on Wednesday afternoon in Perth. 

Singapore Airlines, celebrating its 50th year of operating to Perth launched an online photographic competition of its new A350 and had publicized the air route and altitude of the fly-past.

The dramatic picture taken by Daniel Kitlar of DK and CK Photos was shot from the Mend Street jetty in South Perth and captures the drone approaching the A350 as it flew over Heirisson Island.

Mr Kitlar, an experienced drone operator, said he was stunned when he reviewed his photos later to see the drone.

“In my experience, that drone would have to been at 1200ft and the A350 was flying at 1500ft," said Mr Kitlar.

And the angle that the photo was taken related to the flightpath confirms that height assessment. 

Drone enthusiasts reported that two people were illegally operating a DJI Phantom 4 drone with a camera attached from Langley Park adjacent to the flightpath of the A350.

When challenged that they were operating outside regulations for height they hurled abuse...

Source : http://www.airlineratings.com/news.php?id=1151

 
Hmm...TICK..TICK..TICK..TICK...


Of course according to the Act, when a collision inevitably happens CASA won't be responsible...
 

Which leads me to today's coverage of Senator Barry O'Sullivan's concerns and calls for  miniscule 6D to act ASAP:

Drone regulations need tightening to avoid 'catastrophic' accidents, senator says
AM 
By regional affairs reporter Lucy Barbour
Posted earlier today at 6:10am

[b]PHOTO:[/b] After changes made last September, drones can be used without registration or a remote pilot's licence. (ABC News: Norman Hermant)
[b]RELATED STORY:[/b] More drones used to assess crop health
[b]RELATED STORY:[/b] Drone senate inquiry raises safety concerns
[b]MAP: [/b]Australia

A Coalition senator is calling on the Federal Government to toughen up laws on the use of small drones.

Queensland senator Barry O'Sullivan said he feared a "catastrophic" accident was possible if measures to govern the use of drones that weigh less than 2 kilograms were not considered immediately.

Last September, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) relaxed rules around the use of small drones.

They can now be used without registration or a remote pilot's licence but operators must abide by general aircraft rules, including keeping away from flight paths.

Senator O'Sullivan said he feared regulations were removed too quickly.

"These people have got these pieces of tin with no training, no proficiency — up they go," he said.

"We do not even have rules about whether they are intoxicated or not. There is nothing."

[b]PHOTO:[/b] Farmers use drones for everything form aerial mapping to assessing crops. (Supplied)

Senator O'Sullivan, who investigated aircraft crashes in his earlier career, is worried an amateur could fly a drone into a crop duster or even a passenger jet.

"If the two come into contact with each other, the result is probably catastrophic," he said.

Xenophon backs calls to introduce stricter regulation
To date there have been no collisions between drones and manned aircrafts in Australia.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Stuart Godley said the chance of a catastrophic event was "very low" but added it was difficult to determine who owned the drones that were causing problems.

"The fact that most of them are above 1,000 feet and most of them are in capital cities, in particular Sydney, and that the weekends are overrepresented, suggests that these are probably amateurs flying for fun," he said.

The rules around drones

Beginner or enthusiast, here's what you need to know about how to operate a drone safely and what laws you need to follow.

A Senate inquiry is investigating drone regulations and safety, but Senator O'Sullivan wants the Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester to consider re-introducing regulations immediately.

"I am calling on the [Infrastructure] Minister to turn his mind to this immediately and to put some interim regulation in, if necessary, as a stop gap until a Senate inquiry has finished its work, until CASA has finished their considerations," he said.

Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon backed that call.

"You cannot buy a mobile phone in Australia without providing your driver's licence, without providing ID. But you can just buy a drone, no need for identification, and you can fly it in the path of a commercial aircraft," he said.

[b]VIDEO:[/b] Could drones be the newest tool in disaster recovery? (ABC News)

Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said it was unlikely anything would change.

"I am not going to second-guess the experts. I am not going to second-guess the outcomes of the drones safety review that was announced late last year," he said.

"We need to balance the risk here. We need to listen to the expert advice but also not stop a developing industry from flourishing."

Many industries welcomed the chance to fly drones without the hassle of red tape, and farmers use them for everything from aerial mapping to working out where crops need water.

 
Barry O: "I am calling on the [Infrastructure] Minister to turn his mind to this immediately and to put some interim regulation in, if necessary, as a stop gap until a Senate inquiry has finished its work, until CASA has finished their considerations,"

And the now predictable soft-cock 6D response...

..Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said it was unlikely anything would change.

"I am not going to second-guess the experts. I am not going to second-guess the outcomes of the drones safety review that was announced late last year," he said.

"We need to balance the risk here. We need to listen to the expert advice but also not stop a developing industry from flourishing."

UDB?? -


MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

Does Chester even know what a Drone is?
The only risks Chester is used to balancing are the ones when he goes outside his Can'tberra office in winter and mitigates the risk of his hair becoming messy by taking with him additional styling foam, spider brush and touch up kit!

News to NFI 6D; 'no one is listening to you mate'. You're a twat. The only people hanging on to your every word and touching themselves inappropriately at the same time are Creepy, Cleary, Geoffery Thomas......

[Peetwo]

6D: A is for?  

Barry O calls on 6D to act now on drones -

Background from Senate Estimates thread: 

Update: Senate RRAT Estimates & Inquiry news -

April 8 2017

'It has the potential to get worse': Mid-air incidents involving drones increases.


Andrew Brown

Drone Targets Singapore Airlines A350

A drone has flown close to an A350 performing an flyby in Perth, Australia
>



Source : http://www.airlineratings.com/news.php?id=1151

 
Of course according to the Act, when a collision inevitably happens CASA won't be responsible...
 

Which leads me to today's coverage of Senator Barry O'Sullivan's concerns and calls for  miniscule 6D to act ASAP:

Drone regulations need tightening to avoid 'catastrophic' accidents, senator says
AM 
By regional affairs reporter Lucy Barbour
Posted earlier today at 6:10am

[b]PHOTO:[/b] After changes made last September, drones can be used without registration or a remote pilot's licence. (ABC News: Norman Hermant)
[b]RELATED STORY:[/b] More drones used to assess crop health
[b]RELATED STORY:[/b] Drone senate inquiry raises safety concerns
[b]MAP: [/b]Australia

A Coalition senator is calling on the Federal Government to toughen up laws on the use of small drones.

..Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester said it was unlikely anything would change.

"I am not going to second-guess the experts. I am not going to second-guess the outcomes of the drones safety review that was announced late last year," he said.

"We need to balance the risk here. We need to listen to the expert advice but also not stop a developing industry from flourishing."

While 6D waltz's around Victoria, bizarrely masquerading as the Victorian government's road safety spokesperson, the Easter Bunny A-word prickle patch continues to flourish..

First an update to the above:

Calls to curb drone sales grow

12:00am Michael MKenna

The Malcolm Turnbull government is facing internal calls to freeze the sale of small drones.

The Turnbull government is facing internal calls to freeze the sale of small drones unless tougher regulations can be implemented over their operation.

Queensland senator Barry O’Sullivan yesterday said ­urgent action needed to be taken over the sale and regulation of drones that weighed less than 2kg.

An international air crash investigator before he entered politics, Senator O’Sullivan said an ongoing investigation into drones had revealed a rapid proliferation and increasing danger of small drones across Australia.

The deputy chairman of the rural, regional affairs and transport references committee, Senator O’Sullivan said he feared an accident was imminent after a series of close calls involving drones with aircraft.

“The estimate we have is that there are 50,000 drones in Australia, compared to about 13,500 aircraft,’’ he said. “There is no longer any registration required, any training or any testing of the skills or knowledge needed to fly drones under 2kg.

“In terms of safety, it is no longer a question of what is going to happen but when it is going to happen, and the size of the impact.’’

Under changes last year, operators of drones weighing less than 2kg do not need to apply for a licence to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The move was aimed at reducing regulatory fees of about $1400 for commercial drone operators, but it was met with concern by aviation groups.

Drones are not allowed to fly within 5.5km of an airfield, no higher than 400 feet nor within 30m of people or vehicles.

The Australian Federation of Air Pilots last year warned that the collision of a 2kg drone with a plane travelling at 400km/h could cause catastrophic damage.

Senator O’Sullivan said he had bipartisan support on the committee for tougher rules to be introduced to register and regulate the ownership of small drones. He said he had called on his Nationals colleague Darren Chester, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, to toughen the laws immediately or ban the sale of small drones.

“If he can’t do that, then he needs to take the next step of prohibiting the further sale of recreational drones until the committee can report its ­findings and come up with a ­solution.’’

And on airports:

Foam leaks spark fish warning

12:00amSEAN PARNELL

Firefighting foam has leaked out of a Qantas hangar at Brisbane Airport, potentially contaminating nearby waterways.

[img=0x0]https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/author/eea199fb46693fd5d9004e6a1df49130/?esi=true&t_product=the-australian&t_template=s3/austemp-article_common/vertical/author/widget&td_bio=false[/img]A controversial firefighting foam leaked out of a Qantas hangar at Brisbane Airport, potentially contaminating nearby waterways before the long weekend.

About 22,000 litres of the foam, believed to have contained perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, was released as a result of a sprinkler system fault within the hangar on Monday night.

While about three-quarters of the foam was contained, the likely seepage into the surrounding environment prompted health authorities to warn recreational fishers of the risk of a contaminated catch.

The warnings extend from the Bulimba Creek to Fisherman Island and north to Shorncliffe. Fortunately, they do not cover areas used by commercial fishers, given the annual Easter seafood boom, however it is another disruption to an industry already reeling from the white spot prawn crisis.

Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles described the spill as “very substantial” and said it should be a reminder to industries to dispose of foams containing PFOA.

While Queensland is phasing out PFOA use, its ban does not apply to the Qantas hangar because it is on commonwealth land at the airport.

Dr Miles stopped short of blaming Qantas for the spill, but said the department would use “all of its powers” to ensure appropriate penalties were applied if necessary. “This is a chemical that has caused concern worldwide,” the Minister said.

Queensland’s chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, said there was “no consistent evidence” that exposure posed a threat to humans but avoiding seafood caught in the area was a necessary precaution.

Concerns that firefighting foam containing PFOA had contaminated the environment around seven Defence bases — and possibly 12 more — recently prompted a massive investigation that included groundwater and resident blood tests.

And of course the possible ramifications of the YMEN DFO accident continues to fester for Chester...

Fatal attractions:

..Someone ‘approved’ the rules which allowed those buildings to exist where they are. Someone signed off on the ‘master plan’ for the aerodrome and took a big gamble. What are the chances of aircraft smashing into buildings? Not great, I’ll grant you; however, here we sit looking at the wreckage...

&.. from Accidents Domestic: AAI & the implications of bureaucratic O&O - Part II

ps.While on the ATSB

From 'that man' today, via the Oz:

FOI plea on MH370 scotched
12:00amEAN HIGGINS

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has invoked draconian legislation in refusing to release material on its hunt.

And from another master of FOI Act obfuscation, Harfwit fesses up to owning the OneSKY trough fund farce... : BITN post #497

...gives you an idea of how truly deluded and narcissistic this joker is...

Oh well, least we know where to pin the tail on the OneSKY GWE (Great White Elephant)...

 Finally a word for 6D ( from our SBG Editor At Large), in the Easter edition of the SBG.. :
Democracy; a strange, almost alien concept 

Perhaps a ten minute break may be found and the article, penned by Paul Phelan published in Pro Aviation could be contemplated; with this as an introduction - 25 year disgrace.  Modern, pertinent history which is doomed to repeat, unless there is a concerted effort to reform the regulator. The appointment of a new DAS is not the end of government responsibility, but the beginning. The minister could demonstrate a commitment to ‘real change’ by withdrawing the effeminate ‘Expectations’ statement and replacing it with a more ‘robust’ Directive. Don’t ask ‘em. Tell ‘em, you blasted Muppet.

MTF...P2  

[P1_aka_P1]

Sometimes; the hatchet cannot be buried. No one with a conscience can allow these Hood centred travesties to continue. Perhaps McCormack was right about one thing.

[Peetwo]

Bureaucratalia & the 6D aviation shame list - Part III

Nicely caught by Gobbles...

Race to the bottom continues? This time it's Ground Handling...

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-20...me/8369814

Mr CHESTER (Gippsland—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) (14:27): I thank the Prime Minister for the opportunity to clarify the record in relation to the incidents referred to by the Leader of the Opposition. On this side of the House we take aviation safety very seriously and we are proud of Australia's enviable safety record. My office this morning has sought some assurances in relation to the reports that were in the media last night and again this morning. I am aware of concerns that were raised in relation to operations by Aerocare, which is an Australian ground handling company working for many of the major airlines at our major airports.

There are a range of mechanisms in place in relation to aviation safety systems, where anyone who is concerned about any safety issues can raise those issues with our safety investigators or the regulatory agencies. These include the ability to make confidential reports directly to the ATSB, which is the Australian aviation safety investigator. I would encourage anyone with genuine concerns in relation to those matters to raise those concerns with our airports, to use those reporting mechanisms.

Opposition members interjecting—

Mr CHESTER: I hear those opposite interjecting. It is irresponsible to make allegations without going through the process of actually making those reports known to the safety investigator, being the ATSB. It is typical of Labor to be seeking to scare the Australian travelling public rather than going through the proper processes. I emphasise again that on this side of the House we take aviation safety— (Time expired)

  
Note how this NFI miniscule remains eternally attached to the umbilical chord of the mystique of aviation safety, which is being consistently pedalled by the self-serving M&M and his minon spin doctors - FDS!

It still baffles me how 6D actually believes that the ATSB is some fearless, truly independent transport safety watchdog, that has the ability and power to get to the bottom of scurrilous tales of aviation safety risk and innuendo. Especially when it was highlighted in the 730 Report that the ATSB was doing everything to abrogate their responsibility to investigate anything to do with the suggested Aerocare safety issues....

Extract from 730 transcript of Aerocare segment: 

JAMES THOMAS: He believes conditions at Aerocare, and fatigue levels, are so bad, travellers are at risk.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We could cause a serious accident. We could cause possible harm and damage to airline or people travelling on that airline.

JAMES THOMAS: The workers cite a number of instances. In 2015, a wheelchair lift that looks like this was driven into a bridge by an Aerocare worker. Snapped in half, this is what was left.

On the 28th of November, 2014, at Brisbane Domestic Airport, an Aerocare team had begun pushing back a fully-loaded Tigerair A320 in preparation for take-off, with one crucial problem - the cargo door was still wide open.

GEORGE ORSARIS: Word gets spread around quite quickly that Aerocare boys left the cargo door open on pushback.

JAMES THOMAS: As the plane was being pushed towards the runway, the open door was detected by the plane's crew and air-traffic control. The take-off was aborted.

GEORGE ORSARIS: If it was missed and the plane was to take off down the runway, I'd hate to think what would happen. It's extremely serious.

JAMES THOMAS: Tigerair says it did report the incident to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Three days ago, the bureau told 7.30 the incident wasn't a safety matter because the door was closed, just not locked.

But today, the bureau backtracked, conceding the door was open. It said there was no need, however, to investigate further because the problem was detected before take-off.

The Aerocare workers we spoke to strongly disagree with the safety bureau's assessment.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2, FORMER AEROCARE WORKER: They would have fallen out of the sky.

JAMES THOMAS: That serious?

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2: Yes.

JAMES THOMAS: Fearing repercussions, this former Aerocare worker asked us to obscure his identity. How did we get to a situation where a plane was getting pushed back with a cargo door open?

UNIDENTIFIED MAN 2: If someone said to me fatigue, exhaustion, it would not surprise me one bit.

   

Ps Sometimes the bare Hansard actually inflates the importance and masks the actual poor delivery of the message. Such was the case with miniscule 6D's contribution today.

So for the record here is a clear example of how ineffectual 6D truly is and why he is really only Barnaby's photogenic filter:

Update 20/04/17 - Via the ABC News online:

Worker locked in aircraft cargo hold raises questions over Aerocare safety record

7.30
By James Thomas

Updated 59 minutes agoThu 20 Apr 2017, 10:14am


Photo: Aerocare rejects the claim that it runs an unsafe operation. (Supplied: Aerocare.com.au)

Related Story: Airport staff on split shifts 'sleeping under terminals'

Map: Brisbane Airport 4007

A former Aerocare worker has told 7.30 that a baggage handling supervisor was accidentally locked in the cargo hold of a plane about to take off from Brisbane airport — but it never reported the incident to safety authorities.

Key points:

• Baggage handling supervisor accidentally locked in the hold of a Virgin aircraft
  
• Neither Aerocare nor Virgin reported the incident to safety authorities
  
• Former workers say lack of reporting indicative of lax Aerocare safety standards
  
• Aerocare denies claims, says its safety record is impeccable
  

It is one of a number of claims by current and ex-workers of the airport handling contractor which raise serious safety concerns about Aerocare's operations.

Another former worker at Aerocare said the company had also put passenger health at risk by using the same staff member to clear toilet waste and then, just hours later, refill drinking water on planes.

Do you know more about this story? Email 7.30syd@your.abc.net.au

'We heard banging on the door'
Photo: Paul Ovetchkine, says Aerocare didn't report an incident. (ABC News)

On November 23, 2014 a Virgin 737 was in the final stages of preparation for take-off.

"It was an international flight, all the bags were loaded and we were doing the final check of the plane to make sure there was no damage, and just following standard procedures," Paul Ovetchkine told 7.30.

He was a member of the Aerocare team on the tarmac at the time.

"On my walk-around I found a door opened that was closed before," he said.

"I had a look inside and I couldn't see anything in there, so I closed it up."

What he didn't realise was that when he "closed it up" his supervisor was still inside the cargo hold.

The supervisor "rushed" to the door and "called out" for help.

Mr Ovetchkine said he heard the cries from inside the plane and realised what he'd done.
"We heard banging on the door," he said.

"Once we opened up, he climbed out."

Mr Ovetchkine believes unreasonable company expectations and deadlines contributed to his safety error.

"Obviously it was a mistake — it's always quite a rush to get the plane out on time, we always have to follow certain timelines to get it out.

"I was just super apologetic."

Incident not reported


Photo: An Aerocare baggage handler was accidently locked in the hold of a Virgin aircraft in November 2014. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photo)

An internal Aerocare record of the incident shows company representatives spoke to Mr Ovetchkine "about the dangers of the situation" and the "need to be very careful when closing up an aircraft".

But when it came to reporting the incident, Mr Ovetchkine said he was told not to worry about writing an incident report himself and that the report would be handled by the company.

"It is usually, definitely, the procedure to fill out an incident report but at that time it wasn't up to me," Mr Ovetchkine said.

Aerocare and Virgin Airlines said they investigated the matter internally.

They found the supervisor was momentarily locked inside the hold but claim he got himself out and was not banging on the door.

They say the plane would not have taken off until the missing supervisor was found.

They concluded the worker in the cargo hold of the 737 was not a safety matter that needed to be reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Ron Bartsch is the former head of regulatory compliance and safety for Qantas and the former air transport manager for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

He strongly disagrees with the conclusion drawn by Aerocare and Virgin and believes the failure to report the incident to authorities is cause for further investigation.

"That is a very serious incident and something which would be reportable to the relevant authorities," he said.

"The non-reporting of a reportable incident is a very serious situation."

Same person handled water and waste



Photo: Jason Pugh claims Aerocare "cuts corners" all the time. (Supplied: Jason Pugh)

Jason Pugh described the day he quit working for Aerocare in August last year as "a moment of inspiration".

That day he had an minor accident driving a truck at work — one he acknowledges was his fault.

But it was the tipping point for his decision to walk away from a company he claims "cut corners" all the time, even if it risked the safety of passengers.

Mr Pugh cited Aerocare's handling of water and waste by the company.

"Water and waste has to be done by separate people, for obvious reasons," he told 7.30.

"The person filling the water can't obviously drain the waste."

If they did, passenger drinking-water would risk faecal contamination.

"Aerocare, however, was having the same person doing that for two years," Mr Pugh said.

He claimed the safety breach was regularly covered up in the paper work.

"Every flight that we did has a flight folder, which was a bunch of paperwork which went to the airline, the airport and Aerocare, for all of them to keep records," he said.

"And I would say about 50 per cent of them were doctored.

"They would write one person for waste, and then they would make up somebody else on the shift and say that they did the water."

Photo: Jason Pugh's Aerocare roster with same day waste and water shifts highlighted. (Supplied: Jason Pugh)

Mr Pugh's roster shows that he was asked to drain a plane's sewage in the morning and service the passenger drinking water in the afternoon.

"I was asked numerous times to do the water and waste," he said.

'The whole industry will get more dangerous'

Video: Former Aerocare staff talk about their experience working at the company (ABC News)

Aerocare initially agreed and then declined to do an interview with 7.30.

But in a statement it rejected the claims that it runs an unsafe operation.

It said its safety record was impeccable, with no safety breaches issued by any regulatory agency in 25 years.

It added that it had the highest global safety accreditation, had won numerous safety awards and passed 180 audits last year, all whilst maintaining a "low cost mindset".
Mr Pugh said CASA audits were of little concern to Aerocare.

"CASA is a joke," he said.

"There was at least 24-hours' notice that CASA was going to be on site.
"Aerocare would then pull in twice as many people on shift and they would call in every single supervisor.

"That is why they passed the CASA audits — because they know CASA's coming."

Aerocare also denied it was gaming the audit process but said it did, on occasions, roster extra staff to ensure the efficient conduct of audits.

Earlier this week, 83 per cent of Aerocare workers voted to accept a new enterprise bargaining agreement put forward by the company.

Under the new agreement, Aerocare has increased the minimum shift from three hours to four hours, with split shifts being optional.

In a statement the company said, "this is a strong endorsement of the improved wage conditions and other benefits we are offering".

However, the Transport Workers Union criticised the vote, held over the Easter long weekend, saying it "lacked transparency and was held in a climate of intimidation and fear".

Mr Pugh believes the pay and conditions put forward by the company set a dangerous precedent for workers and the flying public.

"The whole industry … will get a lot more dangerous if Aerocare can get away with this sort of stuff, because other companies want to start doing the same thing," he said.

"If the general safety of attitude of Aerocare spreads across the industry, then it's highly likely an aircraft will go down one day because of it."

TICK TOCK miniscule 6D, TICK TOCK indeed -


MTF...P2

[Kharon]

Claims that employee fatigue at Aerocare is leading to accidents
 
Last month 7.30 exposed claims of poor conditions for employees of the Australian company Aerocare, which provides essential ground services to airlines. Aerocare denied the claims. Now there are new claims that employee fatigue is leading to accidents.
Contains: video, image,

From the Honey cart to Boardroom.

It is ‘uphill’ and we all know it don’t flow that way. It flows downhill from the false goddess of OTP. The  proudly quoted ‘On Time Performance’ data comes at a great cost; not financially, but in human terms and a potential cause of accident. 99% OTP can be achieved – provided the ‘schedules’ are sensible, without reasonable schedule it become mission impossible.

Say you are booked on Rex out of Dubbo at 0700 to connect with Qantas to Melbourne at 0930. Barring accidents, and Murphy, there is little excuse for the Rex flight not taking off on the dot of 0700. Landing time schedules say 0800; traffic into Sydney may hold you up six or ten minutes, but you will arrive in time to transfer and catch the Melbourne flight. As a passenger this is great. You arrive at Gate 13 to check in and find a seat. Now the clock ticks past 0930 and by 0935, you are wondering, by 0938 you are thinking of asking what the hold up is and by 0940, just as patience begins to fade the boarding begins, eventually the aircraft pushes back, starts up and you are on your way. Relaxed now and only 15 minutes late.

What the OTP interested passenger does not know is that the aircraft has been ‘turned around’ in a state of controlled panic. The aircraft left Brisbane 10 minutes late; got held up coming into Sydney due other traffic and then a runway change added another 10 minutes to the journey time. Instead of landing at 0815, it was finally ‘on blocks’ at 0840. No problem for those getting off – but for the turn-around crew – it’s action time. 200 bags off, 200 bags on; the fuel truck is finishing off another aircraft which decided to increase their fuel uplift; the caterer’s truck has arrived, the cleaning crew are going through, there's an engineer on the flight deck checking out (off) a 'snag' etc. It is busy. These jobs all take time and no matter how much anyone rushes about; the aircraft is going to be – in the public eye – delayed.

The old adage ‘more haste-less speed’ is pertinent; but it is not the solution.  The on time performance demands can easily be met – by ‘sensible scheduling’. The turn-around time in total; landing to take off, should be scheduled for the worst case, not the ideal. A couple of bag snatchers off a crew, gone home sick, can place an intolerable burden of a crew which was ‘cut to the bone’ to begin with, being led by a ‘management’ type with an eye on a better job is a risk. Add to that long shifts, bad weather, delay after delay turning up the pressure, make that happen three times in a five day week and a clear picture begins to emerge.

Fatigued, stressed, threatened people are not a good thing to have ‘on ramp’. Sensible scheduling and an extra pair of hands or two would reduce the emerging increase in error rate dramatically. But the false goddess must be served and the bottom line must be kept to a minimum. We all know; it’s better to say nothing and tough out the shift, lest the bean counters get wind of sedition. I say if an airline is so dependent on shaving a few bucks off the bottom line of everything, then something is wrong with the management thinking. Add an extra five buck to every ticket, build some fat into the schedule, put an extra couple of men on peak period shifts. Acknowledge there was an increasing safety risk which has now been dealt with; responsibly. OTP guaranteed from sensible schedule; Murphy notwithstanding.  Folk will forgive the occasional 15 minute delay – it happens – they will not forgive an accident caused by greed and stupidity; never have, never will.

Toot toot.

[Gobbledock]

The sound of clocks ticking, Miniscules combing their hair and the Aerocare bosses $$$ slipping away is deafening

I find it hilarious that all the dirty ramp laundry is finally coming to light! There is actually nothing 'new' in most of these allegations. The industry started heading downhill in 2000 when Virgin Blue was born, Ansett collapsed and Darth Dixon started gutting Qantas. From a ground handling perspective it all went south and got even worse when the Orange cancer came alone as well as Tiger. The era of low cost, cost cutting, lundicrous turnaround times and CEO bonuses combined with pushing experienced people out of the industry and hiring kids who couldn't give a shit, as well as an inept and neutered CAsA has seen Australian aviation almost hit an all time low. How long the clock can keep ticking is anyone's guess. The boil has been building for a long time, perhaps it has finally headed?

The shit I've investigated from a load control, ground handling, safety and compliance perspective of all associated aircraft turnaround operational processes is frightening. There ARE flights that shouldn't have got off the ground. Only luck intervened. Lady Luck always runs out eventually.

Tick Tock

[Peetwo]

Chester's A-word shitlist update -

Yeah Gobbles if you ever wanted to write a 'how not to' book on running an important Crown ministerial portfolio, you only need to flick to Chester's record on aviation - UDB!

Anyway latest update to this Airport thread reference:

Update on Brisvegas PFOS leak story. -

Reference:

Foam leaks spark fish warning

12:00amSEAN PARNELL

Firefighting foam has leaked out of a Qantas hangar at Brisbane Airport, potentially contaminating nearby waterways.

[img=0x0]https://i1.wp.com/pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/author/eea199fb46693fd5d9004e6a1df49130/?esi=true&t_product=the-australian&t_template=s3/austemp-article_common/vertical/author/widget&td_bio=false[/img]

From the AAP, via the Guardian today:

Queensland prawn farmers demand compensation from Qantas after toxic leak

Industry says it is losing money after firefighting foam leaked from airline’s hanger into Brisbane river


[/url]Qantas planes at Brisbane airport. Prawn farmers are seeking compensation after toxic foam leaked from the airline’s hangar into the Brisbane river. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP/Getty Images

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Australian Associated Press
Thursday 20 April 2017 11.21 AEST
Queensland prawn farmers are seeking compensation from Qantas after toxic firefighting foam leaked from its hangar into the Brisbane river.

The embattled industry, already struggling with white spot disease, was dealt another blow this week when it was advised not to catch produce from the contaminated zone.
The state government urged recreational fishers to steer clear of the area last Friday but commercial operators were not notified until Tuesday, more than one week after the spill.


Firefighting foam spilled at Brisbane airport enters river and kills fish

 
Read more

The Moreton Bay Seafood Association’s vice-president, Michael Wood, said he lost a $10,000 order because of fears the waterways were contaminated.

“What’s [url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/qantas]Qantas going to do? The industry’s looking for compensation,” he said.

Wood said prawn trawlers in the Brisbane river and Moreton Bay operators had been affected by the 10 April spill at Brisbane airport.

“We want to talk to [chief executive] Alan Joyce for starters to see what they’re going to do for us and how they’re going to repair the damage to the general public,” he said.
About 22,000 litres of foam, believed to have contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), was released into the stormwater system after a sprinkler system fault in the Qantas hangar. While about 75% was contained, it is believed thousands of litres of the foam leaked into the Brisbane river.

Wood said he did not believe 4,000 or 5,000 litres would infect the waterways.
“It’s just like picking up a glass of water, you won’t even notice it,” he said.

Wood said even if small amounts of the foam were digested, consumers would have to “eat a hell of a lot of product” to be affected.

Queensland Health spokeswoman Sophie Dwyer said although there was no consistent evidence chemicals such as PFOA could cause “adverse health affects”, people should try to reduce their exposure.

“But consumption of small amounts as part of a broad diet is of negligible risk,” she said on Thursday.

Dwyer said “fully detailed conclusions” about the risk from eating prawns could not be drawn until test results from the spill site came back.

“But we do know that this food ... only forms a small part of any individuals daily consumption of food,” she said.

Qantas has been contacted for comment.

Apparently 6D is running a late charge to obfuscate all responsibility for this embarrassing duck-up...

Transcript of 4BC telephone radio interview, via 6D's media minion:

4BC Mornings
Interview
DCI038/2017
21 April 2017
Subject: Firefighting foam release

Mark Levy: I thought we'd have a chat to the Federal Minister Darren Chester and I'm pleased to say he's on the line. Minister, good morning.

Darren Chester: Yes. Good morning, Mark.

Mark Levy: Let's start off with Minister Miles and also the Palaszczuk Government, they're blaming you and Qantas for not doing more to warn the public about the spill. Is it your fault?

Darren Chester: Well, let's get right back to the beginning, Mark. It is very disappointing that there has been a spill obviously and Qantas needs to take responsibility for its action in that regard and I have had conversations there as you'd expect. But, I understand a valve malfunctioned and we need to do a proper investigation about what actually occurred and were the mitigation measures enough to try and keep the spill contained.

But in terms of when the fire fighting foam actually reached the Brisbane River or reached the environs outside the base, it really becomes a responsibility for the State Government. I have got no idea why Minster Miles thinks writing me a letter on Wednesday a week after the event and demanding action from me is appropriate. I think he is just simply trying to cover up the fact that he didn't have enough to say to the Queensland public immediately afterwards and that's disappointing.

But being a Minister, you have to own up to your responsibilities and my responsibilities exist on the federally-leased airport and deal with Qantas and to try and ensure that such an event doesn't occur again. But in terms of what occurs with the spill in relation to the Brisbane River, that really is the responsibility of Minister Miles, I've got no idea why he is seeking to blame me for this.

Mark Levy: I will come to Minister Miles more in a moment. But just let me paint this picture and forgive me if I'm wrong. There's a major spill at Brisbane Airport, it leaks into Brisbane River, it affects Moreton Bay and the surrounding waterways of Brisbane Airport. You are obviously notified as the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport because it has come from the Qantas hangar. I am assuming you would then communicate with the Queensland Government to say hey we have got a situation. That being either the Premier or the Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles. You would then obviously speak to Qantas as well. Is any of that right? Did you communicate with these people? Because I'm trying to understand why the public had to wait three or four days to be told that this substance actually filtered through into the waterways.

Darren Chester: Well the timeline as you described it is accurate in the sense that once my Department became aware of the PFAS-based firefighting foam going beyond the airport, they had the relevant conversations with the state authority, so the state agencies. As I understand it, Mark, the state agencies, the bureaucrats at Queensland level and the federal level have been working closely on this from the first 12 hours after the event. So, to me it is frustrating in the sense that the Minister seems to be trying to score a political point at a federal level whereas our agencies are working closely to try and resolve the situation, give some assurance to the Queensland public in relation to what measures are taken to clean up any contaminants and prevent it occurring again. I think looking backwards into what happened is only relevant if you can make sure it doesn't happen again in the future. Now I'm not interested in trying to apportion blame in terms of who did what or when other than to say that Qantas obviously will need to be held responsible for any fault in terms of the breakdown of the valve which led to this spill. But in terms of my responsibilities as the Federal Minister I need to make sure it doesn't happen again and that's what I'm trying to achieve.

Mark Levy: Well you are right, it is your responsibility because it did happen on an airport and I am not going to get to the State Government now, we will get to them in just a moment. But why wasn't there a press conference held by you to start off with to say; yes, there's been a problem, yes it is affecting the environment? I mean, couldn't it have been a joint press conference with the Queensland Government?

Darren Chester: Well that is a fair question, Mark. I think looking forward that is an option that we could have considered but at the time I understood—and I believe that still to be the case—that my federal agencies, the people involved in directly dealing with the airports on a day-to-day basis had been in conversations with their state counterparts and I wasn't aware that there hadn't been information passed on to the Queensland public. So, in retrospect it would have been better for me to have a joint press conference with Minister Miles, that's something we can certainly consider into the future if anything like this happened again—which I hope it wouldn't. But I understood that the federal bureaucrats and state agencies were working closely and that the appropriate decisions were being made by the environmental people in Queensland.

Mark Levy: Well I thank you for coming on and conceding that there was a problem and obviously it should have been handled a bit better.

Then we come to Minister Steven Miles. Now he is the Environment Minister in Queensland, I have invited him to come on to the program every day this week and his office can't even be bothered to reply. But he has obviously got enough free time to do press conferences and tell media outlets it's all your fault. What would you say to Minister Miles?

Darren Chester: Well I would tell him to stop playing political games and stop trying to cover his own backside and just get on with doing his own job. My job is to make sure that we don't let this occur again.

Now you need to understand, Mark, that these foams that are used in firefighting are pretty much a legacy issue in terms they have been around for decades and the Airservices on all our federally leased civilian airports don't use those foams now. I am going to be asking, obviously, some questions about why Qantas still had a stock of that particular foam. It is also important to reassure the public that in relation to the use of these PFAS-based foams, this is an agent which is in a whole range of other things in their daily lives in terms of it's the same material that's used in Teflon frying pans, in gore-tex coats, on scotch guard on our furniture. It is actually quite a common agent in the community and there is actually no proven negative health impacts on people. But because it is regarded as a contaminant we need to take appropriate action. So I don't want to be scaring people unnecessarily about this PFAS product. The reason it has been used in firefighting foams is because it is very effective in putting out a fire involving fuel and that obviously keeps people safe in terms of if they are on aircraft or the firefighting agencies themselves.

Mark Levy: But having said that, Minister, having said that and Alan Jones has been all over this, it has been banned from being used in Queensland because of what it has done to the water basin in not only Oakey, but at Williamtown in Newcastle in New South Wales where this stuff has got into the water supply and people can't even shower in the water. That's what we're talking about. So we can't just sweep this under the carpet, we can't just say; oh no, it's just a spill, everything's okay, it's at recreation levels but please don't eat the fish out of the water. We're talking about stuff that people can't even shower in. We're talking about a substance that is banned for a reason. Yet the public, the general public in Queensland, had to wait three days to be told. I hope you appreciate why there is so much anger and disappointment from the people of Brisbane.

Darren Chester: Oh absolutely Mark, and I'm not by any stretch trying to sweep it under the carpet, I'm just trying to explain to people that the PFAS that we are talking about there is currently no national environmental standards on it and that's why the Department of Health has been working with other agencies to try and establish what is a safe baseline of this particular agent.

Now the issues in Oakey and Williamtown have been well publicised and we've had some issues there with Defence Force facilities where people now have been using bottled drinking water rather than the bore water that was available to them in the past. So your points are completely valid in the sense that we are very conscious of the fact that we have dozens and dozens of locations at local, state and federal level around Australia where this type of foam has been used in the past for firefighting services and it's quite a significant legacy issue that governments at all levels are trying to deal with.
We don't want to be hiding information from the public. We need to, at the same time, reassure the public that there is no imminent danger, in the sense that there hasn't been a proven health outcome as a result of exposure to this PFAS. But that doesn't change the fact that people are worried about it, and it does bio-accumulate in your bloodstream. If you drink water that has been contaminated with this substance, it does accumulate and you have a higher level. So I'm not trying to downplay the issue…

Mark Levy: Well it sounds like you are, Minister. It sounds like you are downplaying it. You are telling people that it is not proven that it has caused any serious health effects. Well, for me, if people can't shower in the water in Oakey in Queensland, if people can't go for a swim, if people can't eat fish out of waterways that has been infected and contaminated by this substance, well, that to me is pretty serious.

Darren Chester: But I'm saying to you, Mark, these are precautionary steps that the environmental departments and health departments have taken. I am just trying to let you know that there hasn't been cases where people have fallen ill as an immediate consequence of drinking water which has been contaminated with PFAS. There just hasn't been those occurrences. But the precautionary approach by governments has been to provide bottled water in those cases, and to advise people accordingly about eating shellfish in some of those locations. So that's the steps that governments have taken around Australia.

Mark Levy: Alright, Minister. Well I have been inundated with emails about this all week and people are not impressed and not happy with the way it has been handled. It has been a stuff up from the start, firstly at your level by not telling people, but more so on the State Government's level, because we have had people swimming in these waterways, fishing in these waterways, and it took them three days to tell everyone. It is unacceptable. But hopefully, Minister, we've learned from our mistakes.

Darren Chester: Well I think, Mark, the point you raised is completely valid in the sense that the public deserves to be informed, and there needs to be an open and transparent process around how we manage this substance at all the sites where it has existed in the past around Australia, and that's a challenge for governments at all levels.

Mark Levy: Well unlike the Environment Minister in Queensland, I certainly appreciate you making yourself available to us on the program today.

Darren Chester: All the best, Mark.

 Yes there is no doubt about it, the growing Airport elephant parked in the miniscule's office is beginning to create a few headaches for M&M and his minions...  




The plane, with landing gear down, about to crash.   

   



MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

Nothing to see here, move along. Neither the Queensland state government nor the federal government will have the balls to touch the Big Q after the PFOS spill. I mean let's face it, the amount of industrial pollution and sewerage in the Brisbane River at that end is astronomical anyway, and it's a miracle the fish don't already have two heads. But nobody will dare touch that little mincer Allan Joyce's beloved Qantas. Nope, I can already hear the gentle touch of the wet lettuce leaf being applied!

But if anybody, including the media, were really interested they could ask both Qantas and Brisbane Airport Corporation; what the f#ck was that amount of PFOS foam doing stored at the airport still? Much better environmental options have been introduced at major airports around Australia in the past 5 years. Just sayin.......

Tick Tock 6D. It just doesn't seem to end under your shift does it mate?

[thorn bird]

"ABANDON HOPE ALL YE WHO ENTER HERE"

It would seem, as a lot of people suspected was in the wind, the iron ring has prevailed, Mike Smith has been rejected by the CAsA board for the position DAS. Carmody is the anointed one, allegedly because Mike "Lacks the experience".

What an absolute farce, also an incredulous insult to a man who has proven himself around the world as a REFORMER, against a career bureaucrat who wouldn't know a flap from a aileron.
Instead through ignorance and ineptitude Carmody will be forced to maintain the status quo as directed by the iron ring hell bent on protecting their place at the trough. To hell with the industry, to hell with the government, to hell with the constitution, to hell with the law and to hell with the Australian Taxpayer. The Title "Director of Aviation Safety" is a complete and utter joke. Carmody wouldn't know safety if it bit him on the arse.

The likes of Alek, Anastasi and Mrdak have seduced the CAsA board to the dark side, all hope of reform gone, business as usual as these inept fools continue wreaking havoc upon the Aviation Industry.

The credibility of the government is now in tatters, if it wasn't already.

Malcom's statements regarding supporting innovation and maintaining fiscal responsibility now proven as hollow flim flam.

His government is completely comfortable with CAsA squandering hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars on a proven folly, a folly that has returned no appreciable return.

None, zip,zero,nadda, except the destruction of a once viable innovative industry, and allowing these capricious charlatans to continue squandering hundreds of millions more to maintain their noses in the trough.

No wonder voters in this country are disillusioned with politics, show pony politicians frantically stabbing each other in the back while incompetent mandarins manipulate and plot behind their backs.

There is a rumour one of those show ponies plotted to roll barmy baby. Silly move do nuttin, heard you got your ears boxed.

[Kharon]

OK. I’ll play – Uhhmm…

Mike Smith out – Carmody in – Boyd at the bottom of an aberration?

BarmyBaby is cranky with 6D; so no more mutual todger selfies?

There’ll be hell to pay for one ; and a bloody good party for the other – if the scurrilous gossip is true.

Ball lobbed back to Thorny.

"Through me you go to the grief wracked city; Through me you go to everlasting pain; Through me you go a pass among lost souls. Justice inspired my exalted Creator: I am a creature of the Holiest Power, of Wisdom in the Highest and of Primal Love. Nothing till I was made was made, only eternal beings. And I endure eternally. Abandon all hope — Ye Who Enter Here."