Gobbles, appreciate your utter frustration with the incompetence and unthinking idiocy of the way in which aviation has been down trodden, individuals steamrollered and millions of taxpayer dollars wasted. The half truths coupled with vindictive actions, the whole gamut is worse than anyone outside the industry would think possible. The perverse and unsustainable state of General Aviation in particular, gives real meaning to the expression 'unbelievable'.
Unfortunately to denigrate all bureaucrats and politicians without exception as the lowest and meanest who should all be eliminated, or maybe simply removed from office is, with respect, to overlook the old saw that we get the government that we deserve. There is some truth to this saying. Much of the industry still supports aviation specific medicals in spite of there being no evidence that the system improves safety of flight. Certainly the case for Class 1 certificates.
For as long as I can remember no one was suggesting that it is not a government given privilege to fly but that it is our right.
It was accepted that instructors would need fifty hours before teaching, a big jump from the previous twenty- five hour training I'm told was the previous requirement. No one was pushing for independent instructors, as in the US, a measure that would have seen many more people able to gain instruction, especially in the bush. No one said boo when the AOC system and two day instructor refresher courses were introduced. No one even now is railing against the principle of biennial flight reviews or proposing that relief should be given to those who have plenty of experience, aircraft owners, commercial pilots or retired instructors such as myself. Having had to fly with less or no more qualified instructors over the last several years in my own aircraft to satisfy this requirement has cost me much wasted time and dollars. Have there been any studies to show the efficacy of such reviews? Of course now the requirements are even more onerous and will cause more to drop out. I think we went along with it all as part of being special, too busy to bother and probably too trusting. We didn't make much fuss, if any, when the regs were turned into criminal offenses of strict liability, getting on for 30 years ago. We must get our politicians, especially engaging with our local MPs, to understand what's happened.
This is a hard slog but is the only way because the independent corporate body style of governance cannot work in its present form. Doesn't matter who is the next DAS (what a stupid title, up there on cloud 9 with his baton Directing Air Safety). Regards.
Unfortunately to denigrate all bureaucrats and politicians without exception as the lowest and meanest who should all be eliminated, or maybe simply removed from office is, with respect, to overlook the old saw that we get the government that we deserve. There is some truth to this saying. Much of the industry still supports aviation specific medicals in spite of there being no evidence that the system improves safety of flight. Certainly the case for Class 1 certificates.
For as long as I can remember no one was suggesting that it is not a government given privilege to fly but that it is our right.
It was accepted that instructors would need fifty hours before teaching, a big jump from the previous twenty- five hour training I'm told was the previous requirement. No one was pushing for independent instructors, as in the US, a measure that would have seen many more people able to gain instruction, especially in the bush. No one said boo when the AOC system and two day instructor refresher courses were introduced. No one even now is railing against the principle of biennial flight reviews or proposing that relief should be given to those who have plenty of experience, aircraft owners, commercial pilots or retired instructors such as myself. Having had to fly with less or no more qualified instructors over the last several years in my own aircraft to satisfy this requirement has cost me much wasted time and dollars. Have there been any studies to show the efficacy of such reviews? Of course now the requirements are even more onerous and will cause more to drop out. I think we went along with it all as part of being special, too busy to bother and probably too trusting. We didn't make much fuss, if any, when the regs were turned into criminal offenses of strict liability, getting on for 30 years ago. We must get our politicians, especially engaging with our local MPs, to understand what's happened.
This is a hard slog but is the only way because the independent corporate body style of governance cannot work in its present form. Doesn't matter who is the next DAS (what a stupid title, up there on cloud 9 with his baton Directing Air Safety). Regards.