“You’re off to great places!”
The rest of that line reads “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so get on your way!”
It must strike a chord within the mind of many who belong or want to belong to the flying fraternity. How many boys and girls have progressed from the bicycle parked next to aerodrome fence watching, through to walking into the first flight school, working through the 'head scratching' book work, managed their first solo and progressed through to a licensed right to fly; lots is the right answer. Used to be that at almost any country airfield you could find at least one instructor, owner of a humble two seat trainer and begin the journey to 'your mountain'; in days gone by many of the airline Captains began their journey in this manner; often working one, or even two jobs to fund the adventure. The fun, camaraderie and satisfaction made any amount of hard work well worth it. So much for the simpler days gone by. Today's aviation world is stark, blasted landscape in comparison. On my bookshelves, in one corner, is the entire library of the books and notes I used from scratch, through to a CPL. It measures a whisker over 350 mm (14” old money); includes the 'orders' and regulations, text books and my own study notes – 'soup to nuts'. To find a spot for just the current regulatory suite, I'd need to build another., much larger book case.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, the industry 'got lost' in a forest of 'paper work' and regulation. Back in the day, I could read and comprehend the Air Navigation Orders and had little difficulty knowing that I was 'legal' – good to go'. Today, one is almost obliged to seek 'legal opinion' on the simplest element, and even then, there is little in the way of a 'safety net' or wriggle room – particularly against an official 'legal ruling'. A whole industry lost in a wilderness of bureaucratic overkill and legal jungle.
“The thing to do, once you know you are lost, is to find a good, safe place to build a little fire, build it, fire three shots, light a cigarette, and sit down and wait.”
An amiable solution; and, wait we have, patiently for a good long while now. With a change in government, there was until recently a small flicker of hope that Senate Estimates, under Sterle would respond to the three spaced shots. Alas.. Given the sheer volume of happy clap-trap Sterle has sat through during his time at Estimates, the knowledge imparted from industry and his own rhetoric, one could be forgiven for expecting, at very least, some 'awkward' questions from the RRAT committee. Given the state of the economy, it would only be fit and proper to unshackle an industry which, with just a few snips off the 'red-tape' tangle, could provide jobs and revenue. However, it seems we must wait to see what, if any, steps the Sterle committee will take and make sensible recommendations to the minister. Before the industry becomes totally moribund and unable to wriggle out of the chains which bind and restrict growth. Take a quick look at the USA for a sound working model if you need a guide out of the self inflicted wilderness...Tick – tock says the Party room clock..One simple statement could have replaced this blurb 'Get on with it – for Pete's sake; we're dying out here'..
“It is amusing to note that when Huxley was charged with being rhetorical, he expressed his horror of "plastering the fair face of truth with that pestilent cosmetic, rhetoric," which is itself about as well-plastered a piece of rhetoric as Ruskin himself could have managed.”
Meanwhile, as the Essendon DFO case drags on (and on) while the great rhetoric is being carefully massaged to an acceptable level of denial credibility and is almost forgotten in the passage of time; the Buckley case becomes even more deeply mired and complicated; the mess within our benighted Air Traffic Service grows apace; and the ATSB continues to take for ever to produce little of intrinsic or practical value. All of this at great cost to travelling public and an industry rotting at it's roots. Perhaps it is time for the new Senate RRAT committee to take a long, hard look at the expense and value provided for that expense. At very least they could ask for straight answers to some basic questions – like 'what the Hell are you playing at?” If Sterle, given his experience in Estimates, can't get a shift on and sort out at least some of the problems he knows, full well, that the authorities have created then perhaps it's time to 'get it sorted'.
“The most striking difference between ancient and modern sophists is that the ancients were satisfied with a passing victory of the argument at the expense of truth, whereas the moderns want a more lasting victory at the expense of reality”
Aye well, its been a most pleasant week; first in long time, one where I managed to get home 'dry' every day, most refreshing. Dogs and I went off to finish off a shed for a fellah, even managed to get the roof rafters on and settled with dry timber; but there was a major problem, two days running – a stowaway. How the hell the Kitten got on board (twice) is a mystery – had no idea it was there until we took a break for 'morning tea' – it just sort of 'materialised' as I tackled a ham sandwich; cool as a cucumber. It waited with the dogs for her share of 'breakfast' and then spent the rest of the day exploring, watching and sleeping until knock off time; then “horror of all horrors' – she claimed the passenger seat for the homeward leg! The look on the dog's faces a classic; one I'll never forget. Day one over, next day there it sat again pre departure, ready to go. Seems to enjoy being part of the crew and knows to stay away from 'the Beast' (aka the Drop saw)- I'll let it go this once; then we shall see.
Selah.
The rest of that line reads “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so get on your way!”
It must strike a chord within the mind of many who belong or want to belong to the flying fraternity. How many boys and girls have progressed from the bicycle parked next to aerodrome fence watching, through to walking into the first flight school, working through the 'head scratching' book work, managed their first solo and progressed through to a licensed right to fly; lots is the right answer. Used to be that at almost any country airfield you could find at least one instructor, owner of a humble two seat trainer and begin the journey to 'your mountain'; in days gone by many of the airline Captains began their journey in this manner; often working one, or even two jobs to fund the adventure. The fun, camaraderie and satisfaction made any amount of hard work well worth it. So much for the simpler days gone by. Today's aviation world is stark, blasted landscape in comparison. On my bookshelves, in one corner, is the entire library of the books and notes I used from scratch, through to a CPL. It measures a whisker over 350 mm (14” old money); includes the 'orders' and regulations, text books and my own study notes – 'soup to nuts'. To find a spot for just the current regulatory suite, I'd need to build another., much larger book case.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, the industry 'got lost' in a forest of 'paper work' and regulation. Back in the day, I could read and comprehend the Air Navigation Orders and had little difficulty knowing that I was 'legal' – good to go'. Today, one is almost obliged to seek 'legal opinion' on the simplest element, and even then, there is little in the way of a 'safety net' or wriggle room – particularly against an official 'legal ruling'. A whole industry lost in a wilderness of bureaucratic overkill and legal jungle.
“The thing to do, once you know you are lost, is to find a good, safe place to build a little fire, build it, fire three shots, light a cigarette, and sit down and wait.”
An amiable solution; and, wait we have, patiently for a good long while now. With a change in government, there was until recently a small flicker of hope that Senate Estimates, under Sterle would respond to the three spaced shots. Alas.. Given the sheer volume of happy clap-trap Sterle has sat through during his time at Estimates, the knowledge imparted from industry and his own rhetoric, one could be forgiven for expecting, at very least, some 'awkward' questions from the RRAT committee. Given the state of the economy, it would only be fit and proper to unshackle an industry which, with just a few snips off the 'red-tape' tangle, could provide jobs and revenue. However, it seems we must wait to see what, if any, steps the Sterle committee will take and make sensible recommendations to the minister. Before the industry becomes totally moribund and unable to wriggle out of the chains which bind and restrict growth. Take a quick look at the USA for a sound working model if you need a guide out of the self inflicted wilderness...Tick – tock says the Party room clock..One simple statement could have replaced this blurb 'Get on with it – for Pete's sake; we're dying out here'..
“It is amusing to note that when Huxley was charged with being rhetorical, he expressed his horror of "plastering the fair face of truth with that pestilent cosmetic, rhetoric," which is itself about as well-plastered a piece of rhetoric as Ruskin himself could have managed.”
Meanwhile, as the Essendon DFO case drags on (and on) while the great rhetoric is being carefully massaged to an acceptable level of denial credibility and is almost forgotten in the passage of time; the Buckley case becomes even more deeply mired and complicated; the mess within our benighted Air Traffic Service grows apace; and the ATSB continues to take for ever to produce little of intrinsic or practical value. All of this at great cost to travelling public and an industry rotting at it's roots. Perhaps it is time for the new Senate RRAT committee to take a long, hard look at the expense and value provided for that expense. At very least they could ask for straight answers to some basic questions – like 'what the Hell are you playing at?” If Sterle, given his experience in Estimates, can't get a shift on and sort out at least some of the problems he knows, full well, that the authorities have created then perhaps it's time to 'get it sorted'.
“The most striking difference between ancient and modern sophists is that the ancients were satisfied with a passing victory of the argument at the expense of truth, whereas the moderns want a more lasting victory at the expense of reality”
Aye well, its been a most pleasant week; first in long time, one where I managed to get home 'dry' every day, most refreshing. Dogs and I went off to finish off a shed for a fellah, even managed to get the roof rafters on and settled with dry timber; but there was a major problem, two days running – a stowaway. How the hell the Kitten got on board (twice) is a mystery – had no idea it was there until we took a break for 'morning tea' – it just sort of 'materialised' as I tackled a ham sandwich; cool as a cucumber. It waited with the dogs for her share of 'breakfast' and then spent the rest of the day exploring, watching and sleeping until knock off time; then “horror of all horrors' – she claimed the passenger seat for the homeward leg! The look on the dog's faces a classic; one I'll never forget. Day one over, next day there it sat again pre departure, ready to go. Seems to enjoy being part of the crew and knows to stay away from 'the Beast' (aka the Drop saw)- I'll let it go this once; then we shall see.
Selah.