Of first principles and design function.
Behind my work bench stands a fairly large 'cupboard'; built to house tools, a long shelf in the middle for the bench planes, many boxes containing all manner useful things within easy reach and arranged so as to I can 'find' almost any thing I need. Every once in a while, it needs a tidy and a clean up. “Wow” say's my young visitor; “what's this do.” He had picked up a hand made, circa 1830 'moulding plane', just sharpened and cleaned up. It being easier to show him than explain, I put a billet in the vise and ran half a dozen passes, as the shavings came off the 'complex moulding' magically appeared; the smile and understanding well worth the few minutes taken. This short exercise led to a lengthy discussion, as we worked, on the way the basic required function of any 'hand' tool had changed little over the centuries; the humble carpenter's mallet for example. Little changed in design or construction since the Ark. Variation on theme aside, the factory made ones available today comply with the first principles of both design and function and little has occurred to require a change to that basic design, this may be said of all tools designed and made to be used and powered by human hand. No, the fool ain't rambling, just easing my way into a discussion I believe we need to have; the state of our political tool box. It's a shambles.
Democracy was designed, built and fought for on clear 'first principles'. Through the will of the people, a person was elected to represent the well-being and interests of those who cast their vote in favour of that person; fully entitled to believe that the voter's will would be expressed, win, loose or draw. Expecting that at very least through their elected representative, their views would be heard and considered. In short, their representative could and, importantly would perform basic design function. Alas..
The last bastion (and hope) where first principles should be applied is within the Senate and the committees set up to 'manage' the design functions of the various agencies in charge of the 'nuts and bolts' of daily life, industry and all the other complex elements of a democracy. The county spends incredible sums in support of this system and the engines which drive it. Aviation has several of these agencies. The oversight of these agencies is a sworn responsibility and duty to the people -in the form of a Senate committee: to wit; Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport.; aka. RRAT... We have a newly minted one sitting now; all legal and proper.
It is no overstatement to say that Australian aviation is in a hell of mess; the industry staggers along under some horrific burdens, surviving through shear will and determination despite those burdens. The heartbreak is that with just a little help from those elected it could cease to 'stagger' and flourish into a job creating, revenue generating asset to the nation. For decades now, the RRAT has been well informed and repeatedly warned that unless some serious intervention and over-sight of the way in which the industry is 'managed' by the agencies; then the future looked grim. Indeed, despite the warnings and advice from experts; grim is rapidly devolving into dire.
Now Senator Glen Sterle more than probably any other member of the RAAT has sat through countless hours of Estimates sessions with the 'Agencies': has been fully briefed by industry and is well aware of the predictions made. In front of his own eyes, he has watched the gradual collapse of growth and reduction in generated revenue; all of which have aided and abetted the demise of an essential industry. There is clear evidence that in places like Europe and the USA the reverse in true; the USA is going 'gang-busters' while Australia sinks to third world status, while paying out first world premium amounts to assist the agencies complete the destruction.
Last Estimates session; Sterle dismissed the CASA cohort without a second thought; without one question being asked and no remedial notions within a Bull's roar of discussion, let alone positive action. Yet this year alone, the examples of a desperate need for politicians to perform design function and apply first principles are writ large and clear. Lets pick three examples that will, if the worst happens, become a political nightmare for the governing party:-
The air traffic control system, as it is operating today, has increased the chances of a mid air collision from zero to at least a feint chance. The airlines avoiding whenever possible operating into ports where world class service is not available and 'self separation' is in place. A remote possibility that ATC services could be curtailed – once in a decade – now becoming almost routine. Yet Sterle and his committee can't find the time to at least ask for an explanation?
The accident investigations crowd are running on hot air and bluster. Years taken to provide any report and even then the report presented has little in the way of 'safety' value. The Essendon debacle is a classic, as was the Tasmanian effort, the Mangalore effort and the disgraceful effort against Angel Flight. Flawed, dysfunctional and bound to a MoU which prevents any chance of ATSB performing basic design function. Yet Sterle and his committee could not find the time or interest to ask any questions; ATSB were not even scheduled?
The 'administration' of ICAO standards is a basic function of the CASA. So far removed from first principles and design function as it is possible to get. It is, many believe, that it is time CASA were dragged screaming back to basics, compliance with ICAO and harmonisation with the grown up world. From the top down CASA is a dilettante poseur; with little in the way of either international or domestic credibility and respect. Yet Sterle and his Estimates committee thought it was OK to send 'em back to the ivory tower, without even a 'how d'ya do?
Not really good enough is it; three very expensive agencies, charged with protecting the voting public in the air; one run by a megalomaniac slave to the money; one run by a blow-hard publicity seeker; the last run by someone who believes that the 'Jetsons' mode of transport will be here by Christmas. I ask you???
Aye well, it's Sterle's gig now and he must carry the burden; he knows enough to make a honest man take action; he has the clout, has entree to the Minister and enough horse power to actually get the desperately needed changes made, in short order. But will he? That is the question; the Tote is open.
There, got that off my chest, back to my knitting.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Selah.
Behind my work bench stands a fairly large 'cupboard'; built to house tools, a long shelf in the middle for the bench planes, many boxes containing all manner useful things within easy reach and arranged so as to I can 'find' almost any thing I need. Every once in a while, it needs a tidy and a clean up. “Wow” say's my young visitor; “what's this do.” He had picked up a hand made, circa 1830 'moulding plane', just sharpened and cleaned up. It being easier to show him than explain, I put a billet in the vise and ran half a dozen passes, as the shavings came off the 'complex moulding' magically appeared; the smile and understanding well worth the few minutes taken. This short exercise led to a lengthy discussion, as we worked, on the way the basic required function of any 'hand' tool had changed little over the centuries; the humble carpenter's mallet for example. Little changed in design or construction since the Ark. Variation on theme aside, the factory made ones available today comply with the first principles of both design and function and little has occurred to require a change to that basic design, this may be said of all tools designed and made to be used and powered by human hand. No, the fool ain't rambling, just easing my way into a discussion I believe we need to have; the state of our political tool box. It's a shambles.
Democracy was designed, built and fought for on clear 'first principles'. Through the will of the people, a person was elected to represent the well-being and interests of those who cast their vote in favour of that person; fully entitled to believe that the voter's will would be expressed, win, loose or draw. Expecting that at very least through their elected representative, their views would be heard and considered. In short, their representative could and, importantly would perform basic design function. Alas..
The last bastion (and hope) where first principles should be applied is within the Senate and the committees set up to 'manage' the design functions of the various agencies in charge of the 'nuts and bolts' of daily life, industry and all the other complex elements of a democracy. The county spends incredible sums in support of this system and the engines which drive it. Aviation has several of these agencies. The oversight of these agencies is a sworn responsibility and duty to the people -in the form of a Senate committee: to wit; Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport.; aka. RRAT... We have a newly minted one sitting now; all legal and proper.
It is no overstatement to say that Australian aviation is in a hell of mess; the industry staggers along under some horrific burdens, surviving through shear will and determination despite those burdens. The heartbreak is that with just a little help from those elected it could cease to 'stagger' and flourish into a job creating, revenue generating asset to the nation. For decades now, the RRAT has been well informed and repeatedly warned that unless some serious intervention and over-sight of the way in which the industry is 'managed' by the agencies; then the future looked grim. Indeed, despite the warnings and advice from experts; grim is rapidly devolving into dire.
Now Senator Glen Sterle more than probably any other member of the RAAT has sat through countless hours of Estimates sessions with the 'Agencies': has been fully briefed by industry and is well aware of the predictions made. In front of his own eyes, he has watched the gradual collapse of growth and reduction in generated revenue; all of which have aided and abetted the demise of an essential industry. There is clear evidence that in places like Europe and the USA the reverse in true; the USA is going 'gang-busters' while Australia sinks to third world status, while paying out first world premium amounts to assist the agencies complete the destruction.
Last Estimates session; Sterle dismissed the CASA cohort without a second thought; without one question being asked and no remedial notions within a Bull's roar of discussion, let alone positive action. Yet this year alone, the examples of a desperate need for politicians to perform design function and apply first principles are writ large and clear. Lets pick three examples that will, if the worst happens, become a political nightmare for the governing party:-
The air traffic control system, as it is operating today, has increased the chances of a mid air collision from zero to at least a feint chance. The airlines avoiding whenever possible operating into ports where world class service is not available and 'self separation' is in place. A remote possibility that ATC services could be curtailed – once in a decade – now becoming almost routine. Yet Sterle and his committee can't find the time to at least ask for an explanation?
The accident investigations crowd are running on hot air and bluster. Years taken to provide any report and even then the report presented has little in the way of 'safety' value. The Essendon debacle is a classic, as was the Tasmanian effort, the Mangalore effort and the disgraceful effort against Angel Flight. Flawed, dysfunctional and bound to a MoU which prevents any chance of ATSB performing basic design function. Yet Sterle and his committee could not find the time or interest to ask any questions; ATSB were not even scheduled?
The 'administration' of ICAO standards is a basic function of the CASA. So far removed from first principles and design function as it is possible to get. It is, many believe, that it is time CASA were dragged screaming back to basics, compliance with ICAO and harmonisation with the grown up world. From the top down CASA is a dilettante poseur; with little in the way of either international or domestic credibility and respect. Yet Sterle and his Estimates committee thought it was OK to send 'em back to the ivory tower, without even a 'how d'ya do?
Not really good enough is it; three very expensive agencies, charged with protecting the voting public in the air; one run by a megalomaniac slave to the money; one run by a blow-hard publicity seeker; the last run by someone who believes that the 'Jetsons' mode of transport will be here by Christmas. I ask you???
Aye well, it's Sterle's gig now and he must carry the burden; he knows enough to make a honest man take action; he has the clout, has entree to the Minister and enough horse power to actually get the desperately needed changes made, in short order. But will he? That is the question; the Tote is open.
There, got that off my chest, back to my knitting.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Selah.