[Peetwo]

Update 08/04/17: For & on behalf of Sandy..  

Here's the culprit(s), note where the knife is positioned??

Sharpy corrects the bollocks on REX prop incident -

I note today that REX deputy chair and former Transport miniscule John Sharp, has taken to task the half-arsed attempt at aviation investigative journalism on the REX prop incident. Which was published last Friday (30 March) in the Oz by creepy Cleary (with embellishments from Byron Bailey):

Engine crisis as prop dropped
12:00amPAUL CLEARY
A plane came close to catastrophe when pilots began shutting down an overheating engine ­before the propeller fell off.

..A source who has spoken to the crew says the pilots noticed that the engine temperature was rising, most likely because of problems with the gearbox, and they were shutting it down when the propeller came off.


Veteran pilot and industry ­expert Byron Bailey said the ­propeller would have almost ­certainly hit the fuselage had it been spinning at normal speed.

This was the second Rex flight to return to base this month with engine problems, while a third ­returned after the crew noticed noise from the ground communications hatch.

Industry experts say the root cause of these problems is the age of the Rex fleet, which at 23 years is the oldest of any public airline in Australia.

Rex compares poorly with other smaller airlines such as ­Virgin Regional, Airnorth and Cobham, which have a fleet age of 15 to 18 years. Its planes are three times older than those of Qantas and Virgin Australia. The Saab 340B that lost the propeller was one of Rex’s oldest planes.

Mr Bailey said the short distances flown by Rex’s 50 fleet of Saab 340Bs had “very high utilisation” from the higher incidence or takeoffs and landings, making their effective life even shorter...

 
This was John Sharp's retort in the Oz today:

Passengers, industry full of praise for Rex crew after mishaps

• John Sharp
  
• The Australian
  
• 12:00AM April 7, 2017
  

Now I can fully understand Sharpy's intervention here, because even with such kindergarten grade journalism on display the Oz article still has the potential to negatively affect business for REX airlines.

However I do find it somewhat ironic that over 7 years ago Sharp, who was then Chairman of REX subsidiary PelAir, made a similar statement in regards to the pilots who ditched VH-NGA off the coast of Norfolk Island: http://www.smh.com.au/national/pilot-sav...-inrr.html

Pel-Air Aviation chairman John Sharp said he was very proud of the captain and first officer.

"Their professionalism stood out on the day and made a substantial difference to the outcome," he said.

"They executed what would have to be described as a perfect landing on water," Mr Sharp told reporters in Sydney.

"The pilots ensured that the aircraft landed close to the coast, close to rescue.

"They landed at night, approximately we think about 9.30 local time and as a result of the skill of the pilots the aircraft landed in the water and none of the passengers were injured."

  
And when that all turned to custard, Sharpy was the intermediary between CASA, the ATSB and the government. Therefore he was very firmly implicated by association in the PelAir cover-up fiasco, including more than likely facilitating the highest REX political donation (250K) to a normally less than sympathetic Labor government...  



References: Cost of Albo's silence?? & Masters of the GCT (Grand Can'tberra Trough)

Sandy in response to Sharpy's article:

 Alexander: Rex does have a very good record but not quite as good as Mr Sharp makes out. In 2009 a Medivac flight operated by a subsidiary of Rex, Pelair, had to ditch in the sea off Norfolk Island at night in bad weather. Luckily owing to the skill of the pilot all survived but there were injuries. Rex seemed happy enough to go along with the first Transport Safety Bureau report, engineered in cahoots with Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which neatly scapegoated the pilot. CASA, true to form, came on the unfortunate pilot (hero) like a ton of bricks. Pelair's arguably deficient operating procedures had been approved by CASA. A Senate Committee, smelling a rat, ordered a second investigation two years ago, we are still waiting. Rex has at times made very substantial donations to political parties. 

It is acknowledged by a Government report that CASA, the architect of the severe decline in General Aviation, resulting in thousands of job losses, is not trusted by the GA industry.

Turning to John Sharp's defense of old aircraft, well that is rich. During his term as Minister CASA was in the habit of causing all sorts of grief to GA in regards to "aging" aircraft. With Ministerial approval CASA instituted a plethora of extreme maintenance requirements that are still killing General Aviation while airlines are left, in the main, to follow manufacturer's procedures.

---

&..
...Rex Deputy Chairman and Director of Rex Mr Sharp opens his defence of Rex with the modest statement that he's been "associated " with Rex for some time. 

I believe President Trump is revisiting the question of retiring Government officials getting work with those private companies that were previously in the officer's area of jurisdiction. Personally I think they should not because there's no doubt its a grey area and our democracy should, like justice, be seen to be fair.

Not to mention the passing strange coincidences of political favours being associated with dodgy political donations. Excerpt from post #97 of the Karen Casey thread:

Coming back to the bizarre REX 250K donation to the federal ALP, when REX repeatedly made claims of a deep loathing of the Labor party and it's former miniscule for non-aviation Albanese, I came across another interesting tit-bit some 6 months after the VH-NGA ditching at Norfolk Island. In reference to this link - HERE - of the official opening of the REX affiliated AAPA (Australian Airline Pilot Academy) on the 27 May 2010...



...All very interesting, totally smacks of cronyism but are REX simply doing what most successful businesses would do in their position, i.e. seeking political favour? 

Hmm...I suddenly remembered why that date rings a bell...

From the 2nd supplementary submission by CASA to the Senate PelAir cover-up inquiry, Albo's anointed one, McComic attempted to throw the Murky handpicked Muppet Beaker under the bus (note the date): 




Coincidence maybe but what would the chances be that Albo & Sharpie, the very next day, would not have discussed the potential PR disaster if the so called independent ATSB were to point out systemic failures from both the operator & the regulator in their final report??

Two years later REX was to give the highest political donation in their history (250K), not to the Nationals but to the ALP??  Yeah right - BOLLOCKS!

Hmm...no comment..


MTF...P2