[Peetwo]

CSF's about to become political - Update.

Reference SBG:

When you’re in hole- Stop digging.

The following impressive statement was written by someone who not only understands aviation very, very well, but the law and the politics associated. The lady even has the best interests of all topics at heart and; obliquely, offers solutions.

“Thanks Leddie. Ben at AOPA has been very helpful. But I think the real focus is on how they are attempting to bypass proper democratic and legislative processes ( quite apart from lack of consultation with AF and industry). To take away rights or impose restrictions on licence holders, with the stroke of the CEO’s pen, is dictatorial and an abuse of process. Our licences and maintenance requirements are governed by the Regs: any amendment should be by proper Regulatory change . By ambushing us all on the eve of long holidays , and by proposing an administrative direction, ensures no ‘interference’ by our elected representatives in parliament. Parliamentary members can disallow Regs - they cannot disallow a direction, and nor does it have to be presented to either House. The implications of this high-handed and undemocratic action, if allowed to proceed, sets a dangerous precedent which could see all or any of our aviation rights cancelled at the whim of CASA, and not the legislature.

Contacting State and Federal members to alert them to this proposed action would be helpful, particularly the attempt to block them from having a say in this process, which fundamentally alters the rights of licence holders and aircraft owners/operators.  - Marjorie Pagani Chief Executive Officer, Angel Flight Australia.

Ref: https://www.pprune.org/showthread.php?p=10351035

Say’s it all don’t it? By identifying the ‘nub’ of the distrust, dislike and disrespect of both ATSB and the CASA, the solution presents. It would be a simple matter to replace the three stooges at the top of the CASA heap and let the revised top end attitude flow down through the ranks. Despite rumour to the contrary, not all CASA employees are terminally stupid; they may be ‘dumbed down’ to preserve their rice bowls but there is some talent their – not much but some. Although why we have inexperienced flight instructors drafting regulation basis I’ll never understand; but it’s wrong...

In support of the above, from me on Twitter today: https://twitter.com/PAIN_NET1/status/108...6784174080

Look what Marjorie Pagani CEO of Angel Flight had to say about the attempted embuggerance of CSF's by @CASABriefing RT: https://auntypru.com/when-youre-in-hole-stop-digging/ … via @Aunty_Pru https://auntypru.com/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_CmZsl...4-N5t930fw … @infra_regional https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/m..._2018.aspx … #auspol #aupol #avgeek #Avgeeks

9:37 AM - 11 Jan 2019
AirservicesAustralia, Michael McCormack, AOPA Benjamin Morgan and 5 others

Via the Courier Mail today:

Angel Flight chief executive officer Marjorie Pagani says there was no consultation with the charity.

Angel Flight charity: Air overhaul may leave patients stranded

Renee Viellaris, Federal Political Editor, The Courier-Mail
January 25, 2019 1:00am

THOUSANDS of patients will be left stranded across Australia or forced to pay for commercial flights for medical treatment amid a shock aviation overhaul that will clip the wings of charity Angel Flight.

Details of the Civil Aviation Authority’s plan to force plane engine upgrades has caught the Queensland charity by surprise, and could ground 80 per cent of the volunteer pilots who make 4000 mercy missions across Australia a year.

Angel Flight chief executive officer Marjorie Pagani slammed CASA’s planned direction, which was delivered just before Christmas and will not be subject to federal parliamentary scrutiny.

The charity uses volunteer CASA-approved pilots and aircraft to transfer patients for non-emergency treatment for procedures such as dialysis.

Each year, pilots pick up patients from regional and bush locations and take them to cities close to major hospitals.
There are about 4000 trips a year and 600 Queenslanders received round-trips last year.

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington yesterday demanded Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack stick up for the bush, particularly Queenslanders who have to travel long distances for health care.

Ms Pagani said CASA proposed to introduce engine-maintenance standards similar to the charter category, for private pilots.
Comments to its proposal close next Thursday.

“Angel Flight is concerned at the very real impact this will have on rural families in need,’’ she said.

“There was no prior consultation with Angel Flight by CASA on the draft proposals.”

CASA said it had been in discussion with Angel Flight to improve safety standards.

“Insufficient progress has been made by Angel Flight to date,’’ it said.

Via Lachlan Millar MP: https://www.facebook.com/pg/lachlanmillarmp/posts/

Lachlan Millar MP

ANGEL FLIGHT

I am outraged that an unelected bureaucrat can ground the Queensland charity, Angel Flight, with a flick of a pen and no federal parliamentary scrutiny.

The Civil Aviation Authority’s plan will ground 80 per cent of the volunteer pilots who make about 4,000 trips a year taking rural and remote patients for non-emergency treatments such as dialysis.

Yet again, rural and remote Australians have their health services denied to them. We already suffer much worse health services and health outcomes than our city cousins. This plan will cause real pain to rural people. Angel Flight pilots are everyday heroes. They make a major difference and actually help governments by reducing the cost of delivering health care in the bush.

The Federal Government must intervene urgently to prevent this taking place. I am publicly asking the Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Transport Minister Michael McCormack to intervene and fix this. We must stick up for the bush.

And some comments:

Penny Sawtell

Put some of these useless Bast””””” out in the bush in the middle of a brown snake area and tell them they have to drive them selves to the nearest hospital 10 - 12 hours away.

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Neil Whitehead

Two points, having read the post and despite several others asking I am none the wiser as to what the change is that is affecting angel flight. Two, no government labour, liberal or green or other windbag polli gives a dam anout remote community otherwise they would have funded an suitable air ambulance scheme. Angel flight should be given the recognition it deserves and be protected or funding provided by govt state or federal to either overcome this issue or be replaced by an air ambulance scheme.

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Tracy Hatch

Clearly haven’t watched this or thought about what it means to the health & well being of those that reside outside of the bubble!

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Tony Boulton

All my family & friends out there could you pass this on to your family and friends this is so like this bloody government country people need this Service to some it's there only life line time we sacked them all the lot start afresh Australia day what a joke

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Phillip Clohesy

Get someone to shaft the bureaucrat to start with.

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Margaret Mccarthy

Bloody hell. If true a disaster waiting to happen and a disgrace. This is digusting.

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Melissa Smith

So ? they flew me from one hospital to another because the emergency flight I was meant to be on got diverted twice. Without angle flight I would not have made it to the hospital. As I had been waiting for an emergency flight for 12h.

To the Bureaucrat who thinks this is a good idea. What would you do if it was your spouse or child. My private health was useless in this situation as would yours be.

And on and on the comments on a similar sentiment for 148 comments so far...

TICK...TOCK miniscule McDo'Naught, looks like you might actually have to take your head out of the sand on this one...or not??


MTF...P2