The dream team:- Yeah, right......
As Hitch eloquently pats a very large nail with a feather duster, the BRB have demanded a tote board (MTF). But before that, we must examine the nails Hitch is attempting to whallop.
Hitch - “Firstly, politically the government doesn't see anything wrong with GA;”
Oh, they 'see' Ok – but it's what they are allowed to see which troubles. They are repeatedly told that GA is flight training, that light aircraft are mostly being used for recreational purposes, that GA is basically an amateur lash up, insignificant and dangerous to boot. Nowhere near the truth of course; but with politicians of all stripes being convinced of that; and, happily hiding behind the so called experts, they are quite content to sit back and leave it to Beaver, wash their grubby hands of it and watch it die a slow painful death. BUT - The VIP jets the minister loves to swan about in are classed as GA: the RFDS aircraft which will transport the same from brothel to the 'rehab' facility is classed as GA: the aircraft which worked around the clock to put out bush fires are classed as GA: a part of the multi million dollar tourist income is provided by GA; the crops which feed and support this nation are kept healthy by Agricultural aviation operations classed as GA: police air wings are in the GA bucket; essential patient transport is GA; in fact anything not classed as 'major' airline is GA. Maybe it is time that GA let the misguided, easily led 'members' know exactly how much 'GA' benefits this land. GA is not the plaything of a few wealthy dilettantes; is is an essential industry. One which may even grow, provided you leave us a few aerodromes from which aviation business can actually operate.
Hitch - “secondly, a powerful middle-management cadre within CASA has managed to block meaningful reforms in order reinforce their own reputations as experts.”
Good heavens Padre is that a cadre I see before me? Well son, it is and it ain't; I like to think of it as being more like a spiders web, gossamer light, strong as steel and lethal to those who fail to pay homage to the creature at the centre of the web. Play nice, beg, bow, cooperate, scrape and you will be allowed to 'tread the threads' protected and fed. Or else. Everyone knows who the part mad, megalomaniac creature at the centre is – but no one has the balls to pick up a boot and 'move it along' for fear of not hearing the approach of a whispering death.
Hitch - “The incoming DAS needs to have a sword of steel and be unfraid to wield it against the ultra-conservatives, both upstream and downstream. They need to have a horse called Hero, a dog called Devil and be a leader in the Dick Winters mould. Is such a person out there?
Aye, well said – however, until we follow the NZ path, with full government support, not even Hero, Devil and even Dick Winters can break wind. The Kiwi brethren simply drew a line in the sand; started again using real 'experts' and have never looked back. The USA has offered to gift their rule set and supply expert help to set it up – for free FDS. But no; after thirty years and half a billion dollars – all we can see is yet another RRAT 'inquiry' into the mess. A 'reform' DAS, backed by the government, with the courage to admit a catastrophic failure and start again, may just fix it. But don't forget to brush out the spiders web – a place where all reform meets a sticky end; cocooned in the byzantine, twisted coils of legal lunacy.
No matter: the crew want to pick a team:- first order of business is to pick a captain – a fearless leader. The nominations so far (in no particular order):-
John Sharp.
David Forsyth.
Phil Hurst.
Nick Xenophon.
Fiona Nash.
Kim Byles.
Mark Skidmore.
Mike Smith.
Clinton McKenzie.
Alfred E Newman.
Benny Hill.
Alan Jones.
River Dance
Elmer Fudd
Uncle Tom Cobbley.
No odds on the board yet. Once the list is 'properly' made, and the 'going' is known we shall see about doing this the right way. Until then, remember, the pen is mightier than the sword, even a feather one. Good work Hitch – Choc frog quality.
Toot – toot.
As Hitch eloquently pats a very large nail with a feather duster, the BRB have demanded a tote board (MTF). But before that, we must examine the nails Hitch is attempting to whallop.
Hitch - “Firstly, politically the government doesn't see anything wrong with GA;”
Oh, they 'see' Ok – but it's what they are allowed to see which troubles. They are repeatedly told that GA is flight training, that light aircraft are mostly being used for recreational purposes, that GA is basically an amateur lash up, insignificant and dangerous to boot. Nowhere near the truth of course; but with politicians of all stripes being convinced of that; and, happily hiding behind the so called experts, they are quite content to sit back and leave it to Beaver, wash their grubby hands of it and watch it die a slow painful death. BUT - The VIP jets the minister loves to swan about in are classed as GA: the RFDS aircraft which will transport the same from brothel to the 'rehab' facility is classed as GA: the aircraft which worked around the clock to put out bush fires are classed as GA: a part of the multi million dollar tourist income is provided by GA; the crops which feed and support this nation are kept healthy by Agricultural aviation operations classed as GA: police air wings are in the GA bucket; essential patient transport is GA; in fact anything not classed as 'major' airline is GA. Maybe it is time that GA let the misguided, easily led 'members' know exactly how much 'GA' benefits this land. GA is not the plaything of a few wealthy dilettantes; is is an essential industry. One which may even grow, provided you leave us a few aerodromes from which aviation business can actually operate.
Hitch - “secondly, a powerful middle-management cadre within CASA has managed to block meaningful reforms in order reinforce their own reputations as experts.”
Good heavens Padre is that a cadre I see before me? Well son, it is and it ain't; I like to think of it as being more like a spiders web, gossamer light, strong as steel and lethal to those who fail to pay homage to the creature at the centre of the web. Play nice, beg, bow, cooperate, scrape and you will be allowed to 'tread the threads' protected and fed. Or else. Everyone knows who the part mad, megalomaniac creature at the centre is – but no one has the balls to pick up a boot and 'move it along' for fear of not hearing the approach of a whispering death.
Hitch - “The incoming DAS needs to have a sword of steel and be unfraid to wield it against the ultra-conservatives, both upstream and downstream. They need to have a horse called Hero, a dog called Devil and be a leader in the Dick Winters mould. Is such a person out there?
Aye, well said – however, until we follow the NZ path, with full government support, not even Hero, Devil and even Dick Winters can break wind. The Kiwi brethren simply drew a line in the sand; started again using real 'experts' and have never looked back. The USA has offered to gift their rule set and supply expert help to set it up – for free FDS. But no; after thirty years and half a billion dollars – all we can see is yet another RRAT 'inquiry' into the mess. A 'reform' DAS, backed by the government, with the courage to admit a catastrophic failure and start again, may just fix it. But don't forget to brush out the spiders web – a place where all reform meets a sticky end; cocooned in the byzantine, twisted coils of legal lunacy.
No matter: the crew want to pick a team:- first order of business is to pick a captain – a fearless leader. The nominations so far (in no particular order):-
John Sharp.
David Forsyth.
Phil Hurst.
Nick Xenophon.
Fiona Nash.
Kim Byles.
Mark Skidmore.
Mike Smith.
Clinton McKenzie.
Alfred E Newman.
Benny Hill.
Alan Jones.
River Dance
Elmer Fudd
Uncle Tom Cobbley.
No odds on the board yet. Once the list is 'properly' made, and the 'going' is known we shall see about doing this the right way. Until then, remember, the pen is mightier than the sword, even a feather one. Good work Hitch – Choc frog quality.
Toot – toot.