[Peetwo]

Ref: https://auntypru.com/sbg-3-11-19-an-ode-...s-commode/

IOS call to arms and action - Part I 

First Sandy with my nomination for POTM (post of the month) -  :

It is extraordinary that the message of the General Aviation (GA) disaster has not got through to the Senators in Committee in the measure or fullness that it deserves. I can only postulate that what has transpired to the GA industry, and to numerous individuals within GA, has been so devastating and extreme that Members of Parliament find it hard to believe that the well paid servants (so called) of the People of Australia could create such mayhem, individual suffering, colossal job losses, business closures and a virtually complete loss of faith in our Commonwealth Government in regard to anything aviation. The wreckage of a once growing and lively GA industry can’t be apparent to the outside observer because there’s no present day comparison. Even to newcomers in GA they can have no experience of yesteryear therefore there’s a lack of appreciation that cannot be overcome without study and seeking out knowledge. 

Importantly, MPs could move us towards some real reform, and start a track towards growth for jobs, businesses and services in GA but first they must realise that an independent corporate like the Civil Aviation Safety Authority will never own up to the disaster or what is causing it. They have no incentives to jeopardise their tremendous salary packages and cushy working conditions, quite apart from the all too obvious factors of hubris and ego.

To rationalise just one area of CASA’s monumental regulatory failure, Part 61, would entail losing the ability to charge swinging fees for all sorts of unnecessary permissions. In the area of Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAUS), the private company that the Commonwealth has given monopoly control in the low weight category, this outrageous move some years ago has created a very bad distortion in the GA industry and the light aircraft market. This low weight category should never have been split off from the rest of GA, it should be part of a graduated system with a common pathway. The very notion of inducing aviators into these tiny aircraft is wrong. Induced by way of a sensible personal medical fitness to fly standard as opposed to the costly, intimidating and extreme private pilot medical regime of the standard CASA examination, that which is required to fly a VH registered aircraft. Many RAAUS aircraft are built hard up against the artificial limit of all up weight of 600kg, an engineering wrong because aircraft should be engineered to a purpose, not a weight. Moving more people into such small aircraft beggars belief, and proof of it’s unviability the fact that RAAUS wants to up the weight limit to 750 kg now and maybe 1500kg in the future.

The MPs would do well to investigate the ability to set up particular GA functions, take flying training as the backbone of GA here is a very good example, the permission to operate a flying school. Applicants have been forced, by the monopolistic behemoth CASA, to pay upwards of $100,000 and wait months or years to achieve a permit. In the USA a fresh instructor can start training immediately with an official book that costs $15.99.

There’s one other stumbling block, all of CASA’s main suit of regulations have been passed by Parliament and the Parliament has been either too trusting, naive, or hopelessly ignorant depending on your point of view. Personally it would be a most welcome starting point for Parliamentarians to consider that over many years that Parliament has actually been negligent in this area because it always has the final responsibility.

Will the present Senate inquiry under Chair Senator McDonald make the slightest difference?

Watching a video of proceedings yesterday with CASA CEO Mr. Carmody fielding a few critical questions, but questions so broad to be then easily batted, makes me doubt that any good will come from this inquiry. Well intentioned certainly, but without a real plan of inquiry informed by the GA community in detail this will be simply a repetition of the comprehensive but discarded Forsyth report of 2014.

This present Senate Committee will find that there’s little to be gained by asking CASA anything, it will be far better employed looking at the regulatory environment of the USA by way of comparison. It may then be able to make a rational recommendation to completely change the current unworkable, costly and thoroughly unfit model of governance that we’ve been saddled with since 1988.

Next outgoing CASA CEO/DAS St Commode's typically arrogant, flip the bird reply email to GlenB's email correspondence to RRAT Committee Chair Senator Susan McDonald -   
 

OFFICIAL
 
Dear Mr Buckley,
 
Thank you for your email.
 
I have reviewed the video testimony of my appearance on Tuesday afternoon and advise that I responded appropriately to the question from Senator McDonald: “Is it correct that there’s been a settlement made with Mr Buckley recently?”.
 
My response: “Senator, partially.  There has been no settlement made.  Mr Buckley put in a complaint about a CASA officer with regard to defamation and said that the CASA officer defamed him.  CASA’s lawyers, because we have external lawyers acting on our behalf because it’s a liability for CASA, offered a small settlement to Mr Buckley and he declined.  That is the only settlement matter that I am aware of.”
 
This was a direct response to a direct question regarding a settlement. 
 
There were no questions asked around other matters, including those currently with the Commonwealth Ombudsman. 
 
I was prepared to answer any questions regarding your numerous assertions and allegations, had such questions been raised. 

They were not.
 
Regards

Shane  

And GlenB's succinct, nailed it reply -  : "..it’s all about intent! Mr Carmody. intent, integrity, honesty and a moral compass.."



Finally, 2 days ago Oz Aviation put out the following article which encompassed several typically ignorant, ill informed,  statement's from miniscule McDonaught...

CASA STAFF PUSHED ‘TO THE BRINK’, SAYS PROFESSIONALS AUSTRALIA

written by Adam Thorn October 21, 2020



Professionals Australia has claimed CASA has let staffing numbers at its Southern Region office drop from 53 to just 24, which it argues is causing “excessive overwork”.

The union also accused the organisation of pushing employees “to the brink” by a “broken workplace culture” in comments released to coincide with its submission to a senate committee investigating CASA’s effectiveness.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack rejected the concerns and said CASA is confident it has the “necessary number of qualified staff” to provide essential services.

The Senate rural and regional affairs and transport legislation committee is currently investigating the state of general aviation in rural Australia.

In comments released alongside its submission, Professionals Australia director Dale Beasley said CASA’s staffing numbers had dropped and its Southern Region office has had “six different managers in seven years”.

“CASA’s stubborn refusal to replace these vacant technical air safety positions has resulted in excessive overwork, a major reduction in face to face audits and fewer field inspections, and the impacts are being felt right across the country,” said Beasley.

“In Brisbane, the number of CASA Safety Systems Inspectors was reduced from six to just 1.4 full-time positions.

“This meant that despite the significant changes and potential risks impacting Virgin Australia, CASA had no inspector specialising in change and risk management assigned to the team oversighting the airline.

“This has occurred as Virgin entered into administration, slashed operations and jobs, placed aircraft into storage or sold them off.”

Beasley added that CASA staff are being let down by “dysfunctional senior management”.

“At a time when Australia’s aviation sector is beginning to recover from the COVID-19 induced economic downturn, it’s absolutely vital that CASA has the workplace culture and safety systems to support the industry throughout this vital period of rebuilding,” he said.

However, Deputy PM McCormack played down the concerns and said the government will take any recommendations from the Senate committee’s findings on board.

“We are committed to supporting a strong and sustainable aviation industry. Aviation safety remains essential and ongoing even though regular passenger transport operations are currently reduced,” said Deputy PM McCormack.

“That’s why our government has ensured the Civil Aviation Safety Authority is appropriately funded over the 2020–21 financial year, enabling them to maintain necessary staffing levels and provide the level of service expected by the flying public.

“CASA has said it is confident it has the necessary number of qualified staff to provide its essential services. CASA uses a centralised, cross-regional office approach to the assessment and approval of regulatory service applications, which allows for the required workforce availability.

“CASA staff feedback provided through the 2019 Australian Public Service Census indicated strengths in their workplace culture. This includes strong employee engagement (72 per cent of respondents agreeing), strong feedback that staff are proud to work at CASA (77 per cent) and aligned to the organisation’s values (91 per cent), as well as high levels of engagement and confidence in their direct managers (78 per cent).”

The Senate committee will present its interim report on or before the final sitting day of December 2020, and its final report on or before the final sitting day of November 2021. 

Hmm...perhaps a penny drops - "..The Senate committee will present its interim report on or before the final sitting day of December 2020.."

The final sitting day is listed for the 10 of December...

Now watch the CASA Estimates Part I video again:

Ref: St Commode's (aka Colonel Sanders -   ) last HURRAH at Senate Estimates -   
 
MTF...P2 

ps I note that the patron Saint of Oz aviation safety wasn't given much love from the good Senators in his final appearance at Senate Estimates, therefore as a parting gesture the IOS and BRB have forwarded a virtually framed Google image - see HERE -  version of the Ferryman's 'An Ode to Odious Commode'...   

pps Let her RIP Bruce 

Great to see our Supreme Aviation Leader, otherwise known by the comical misnomer of ‘Director of Air Safety’ trying to hide behind the white fluff of a beard that been itching to be in fashion. Note that all CASA’s people, with the exception of the ladies seem now to be equally in the fashion du jour.

Too bad its not been fashionable to look after the General Aviation industry, that forlorn community has been conspicuously out of fashion by the CASASTROPHE for more than thirty years.

P2 footnote: For those interested HERE is a link for the Hansard from the CASA Senate Estimates session.