[Kharon]

Red Rag or Red Flag?

Another top quality P2 post, it certainly is a ‘red-rag’ to those of us who want to see a full stop to the CASA story. Continued efforts to breakdown the stone wall of political deafness, shine a light into ministerial blindness and provide solid working facts for anyone who cares to listen.

But to those who have the power to bring the long awaited ‘real’ changes to the way matters aeronautical are ‘managed’ it will be a red flag. A red flag is usually a thing signifying danger – ‘stay clear’. And they do; in droves. Over the last three decades of recorded history, industry has been on a roller coaster ride of hope followed by disappointment. It always pans out the same.

An inquiry is announced – everyone gets busy, hundreds of hours spent researching, drafting, editing and confirming the veracity of submission. Time ticks by, the inquiry is listened to, watched or read, with hope and anticipation. The sound and fury coming from the Senators, pointed questions, the artful obfuscation, the devious ducking and artful weaving all part of the show. All great theatre; the only thing missing are the commercial breaks. Then time ticks by while evidence is ‘deliberated’. Soon a raft of ‘recommendations’ is floated; industry holds it’s breath to see the response.

And what a response – a 30 odd list of recommendations from the Senate committee; a ministerial inquiry, the politically easy justification for immediate action from good Rev Forsyth’s report. All seen by industry as something which must bring change – for the better.

But to the ‘politicians’ – it was a large red flag. The huddled under the bipartisan banner, they put up their Teflon umbrellas, stepped around the puddles of shit and blood and headed off the safety of their deep, bipartisan protection racket bunker.

Meanwhile – the ‘safety agencies’ skipped off to the local pub for a celebratory drink or two – on the public account – to toast, once again, their successful dodging of the bullets.


There are those who say that only a major hull loss will change things – then there are those who disagree. The bigger the accident, the greater will be the smoke screen, the mirrors even more highly polished and the bigger the red flag – the deeper underground will the politicians burrow.

Toot – toot….