Out of the mouths of babes etc.
“K” – “I took a long drink and lit a smoke; “but it’s all been done before – went nowhere – fast”. “The travesty gents, as you all are very well aware, lays in the ‘termination’ not in restoration”. “The victims are long gone in political minds”. “Operations get shut down; not corrected a’la the USA system”. “The industry is literally ‘terrified’ to speak the truth – find me a chief pilot who dare say his FOI is a dickhead?”
“The travesty” is well documented and a long read. IMO it is one of the great failures of the ‘system’. When an ‘independent’ audit is conducted – whether ‘safety’ or ‘operational’ or even for an approval; the brilliant thing is (when done properly) at the end of the shift there is a sit down. Each perceived ‘hole in the cheese’ is discussed, from every sensible point; legal etc. More often than not ‘common sense’ prevails, ways and means of rectification are nutted out and life returns to normal. 100% happiness is not always achieved, but mostly things get ‘sorted’.
Last I checked, in the USA the FAA adopt a similar approach – potential or actual ‘breaches’ of ‘law’ or ‘policy’ are noted. FAA have been known to assist in rectification and rehabilitation – that is ‘on the record’. It is a sound system. A second chance is always on offer.
This is not always the case in Australia. Prior to the McCormack (screaming skull) era; operators had to mind their P&Q’s. Back in the DCA and CAA days it was most sensible to operate as closely to the ‘law’ as circumstances allowed. But, the rules were not cast in the manner of some Eastern Bloc hell hole. One could always argue the toss and even seek ‘justice’ through the democratic court system. Mostly though, contentious matters were resolved through ‘discussion’ with the ‘Authority’. Some heated discussions and blood curdling threats were part of ‘doing business’. Nearly always resolved – ending in a hand shake (muttering in the pub came later). There was always a natural, healthy ‘tension’ between regulator and those regulated; robust ‘discussion’ to be expected; with respect and ‘fairness’ expected from both sides.
That is no longer the case. It seems to have begun changing after Staunton. An erosion of mutual respect, a lack of trust and the sly introduction of ‘strict liability’. To my mind, the true ‘evil’ inherent in the system came to light during McCormack’s term. The ruthless extremes of law being used support the whims and notions of some very ordinary talent ensconced within the protected halls of Sleepy Hollow. The era is notable for the amount of operations arbitrarily shut down and personal vendetta being conducted under the guise of ‘safety’. Notable is the lack of any ‘rehabilitation’ of those who seemed (in CASA opinion) to have strayed from the straight and narrow – without any hope of a realistic reply or defence. This is no idle fancy of mine – all there; in the Abandon All Thought of rule of law (a.k.a. AAT annals. The rules of ‘evidence’ therein effectively prevent this. Present day CASA can and does make great mountains out of small molehills – by simply stacking up the ‘evidence’ and ‘strict liability’ misdemeanours into a pile too high for the humble ‘shoes of the regulator’ AAT to safely jump over.
To be frank – the whole set-up scares the beejasus out of me; a criminal record for a clerical error? A career trashed on a persona bias? Hand crafted ‘evidence’ parlayed into a ‘heinous’ breach? Bollocks you say – put your money where your mouth is – “I’ll happily take it off you”.
The RRAT committee is gearing up for an inquiry. Please consider parking your own wheelbarrow and grindstone in the lot; how about submitting your own analysis of the ‘system’ and how it impacts on your business operation – or aeronautical pleasure – even a career that should have been. Lots of you out there – I even know some of you. Think on it.
Bugger this – I am definitely a glass half full man – look at the state of that on the bar. Nearly empty! Not acceptable. Barkeep!
![[Image: single-frothy-pint-beer-burning-600w-483277990.jpg]](https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/single-frothy-pint-beer-burning-600w-483277990.jpg)
“K” – “I took a long drink and lit a smoke; “but it’s all been done before – went nowhere – fast”. “The travesty gents, as you all are very well aware, lays in the ‘termination’ not in restoration”. “The victims are long gone in political minds”. “Operations get shut down; not corrected a’la the USA system”. “The industry is literally ‘terrified’ to speak the truth – find me a chief pilot who dare say his FOI is a dickhead?”
“The travesty” is well documented and a long read. IMO it is one of the great failures of the ‘system’. When an ‘independent’ audit is conducted – whether ‘safety’ or ‘operational’ or even for an approval; the brilliant thing is (when done properly) at the end of the shift there is a sit down. Each perceived ‘hole in the cheese’ is discussed, from every sensible point; legal etc. More often than not ‘common sense’ prevails, ways and means of rectification are nutted out and life returns to normal. 100% happiness is not always achieved, but mostly things get ‘sorted’.
Last I checked, in the USA the FAA adopt a similar approach – potential or actual ‘breaches’ of ‘law’ or ‘policy’ are noted. FAA have been known to assist in rectification and rehabilitation – that is ‘on the record’. It is a sound system. A second chance is always on offer.
This is not always the case in Australia. Prior to the McCormack (screaming skull) era; operators had to mind their P&Q’s. Back in the DCA and CAA days it was most sensible to operate as closely to the ‘law’ as circumstances allowed. But, the rules were not cast in the manner of some Eastern Bloc hell hole. One could always argue the toss and even seek ‘justice’ through the democratic court system. Mostly though, contentious matters were resolved through ‘discussion’ with the ‘Authority’. Some heated discussions and blood curdling threats were part of ‘doing business’. Nearly always resolved – ending in a hand shake (muttering in the pub came later). There was always a natural, healthy ‘tension’ between regulator and those regulated; robust ‘discussion’ to be expected; with respect and ‘fairness’ expected from both sides.
That is no longer the case. It seems to have begun changing after Staunton. An erosion of mutual respect, a lack of trust and the sly introduction of ‘strict liability’. To my mind, the true ‘evil’ inherent in the system came to light during McCormack’s term. The ruthless extremes of law being used support the whims and notions of some very ordinary talent ensconced within the protected halls of Sleepy Hollow. The era is notable for the amount of operations arbitrarily shut down and personal vendetta being conducted under the guise of ‘safety’. Notable is the lack of any ‘rehabilitation’ of those who seemed (in CASA opinion) to have strayed from the straight and narrow – without any hope of a realistic reply or defence. This is no idle fancy of mine – all there; in the Abandon All Thought of rule of law (a.k.a. AAT annals. The rules of ‘evidence’ therein effectively prevent this. Present day CASA can and does make great mountains out of small molehills – by simply stacking up the ‘evidence’ and ‘strict liability’ misdemeanours into a pile too high for the humble ‘shoes of the regulator’ AAT to safely jump over.
To be frank – the whole set-up scares the beejasus out of me; a criminal record for a clerical error? A career trashed on a persona bias? Hand crafted ‘evidence’ parlayed into a ‘heinous’ breach? Bollocks you say – put your money where your mouth is – “I’ll happily take it off you”.
The RRAT committee is gearing up for an inquiry. Please consider parking your own wheelbarrow and grindstone in the lot; how about submitting your own analysis of the ‘system’ and how it impacts on your business operation – or aeronautical pleasure – even a career that should have been. Lots of you out there – I even know some of you. Think on it.
Bugger this – I am definitely a glass half full man – look at the state of that on the bar. Nearly empty! Not acceptable. Barkeep!