[Kharon]

So many fingers, so few pies.

For the purist, from Hansard p12 – through to 18 there is some interesting ‘strategic’ by play, both Sterle and Gallacher, work the mob like a pair of top class working dogs, showing their stuff for an appreciative audience at the Easter show.  You could see the mob looking for a chance to breakaway and spoil the show, but there’s a reason we use smart dogs rather than another sheep to yard livestock.  QED.

NX was the last cab off the rank and paid the penalty for the previously wasted time, rushed, but not in a panic he asked a series of probing questions, to which he probably had the answers, but wanted the ASA response ‘on the record’.  Not a bad innings at all, as many runs as possible from a limited over match.  There was a part that set the curiosity bump itching.

Senator XENOPHON: Generally not. But are there any circumstances in which a note or memo has been given to CASA, to the Commonwealth or to the ATSB expressing concerns about a particular safety issue where you have, in effect, been overruled?

Sir Angus Houston: No I cannot recall a single instance where we have been overruled. We did have some concerns during Operation Skysafe about some of the airspace. Every proposal that we put forward in terms of airspace change for safety reasons was accepted by CASA. Of course, there is a process. They obviously need to review it for safety and so on.

Sir Angus Houston: Again, if I can take you back, you mentioned the role of CASA and Airservices. Essentially, the assessment that was made when the system was first brought in was that it would not be used for radar-like separation at the lower levels below 7,000 feet because that was the judgement CASA made. Let's just realise what we are talking about here; do you understand how many flights there are into Hobart on a daily basis?

Now, it’s probably me got the horse and cart arse about – again; but, it seems to me we have a very expensive ASA operation, which pays ‘experts’ top salaries to ensure that we purchase the ‘right’ equipment.  It is also apparent that the ASA is master of the airspace, air traffic and responsible for deciding how best to efficiently and safely move traffic between ports.  In short, it’s their show and they jealously defend their starring role.

So WTF has it got to do with CASA?  ASA decide the TASWAM is ‘the’ system, authorise the purchase after doing their homework, authorise the installation, train the ATCO to use the system; everything; except they need CASA to make sure it’s all hunkey-dory.  If the monolithic ASA monopoly needs CASA to hold it’s experts hands, why then are we paying for two sets of experts?   Why can air services not decide whether a thing is safe and efficient? If not, it’s time they were gone and CASA took over; or were told, firmly, to butt out   Passing strange to me, but then, I only know horses and carts.

Toot –. .- toot.