From the sublime back to the ridiculous.
When 370 was reported missing and Australia went in to bat – I thought Bully. AMSA and the Orion’s quickly on the job; amongst the worlds finest, in – out, get the job done, home in time for tea. Then of course the ‘thick plottened’ and it became a complex matter, accompanied by the usual media confusion and speculation; it happens, such is life. No matter a thousand theories were generated, gods alone know how many ‘expert’ talking heads were paid for their dubious services and the party rolled on, and on, and on. All was ‘routine’ until Dolan pushed his way to the front of the clamour. This will end in tears, for certain sure, thought I; tears of operational anguish, of practical incompetence and of political fallout flavour.
How could anyone put Dolan ‘in charge’? The wretched man was up to his fetlocks in the Pel-Air debacle, subject of Senate censure and despised by the aviation community as the man who was too shiftless to raise a tiny ‘black-box’ from less than ten fathoms, in a known (buoyed) location, from clear, sheltered water. A dishonourable discharge should have been issued, not an all expenses paid trip to KL. Even some of the more ambivalent PAIN associates raised an eyebrow or two when Dolan stepped up to the crease – as opening batsman. To paraphrase the BRB “WTD is the government thinking, this cannot possibly end well”. Not unless a willing scapegoat was required; one to run with hares and hunt with the hounds. If that was the prime objective then indeed the government did select the right man, with a proven track record of pliant ‘cooperation’.
It seems all the chickens have come home to roost; what with Hoody telling the world that there is ‘reliable’ data and his #1 go-to man appearing on ‘telly’ acknowledging that the much touted ATSB ‘theory’ could possibly be wrong; so, what else can turn into government embarrassing worms? Well there’s Albo for starters – that’s right, he finally has done something for aviation – even if his motivation was a Wong way of scoring political points. It matters not: for points are points to Albo; hypocrisy is not a concept he grasps too well and he will push. Well within his rights to demand WTD results have been achieved, considering the money spent on what looks very much like a flawed, misdirected search – under his appointed ‘guru’ of Air Transport Safety. The irony will be lost on Albo as he gets his licks in. At least now ‘matters aeronautical’ have become ‘political’.
Which leaves us where? A large incoming rotten egg for the government to deal with (tick) a political bun-fight (tick) the derision of every accident investigating authority (tick) the increased lack of faith in and belief of the ATSB as a viable, credible body (tick) a massive bill (tick) and no bloody aircraft (tick). There are a few more boxes there which could be ticked; but what the hell. I bet old Vlad is laughing his socks off while stroking his still unruffled ‘shirt front’ eh? Tony ?.
Aye well, at least for the next little while we can still drink the water in our little third world backwater; meanwhile, the Malaysian mission dances it’s way out of town, drinking the bubbly we, the tax payers, provided. Terrific. We can blow another small fortune on yet another inquiry into a predetermined outcome. Great job; Oh well done Australia and thank you Beaker.
I knew I should have turned left at Albuquerque; heigh ho.
Toot toot.
When 370 was reported missing and Australia went in to bat – I thought Bully. AMSA and the Orion’s quickly on the job; amongst the worlds finest, in – out, get the job done, home in time for tea. Then of course the ‘thick plottened’ and it became a complex matter, accompanied by the usual media confusion and speculation; it happens, such is life. No matter a thousand theories were generated, gods alone know how many ‘expert’ talking heads were paid for their dubious services and the party rolled on, and on, and on. All was ‘routine’ until Dolan pushed his way to the front of the clamour. This will end in tears, for certain sure, thought I; tears of operational anguish, of practical incompetence and of political fallout flavour.
How could anyone put Dolan ‘in charge’? The wretched man was up to his fetlocks in the Pel-Air debacle, subject of Senate censure and despised by the aviation community as the man who was too shiftless to raise a tiny ‘black-box’ from less than ten fathoms, in a known (buoyed) location, from clear, sheltered water. A dishonourable discharge should have been issued, not an all expenses paid trip to KL. Even some of the more ambivalent PAIN associates raised an eyebrow or two when Dolan stepped up to the crease – as opening batsman. To paraphrase the BRB “WTD is the government thinking, this cannot possibly end well”. Not unless a willing scapegoat was required; one to run with hares and hunt with the hounds. If that was the prime objective then indeed the government did select the right man, with a proven track record of pliant ‘cooperation’.
It seems all the chickens have come home to roost; what with Hoody telling the world that there is ‘reliable’ data and his #1 go-to man appearing on ‘telly’ acknowledging that the much touted ATSB ‘theory’ could possibly be wrong; so, what else can turn into government embarrassing worms? Well there’s Albo for starters – that’s right, he finally has done something for aviation – even if his motivation was a Wong way of scoring political points. It matters not: for points are points to Albo; hypocrisy is not a concept he grasps too well and he will push. Well within his rights to demand WTD results have been achieved, considering the money spent on what looks very much like a flawed, misdirected search – under his appointed ‘guru’ of Air Transport Safety. The irony will be lost on Albo as he gets his licks in. At least now ‘matters aeronautical’ have become ‘political’.
Which leaves us where? A large incoming rotten egg for the government to deal with (tick) a political bun-fight (tick) the derision of every accident investigating authority (tick) the increased lack of faith in and belief of the ATSB as a viable, credible body (tick) a massive bill (tick) and no bloody aircraft (tick). There are a few more boxes there which could be ticked; but what the hell. I bet old Vlad is laughing his socks off while stroking his still unruffled ‘shirt front’ eh? Tony ?.
Aye well, at least for the next little while we can still drink the water in our little third world backwater; meanwhile, the Malaysian mission dances it’s way out of town, drinking the bubbly we, the tax payers, provided. Terrific. We can blow another small fortune on yet another inquiry into a predetermined outcome. Great job; Oh well done Australia and thank you Beaker.
I knew I should have turned left at Albuquerque; heigh ho.
Toot toot.