[thorn bird]

Since after the second world war the aviation industry has had to endure a string of Ex RAAF Types inflicting their particular brand of purgatory on the civilian industry. There were a few however who served the industry with integrity and common sense and they are fondly remembered.

The past decade or so has seen a string of Ex RAAF Types ascending to powerful positions within our regulator and its bastard children, ASA and the ATSB. They and their lawyers and acolytes have turned CAsA into a Sociopaths Nivana, and a playground for our legal fraternity. 

Perhaps required reading for every DAS and manager in CAsA should be Sidney Dekker's book, [i]Just Culture-balancing Safety and Accountability.

The book clearly illustrates the absolute folly of offences of "Strict Liability" that our regulations are based upon.
Australia is a country of Laws not a province for unaccountable bureaucrats to decide guilt or innocence.

That has lead to denial of "Justice",  think of the bastadry inflicted on Polair, Qadrio, Airtex and so many others.

All our regulations have done is be a major contributor to the decline of the industry, they have not contributed anything to safety in fact they have had a negative affect, much as warned against in Mr. Dekkers book.

The comparison between the USA and Australia"s safety statistics clearly illustrates just how out of wack Australia has become, the USA beats us hands down in the safety stakes.
CAsA spin would have the punters imagine we are the safest in the world. I say Bollocks to that contention, Australia is not safe just very lucky.

We are now faced with another ex RAAF DAS. 

His predecessor also ex RAAF was perhaps the most destructive in the history of Australian aviation. 

Mr Skidmore is now on a mission to outdo him? from his apparent contempt for the industry, the senate and the minister, it seems he's settled into the starting blocks.

The insult and injury continues, I heard a CEO with honours degree's from Australian institutions, who has built up a highly successful multimillion dollar company, has been summoned to appear before the sociopaths sociopath, none other than the ex RAAF Baggage handler and his worthless acolyte regarding his "suitability" to be a CEO.

Has the world gone mad? Mr. Skidmore has already displayed his arrogance, this just adds insult to injury as this CEO has expended hundreds of thousands of dollars and over two years in an attempt to gain an AOC to a point where he is seriously considering returning his aircraft to the states and giving up. He is also facing serious competition from New Zealand for his work, simply put, their cost base is so much lower than ours so he's at a disadvantage before he starts.

On a similar note, I heard a rumour that a New Zealand company has been awarded the Australian contract for radio aid calibration. They also provide this service to numerous places around the pacific.

Is this because once again Australian operators have been cut out by ever increasing regulatory costs?

Sometimes I just despair