For those not familiar.
Do you actually have a 'right to remain silent'?
Not many outside 'commercial' aviation have had the pleasure of a hostile CASA audit; that happy band of volunteer pilots who operate Angel Flight services being one. They are about to discover the 'dark side'. Its a little bit like having a broken leg – until you have actually been through it, empathy of a meaningful sort is not possible.
So as demanded, you provide the data required; fuel documents identified; passenger weights identified; weather data identified; flight time identified; maintenance release time identified; log book entry identified; AF records identified – examination begins.
Dear Pilot – CASA has identified three flights which were overweight; six MR entries which contradict the estimated flight time; two cases where fuel reserves were deemed to be inadequate on arrival; a eighteen log book entries which are in excess of the engine time recorded. On three occasions flights were operated in clear breach of the requirement for VFR weather conditions.
Every tiny clerical error or fudge will be be picked out and added to a haystack which will be impossible to defend. Each alleged offence stand alone insignificant; but collectively they will present a picture of a 'dangerous' disregard for the rules – once the court has finished shaking its head – because CASA have piled it all up and convinced a court that you are not a fit and proper etc. Its all over, they are the authority after all and must be right. That is no long bow I'm drawing – many 'cases' have been recorded were individuals and companies have been destroyed with this 'technique'. Hard to beat – speed limit 100 KpH; at 101 you are technically 'in breach' – black letter law and strict liability. MTOW 1000 kg – weighed at 1001 Kg – you are now officially a criminal; without hope of defence. Don't laugh – its very real.
CASA are not asking for an overview of AF pilot operation – in general terms – they could provide a 'survey' document to establish the weft and weave of AF operations for individual pilots. – How many, how much, where, when is data freely available from AF, so why the intimidation tactics? Do you actually have a 'right to remain silent'? 'Tis a fair question M'lud.
'The letter' - IMO - reflects the true nature of CASA culture; writ large. I reckon we've had enough of this – time to end it – united this industry does have the horsepower to demand sane and reasonable governance, and, get it. Alas the chickens squabbling over the few grains of corn in the yard are too busy to see the fox behind the shed.
Disgust and contempt for CASA are easily expressed – but how will we express the same for an industry which steps back and allows this type of behaviour from the regulator to go unchallenged. Will it once again change it's pants, lest CASA get their boots dirty when kicking 'em in the nuts?
Toot – toot.
Do you actually have a 'right to remain silent'?
Not many outside 'commercial' aviation have had the pleasure of a hostile CASA audit; that happy band of volunteer pilots who operate Angel Flight services being one. They are about to discover the 'dark side'. Its a little bit like having a broken leg – until you have actually been through it, empathy of a meaningful sort is not possible.
So as demanded, you provide the data required; fuel documents identified; passenger weights identified; weather data identified; flight time identified; maintenance release time identified; log book entry identified; AF records identified – examination begins.
Dear Pilot – CASA has identified three flights which were overweight; six MR entries which contradict the estimated flight time; two cases where fuel reserves were deemed to be inadequate on arrival; a eighteen log book entries which are in excess of the engine time recorded. On three occasions flights were operated in clear breach of the requirement for VFR weather conditions.
Every tiny clerical error or fudge will be be picked out and added to a haystack which will be impossible to defend. Each alleged offence stand alone insignificant; but collectively they will present a picture of a 'dangerous' disregard for the rules – once the court has finished shaking its head – because CASA have piled it all up and convinced a court that you are not a fit and proper etc. Its all over, they are the authority after all and must be right. That is no long bow I'm drawing – many 'cases' have been recorded were individuals and companies have been destroyed with this 'technique'. Hard to beat – speed limit 100 KpH; at 101 you are technically 'in breach' – black letter law and strict liability. MTOW 1000 kg – weighed at 1001 Kg – you are now officially a criminal; without hope of defence. Don't laugh – its very real.
CASA are not asking for an overview of AF pilot operation – in general terms – they could provide a 'survey' document to establish the weft and weave of AF operations for individual pilots. – How many, how much, where, when is data freely available from AF, so why the intimidation tactics? Do you actually have a 'right to remain silent'? 'Tis a fair question M'lud.
'The letter' - IMO - reflects the true nature of CASA culture; writ large. I reckon we've had enough of this – time to end it – united this industry does have the horsepower to demand sane and reasonable governance, and, get it. Alas the chickens squabbling over the few grains of corn in the yard are too busy to see the fox behind the shed.
Disgust and contempt for CASA are easily expressed – but how will we express the same for an industry which steps back and allows this type of behaviour from the regulator to go unchallenged. Will it once again change it's pants, lest CASA get their boots dirty when kicking 'em in the nuts?
Toot – toot.