TGIF on the AP Forum: 2/06/23

First this week’s SBG: The Grrrr 8 White – !

Come with me on a short journey – won’t take long; best I set the scene first, before we begin. You have entered an old style ‘pub’ – the real deal; open fire place, large old style Australian Cedar sash windows (carefully restored by yours truly) – dart board and a blackboard. There is a ‘blue haze’ of cigar and cigarette smoke, ashtrays on aged wooden tables and a fairly eclectic selection of active and used Ale glasses. The space is inhabited by about two dozen blokes: between them, somewhere north of 250,000 collective command hours of various transport aircraft, across the civilised and not so civilised world. P7 ambles in, calls the crew to order and the BRB indaba and darts match begins. But first he asks them to sit a while and watch the selected video recording from last Estimates. Only one:– for it, standing alone, defines something quite ‘wrong’ within the way not only aviation, but the nation is ‘managed’ by the incumbent government and its minions.

As scribe and bookie to the BRB I have sat, watched and listened to many an indaba; many. But never, not in the long history of such gathering have I ever heard such a profound silence as the tape played; nor such ‘outrage’ eventually expressed as the evening progressed. The disgust level – off the scale – which is saying something, for this is a ‘seasoned’ crew.

“Deception and misdirection are our tools. We don’t believe in hard work when a false face and a good line of bullshit can do so much more.”

I have not, as yet, defined, not exactly, which element created the outrage. There are a few options; for instance, the sly, borderline disingenuous hints that the previous government did nothing of note to alter the dire straits Australian aviation is in; though patently untrue. We could forgive that as forecast ‘politicking’. A strong candidate for first place was the simple fact two Labour ministers between ’em set up the grand cock-up we have today. No one else set this system up – the opposition made a few doomed to failure attempts but; weak ministers and bad advice were never going to shake loose the false idol – far too easy to accept the ‘expert’ top cover on offer to cover ignorance of/ interest in portfolio – short term solution but effective.

Do we need another ‘White’ paper to define the problem? Is there a need to support the time and cost of the wretched thing? – Resounding No. We know the problems; the solution simple; ICAO compliance and NZ rules. Easy as….

“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!”

“I have intimate knowledge of the white paper” is repeatedly squawked by the great White lump – ‘full bottle am I” it claims and etc. The idiots on the departmental panel nodding and grinning; then smiling, realising they had top cover at Senate level. I reckon the only white paper White is truly acquainted with is the soft white stuff; used daily to mop up the utterly disingenuous twaddle spouted. There is an industry in dire trouble and this ‘lump’ wants to politicise it – in the Estimates – . “Duck that” howls the mob as the darts match begins. I can honestly say that I have never, ever, seen the whole crew as ‘furious’ as they were. Hell, they even let the ATCO’s nearly win; (close but no cigar).

“It is a press written by Homo Tewler for Homo Tewler all up and down the scale. The Times Tewler, the Daily Mail Tewler, the Herald, the Tribune, the Daily Worker; there is no difference except a difference in scale and social atmosphere. Through them all ran the characteristic Tewler streak of wilful ignorance, deliberate dis ingenuousness, and self-protective illusion.”

But the final insult was yet to come, every bit as cynical and manipulated as the attempt to blame ‘others’ for the diabolical mess those ‘intimate’ with soft white paper created. Listen as the ‘time line’ is trotted out – soft white delivered about Christmas this year – (big public service break coming) – then a ‘Green’ thing toward the end of next year (for consultation you understand) which takes 2024 out of the reform odds for that year – another six months of procrastination and – bugger me – its ‘caretaker’ time again’; (new elections – no time to spare – civil service knocks off etc.) – and sweet Fanny Arbuckle has changed – except the huge bill for all of this twaddle. You do realise that ‘we’ pay these people to do this – Oh you do; please say you understand……

“So, in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was to discover what other people were thinking, and then they thought that, too.”

Aye; ‘Tis all of little to no consequence – not so long as government will not remove the protective seeing and hearing ‘safety’ equipment provided by the things they keep in clover. No matter – and my opinion counts for sod all; however, when, through ASA management incompetence two passenger aircraft meet and go gently into the night; and the ATSB response is legally defined as an arse covering load of ‘cobblers’ and the legal fraternity discover CASA has been talking through it’s collective arse for decades, relying on homespun rules – well, perhaps then, maybe – when its all too late – someone may discover honesty and integrity; I await that day..

“Thus, I do not see what use there is in those mills of the gods said to grind so late as to render punishment hard to be recognised, and to make wickedness fearless.”

No matter; I have an edict to respond to – and a photograph (1830 ish) to guide me. The incredibly expensive (imported and air lifted) fine timber is still in its transport frame, parked at the doorway of the stable. From this an exact copy of a 1750 AD+/- French dining table is to be made – a ‘knock-off’ if you will. Tomorrow, I shall unpack the parcel – but not tonight; sunshine, sobriety and a sanguine mind will estimate, evaluate and begin. But enough: big dog has been gently awoken by the Mog; little dog is sat at the door – the orchard and the river bank awaits. Away mad animals – lead, I shall toddle along behind, baccy, boots, beer for the road – Checked…

Selah….

Next from Estimates thread: Its not too often a ‘real’ fact escapes the pantomime of Senate Estimates;

And then from Su_Spence thread: CASA FUBAR: Regulatory oversight of our National Aerial Firefighting capability??

Plus: Hansard out; Senator McDonald drills into Torres Straits airstrip embargo??

Here we go again – Ref: Proaviation – A skilfully mismanaged stuffup – Su_Spence and her WOFTAM mob of executive trough feeders in their lofty offices at Aviation Hearse, dictating to the isolated regional communities of the Torres Strait how their essential air services, are to be operated safely – UDB!

“..You are right around the length of time that they’ve been operating. It wouldn’t be 20 years with the Caravan..”

By the way Pup_Spence the Caravan has been safely operated in the Torres Straits for 30 years..