Of doing that which is needful.
Whenever I smell the reek of pipe baccy, I can remember being very (very) young and hearing Grand-papa growling the “the world is going to Hell in a handcart” followed by a litany of deeply considered and discussed 'items' which created his concerns. Later in life, (still young) the same phrase was oft (and still is) used by my Papa to express concern about this and that. As age creeps on, I find a certain reluctance to using the phrase, dismissing it as a 'thing' the old fellahin say over an Ale, at the end of a day. This is a mistake; age implies 'experience', long experience of the world and its ways. When one looks back at the times both men have lived through, witnessed, been part of, the realisation that their concerns were not only proven accurate, but in many instances, were perfectly justified and bang on the money...
“Let me have a faithful account of all that concerns you; I would know everything, be it ever so unfortunate.”
“All that concerns you” - big (huge topic) - from idiots on push bikes colliding with large prams on the footpath; to where the Hell is the power we need to come from and who will fight our wars? Sweet sod all can I do about those items; but, can I do anything about the industry I have worked in all my life, an industry which is “going to Hell in a hand cart? The short answer is no, not alone. Nor can the 'industry', not while divided. It is so neatly cut up, fractured and divided by (IMO) deliberate design that it is almost incapable, in any practical way, of driving through the barriers to real and meaningful reform to the 'system' which hobbles it.
“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.”
That - in a nutshell, the 'problem' most clearly defined by an expert. Our 'politicians' even of those who 'know' and understand the 'problems' will not (or cannot) step up to the crease. It would take a true statesman (or woman) to stand up and say 'enough'. The obvious outrageous cost of the current system and the 'hidden' costs standing alone should startle someone into at least asking for a 'justification' of those direct costs – accrued in the name of the undefinable 'safety' argument. But what of the additional, unrequited, 'costs' those arguments impost on the industry; which must, if a viable business is to be maintained, eventually be paid by the public? Every additional dollar required to support the current fatuous pantomime of 'safety – speak' must come from somewhere – and where else from but the travelling public, who lust after 'cheaper' fares. Don't make any sense whatsoever; fiscally or politically. Which is not the most troubling thing; despite the impost and voluminous 'get out of gaol' cards manufactured for the benefit of government, the overall decline in 'safety' is measurable and tangible. This can be readily supported: from 'tick-a-box' lip service to 'the rules' - all the way to HR profiling of the 'right' people on flight decks. Sooner or later, these matters will need to be addressed by those who have not only supported the current system, but have enjoyed the benefits it provides.
“Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.”
For example, the ATSB. Since the Lockhart River event, the division, subservience and control of an independent 'accident investigator' has been clearly visible through Coroner, court and accident reports. This body needs to be independent and fearless, if repeat events are to be prevented. Any comparison of reporting before Lockhart; or 'Sea View' through to the Pel Air embuggerance, right up to the MH370 pantomime should spell out to even the thickest politician that something is 'rotten' in Denmark. Even to the mentally challenged, the piss poor investigations of CFIT by VFR pilots persisting into IMC conditions should at least be cause for a buttock to be raised, even if just to pass wind. Disgraceful, borderline dishonest (IMO) and not what the industry, Coroner, public and those left behind after an event pay dearly for, should expect. Not by a long, long shot it ain't.
“Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack’d, and never well mended.”
Of course, we must at least mention the incredible CASA monolith; presently being 'managed' by a very good PA. Now if you can live on 'motherhood' and paperwork, with an approach which is akin to a knitting instructor saying “of course Gladys, you can pearl two; provided you knit one at the end of the row, there now' don't fret dear - but bugger up the next line and we'll have you. A hugely expensive outfit, independent of and immune to any scrutiny (bar the wet lettuce leaf of the Estimates gab fest) can sit in Canberra, far from the wind and rain of actual line operations, safe and warm, inventing more labyrinthine reams of regulations, which can and will be used to prosecute those who forget to fill in a log book; while happily condoning the antics of their pet (house trained/co-operative/dispensation holding) favourites. But the favourite game is protecting the politician 'in charge' getting a bigger budget and shuffling out from under such events as Swan River, Andy Pascoe, Angel Flight, Essendon, Pel-Air, Buckley, Quadrio etc. etc... Just so long as the government's nether regions are protected from reality – and the money flows in – why should anyone bother with reality? Aye, Sleepy Hollow immersed in a Kool-Aide long, long Midsummer Night Dream.
"Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days."
And anyway – I had meant to take a long look at the RA Oz 'reporting' of 'accident' and the obvious lack of information on the same; however, further research is required before any sort of cohesive analysis can been gleaned. But: one question keeps floating up to the surface, one to which I will find an answer. Why? What possessed {or made 'em} them to accept being excluded from the TSI and the national SMS and ATSB standards for public disclosure (such as they are) and the appalling lack of 'reporting' in full, the facts and circumstances of fatal CFIT – More to follow – a racing certainty - ; patience requested and required.
“Where do one's fears come from? Where do they shape themselves? Where do they hide before coming out into the open?”
That is me done – BRB tomorrow; been a while since we had a full house; lots to discuss, nice to have old mates from across the great waters attend – should be a gas. Beat the rain this week – with the kitten's help I managed to cut all the rafters for a roof, and get it on the build before it all got wet. Great fun 'doing' the simple maths and making a template for them, but after cutting and fitting the first half dozen, it was nice to sit back and let the 'lads' put the rest up. The dogs and I have learned to live with a cat which demands a night ramble - “Away dogs” is becoming a redundant call, the bloody cat is at the stable gate, at warp speed, calling for company before the big fellah has done getting up – or I have done up my boot laces. A pocket rocket, recipient of many a strange look. No matter, its really quite a nice thing thing to carry a knackered kitten home across your shoulders; purring and dozing after the half way marker; but I swear the dogs are having a quiet, tolerant chuckle.
Selah...
Whenever I smell the reek of pipe baccy, I can remember being very (very) young and hearing Grand-papa growling the “the world is going to Hell in a handcart” followed by a litany of deeply considered and discussed 'items' which created his concerns. Later in life, (still young) the same phrase was oft (and still is) used by my Papa to express concern about this and that. As age creeps on, I find a certain reluctance to using the phrase, dismissing it as a 'thing' the old fellahin say over an Ale, at the end of a day. This is a mistake; age implies 'experience', long experience of the world and its ways. When one looks back at the times both men have lived through, witnessed, been part of, the realisation that their concerns were not only proven accurate, but in many instances, were perfectly justified and bang on the money...
“Let me have a faithful account of all that concerns you; I would know everything, be it ever so unfortunate.”
“All that concerns you” - big (huge topic) - from idiots on push bikes colliding with large prams on the footpath; to where the Hell is the power we need to come from and who will fight our wars? Sweet sod all can I do about those items; but, can I do anything about the industry I have worked in all my life, an industry which is “going to Hell in a hand cart? The short answer is no, not alone. Nor can the 'industry', not while divided. It is so neatly cut up, fractured and divided by (IMO) deliberate design that it is almost incapable, in any practical way, of driving through the barriers to real and meaningful reform to the 'system' which hobbles it.
“It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.”
That - in a nutshell, the 'problem' most clearly defined by an expert. Our 'politicians' even of those who 'know' and understand the 'problems' will not (or cannot) step up to the crease. It would take a true statesman (or woman) to stand up and say 'enough'. The obvious outrageous cost of the current system and the 'hidden' costs standing alone should startle someone into at least asking for a 'justification' of those direct costs – accrued in the name of the undefinable 'safety' argument. But what of the additional, unrequited, 'costs' those arguments impost on the industry; which must, if a viable business is to be maintained, eventually be paid by the public? Every additional dollar required to support the current fatuous pantomime of 'safety – speak' must come from somewhere – and where else from but the travelling public, who lust after 'cheaper' fares. Don't make any sense whatsoever; fiscally or politically. Which is not the most troubling thing; despite the impost and voluminous 'get out of gaol' cards manufactured for the benefit of government, the overall decline in 'safety' is measurable and tangible. This can be readily supported: from 'tick-a-box' lip service to 'the rules' - all the way to HR profiling of the 'right' people on flight decks. Sooner or later, these matters will need to be addressed by those who have not only supported the current system, but have enjoyed the benefits it provides.
“Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.”
For example, the ATSB. Since the Lockhart River event, the division, subservience and control of an independent 'accident investigator' has been clearly visible through Coroner, court and accident reports. This body needs to be independent and fearless, if repeat events are to be prevented. Any comparison of reporting before Lockhart; or 'Sea View' through to the Pel Air embuggerance, right up to the MH370 pantomime should spell out to even the thickest politician that something is 'rotten' in Denmark. Even to the mentally challenged, the piss poor investigations of CFIT by VFR pilots persisting into IMC conditions should at least be cause for a buttock to be raised, even if just to pass wind. Disgraceful, borderline dishonest (IMO) and not what the industry, Coroner, public and those left behind after an event pay dearly for, should expect. Not by a long, long shot it ain't.
“Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack’d, and never well mended.”
Of course, we must at least mention the incredible CASA monolith; presently being 'managed' by a very good PA. Now if you can live on 'motherhood' and paperwork, with an approach which is akin to a knitting instructor saying “of course Gladys, you can pearl two; provided you knit one at the end of the row, there now' don't fret dear - but bugger up the next line and we'll have you. A hugely expensive outfit, independent of and immune to any scrutiny (bar the wet lettuce leaf of the Estimates gab fest) can sit in Canberra, far from the wind and rain of actual line operations, safe and warm, inventing more labyrinthine reams of regulations, which can and will be used to prosecute those who forget to fill in a log book; while happily condoning the antics of their pet (house trained/co-operative/dispensation holding) favourites. But the favourite game is protecting the politician 'in charge' getting a bigger budget and shuffling out from under such events as Swan River, Andy Pascoe, Angel Flight, Essendon, Pel-Air, Buckley, Quadrio etc. etc... Just so long as the government's nether regions are protected from reality – and the money flows in – why should anyone bother with reality? Aye, Sleepy Hollow immersed in a Kool-Aide long, long Midsummer Night Dream.
"Methinks, mistress, you should have little reason for that. And yet, to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together now-a-days."
And anyway – I had meant to take a long look at the RA Oz 'reporting' of 'accident' and the obvious lack of information on the same; however, further research is required before any sort of cohesive analysis can been gleaned. But: one question keeps floating up to the surface, one to which I will find an answer. Why? What possessed {or made 'em} them to accept being excluded from the TSI and the national SMS and ATSB standards for public disclosure (such as they are) and the appalling lack of 'reporting' in full, the facts and circumstances of fatal CFIT – More to follow – a racing certainty - ; patience requested and required.
“Where do one's fears come from? Where do they shape themselves? Where do they hide before coming out into the open?”
That is me done – BRB tomorrow; been a while since we had a full house; lots to discuss, nice to have old mates from across the great waters attend – should be a gas. Beat the rain this week – with the kitten's help I managed to cut all the rafters for a roof, and get it on the build before it all got wet. Great fun 'doing' the simple maths and making a template for them, but after cutting and fitting the first half dozen, it was nice to sit back and let the 'lads' put the rest up. The dogs and I have learned to live with a cat which demands a night ramble - “Away dogs” is becoming a redundant call, the bloody cat is at the stable gate, at warp speed, calling for company before the big fellah has done getting up – or I have done up my boot laces. A pocket rocket, recipient of many a strange look. No matter, its really quite a nice thing thing to carry a knackered kitten home across your shoulders; purring and dozing after the half way marker; but I swear the dogs are having a quiet, tolerant chuckle.
Selah...