"Wonder is the beginning of wisdom."
So said Socrates; if that holds true then many of the aviation fraternity must be in the Methuselah class for time spent 'wondering'. Wonderment aligned with confusion often begins with an an expletive; 'What the Hell is ICAO playing at?" There stands an outfit with enough 'clout', influence and horse power to drag the recalcitrant Australian 'service to industry' into the modern era and alignment with the rest of the grown up nations; and, enforce (politically) world best practice. So why are they (ICAO) not camped on the doorstep, diplomatic as all get out (iron fist:: velvet glove style) ensuring compliance with the Convention and gold standard alignment? Please; don't trot out that they have no 'authority' - they do; don't say not in their remit; it bloody well is and even if that ain't true; they do have considerable 'influence' and a rock solid audit system. So how much more rope is the Australian bugger's muddle going to be allowed continuance along the road to perdition? They come , they 'audit' and slope off again; no one gets to see the 'audit'; in fact most have NDI that it has taken place. Is there any hope of open clarity? Perhaps; maybe - there is just a hint of claws and fangs:-
"The report highlighted areas where Australia could more fully realise the benefits of closer alignment with ICAO’s standards and practices.
Consider "Australia could more fully realise the benefits of closer alignment with ICAO’s standards and practices".
Fine sentiment; impeccable logic and a thing the industry has been dreaming of and screaming about - for decades. It would be 'beneficial' to the industry; no doubt about that. But, and it is a Topsy sized BUT - the 'industry' set up to govern 'industry' is highly protective of it's rice bowl. High wages, many side benefits, minimum qualifications, comfortable environment, light work and no responsibility without an escape clause and someone else to blame. It only attracts a certain 'type' - but Nice work if you can stomach it.
“Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy."
Any 'rationalisation' of responsibility, qualification, earning capacity or 'comfort zone' would cause ructions; any hint of being forced into 'compliance' with the real world would see the 'stress leave' budget sky rocket. Too many comfortable niche jobs, earning a goodly whack would suddenly not be needed; much paper shuffling would stop and - horror of all horrors - someone would be accountable. That simple statement from ICAO will set off an alarm bell; aerodrome developers will be in a panic, on the phone to their tame supporters; and the politician cohort will have a mini melt down - responsibility and accountability - unheard of. The notion of an ICAO fix is an addendum to stark reality, not to mention the possibility of admitting a total, expensive failure of epic proportion; that to perform design function. However; hope is at hand, smooth, entrenched, practised and proven:-
"and these areas will be responded to through corrective action plans agreed with ICAO and updates to our SSP."
Instant excuse, pathway to obfuscation, a gift of time and wriggle room - 'action' for more plans and even more 'meetings'. The last bastion of the defence; endless meetings and committee's and time and more words deflecting the spirit and intent of the gentle ICAO suggestion. BOLLOCKS - ICAO need realise that they are having the piss taken out of 'em; there is no intention, non whatsoever to become 'compliant. Too many snouts in the trough with skin in the game for that. ICAO either grow a set; man up and sort this bloody, mindless, piss-potical mess out; or, stay away and forget all about the Australian Abomination - a.k.a. ICAO compliance al'a Albo et al.. Anyone hear a bell tolling?
Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee
Can you imagine the internal furore within the offices of power? Suddenly 'the boss' must actually make a decision, on time and be responsible for it; depending on a bunch of professional dodgers. What about demanding supportable evidence and proof that the offerings from his minions had merit? Why? well because his arse would be in the fire if a 'responsible' minister was caught on the hop. Or; imagine even Betsy having to answer questions based on demonstrable fact. - What price his thinly veiled contempt for those elected Senators who had the temerity to question the Betsy management of departmental performance? Lord, I'd pay money to see that.
"Frank and explicit – that is the right line to take when you want to conceal your own mind and to confuse the minds of others."
The top cover provided for the abject lack of ministerial responsibility costs a great deal, in many ways. Fiscally it is a ministerial 'no brainer'; just sign off the ever increasing 'bill for service' and toddle off to a press club lunch. But look at what is left behind. A creature like Halfwit; paid a great deal of money to ensure that the travelling public have the best air traffic system and service money can buy - Ahem. A Muppet like Spence on a huge salary to ensure that 'matters aeronautical' are provided the best oversight and operational management within the bounds of 'the law' as writ - no experience, zero credibility and NDI, she being run by a bunch of 'experts' - in milking systems, deflecting responsibility and dodging bullets. Accident investigation descended into little more than a PR exercise, all to promote Popinjay from his level of incompetence to new heights. Meanwhile the 'industry' slowly but surely sinks ever deeper into expense, frustration, loss of investment and curtailment due to limitations imposed by regulation, designed solely for public service use, but totally useless to anyone else. Regulation fit for purpose - dream on. See - HERE - recommendation 8.
8. Fit-for-Purpose Regulations
Example 1 of a first class factual, evidence based submission, comes from the 'Honourable Company of Air Pilots Australia (HCAPA)'
Aye well; almost bed time; there is I believe one Ale left in the fridge; I shall take it with me and sit on the kitchen steps and enjoy the cool, calm quiet of the night. No luck yet identifying the joists, can't even work out how it was milled. Swirls and curls in the grain, colour changes by the inch, I tried to cut a mortise and it beat two really sharp chisels in a matter of minutes, half an inch and sharpen up again. But I know a fellah, who knows 'wood' particularly the older models used in the era the house was built; but, this tree was felled long before that (drying and milling) so perhaps the mystery may yet be resolved. We shall see.
Selah...
So said Socrates; if that holds true then many of the aviation fraternity must be in the Methuselah class for time spent 'wondering'. Wonderment aligned with confusion often begins with an an expletive; 'What the Hell is ICAO playing at?" There stands an outfit with enough 'clout', influence and horse power to drag the recalcitrant Australian 'service to industry' into the modern era and alignment with the rest of the grown up nations; and, enforce (politically) world best practice. So why are they (ICAO) not camped on the doorstep, diplomatic as all get out (iron fist:: velvet glove style) ensuring compliance with the Convention and gold standard alignment? Please; don't trot out that they have no 'authority' - they do; don't say not in their remit; it bloody well is and even if that ain't true; they do have considerable 'influence' and a rock solid audit system. So how much more rope is the Australian bugger's muddle going to be allowed continuance along the road to perdition? They come , they 'audit' and slope off again; no one gets to see the 'audit'; in fact most have NDI that it has taken place. Is there any hope of open clarity? Perhaps; maybe - there is just a hint of claws and fangs:-
"The report highlighted areas where Australia could more fully realise the benefits of closer alignment with ICAO’s standards and practices.
Consider "Australia could more fully realise the benefits of closer alignment with ICAO’s standards and practices".
Fine sentiment; impeccable logic and a thing the industry has been dreaming of and screaming about - for decades. It would be 'beneficial' to the industry; no doubt about that. But, and it is a Topsy sized BUT - the 'industry' set up to govern 'industry' is highly protective of it's rice bowl. High wages, many side benefits, minimum qualifications, comfortable environment, light work and no responsibility without an escape clause and someone else to blame. It only attracts a certain 'type' - but Nice work if you can stomach it.
“Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy."
Any 'rationalisation' of responsibility, qualification, earning capacity or 'comfort zone' would cause ructions; any hint of being forced into 'compliance' with the real world would see the 'stress leave' budget sky rocket. Too many comfortable niche jobs, earning a goodly whack would suddenly not be needed; much paper shuffling would stop and - horror of all horrors - someone would be accountable. That simple statement from ICAO will set off an alarm bell; aerodrome developers will be in a panic, on the phone to their tame supporters; and the politician cohort will have a mini melt down - responsibility and accountability - unheard of. The notion of an ICAO fix is an addendum to stark reality, not to mention the possibility of admitting a total, expensive failure of epic proportion; that to perform design function. However; hope is at hand, smooth, entrenched, practised and proven:-
"and these areas will be responded to through corrective action plans agreed with ICAO and updates to our SSP."
Instant excuse, pathway to obfuscation, a gift of time and wriggle room - 'action' for more plans and even more 'meetings'. The last bastion of the defence; endless meetings and committee's and time and more words deflecting the spirit and intent of the gentle ICAO suggestion. BOLLOCKS - ICAO need realise that they are having the piss taken out of 'em; there is no intention, non whatsoever to become 'compliant. Too many snouts in the trough with skin in the game for that. ICAO either grow a set; man up and sort this bloody, mindless, piss-potical mess out; or, stay away and forget all about the Australian Abomination - a.k.a. ICAO compliance al'a Albo et al.. Anyone hear a bell tolling?
Therefore, send not to know For whom the bell tolls, It tolls for thee
Can you imagine the internal furore within the offices of power? Suddenly 'the boss' must actually make a decision, on time and be responsible for it; depending on a bunch of professional dodgers. What about demanding supportable evidence and proof that the offerings from his minions had merit? Why? well because his arse would be in the fire if a 'responsible' minister was caught on the hop. Or; imagine even Betsy having to answer questions based on demonstrable fact. - What price his thinly veiled contempt for those elected Senators who had the temerity to question the Betsy management of departmental performance? Lord, I'd pay money to see that.
"Frank and explicit – that is the right line to take when you want to conceal your own mind and to confuse the minds of others."
The top cover provided for the abject lack of ministerial responsibility costs a great deal, in many ways. Fiscally it is a ministerial 'no brainer'; just sign off the ever increasing 'bill for service' and toddle off to a press club lunch. But look at what is left behind. A creature like Halfwit; paid a great deal of money to ensure that the travelling public have the best air traffic system and service money can buy - Ahem. A Muppet like Spence on a huge salary to ensure that 'matters aeronautical' are provided the best oversight and operational management within the bounds of 'the law' as writ - no experience, zero credibility and NDI, she being run by a bunch of 'experts' - in milking systems, deflecting responsibility and dodging bullets. Accident investigation descended into little more than a PR exercise, all to promote Popinjay from his level of incompetence to new heights. Meanwhile the 'industry' slowly but surely sinks ever deeper into expense, frustration, loss of investment and curtailment due to limitations imposed by regulation, designed solely for public service use, but totally useless to anyone else. Regulation fit for purpose - dream on. See - HERE - recommendation 8.
8. Fit-for-Purpose Regulations
Example 1 of a first class factual, evidence based submission, comes from the 'Honourable Company of Air Pilots Australia (HCAPA)'
Aye well; almost bed time; there is I believe one Ale left in the fridge; I shall take it with me and sit on the kitchen steps and enjoy the cool, calm quiet of the night. No luck yet identifying the joists, can't even work out how it was milled. Swirls and curls in the grain, colour changes by the inch, I tried to cut a mortise and it beat two really sharp chisels in a matter of minutes, half an inch and sharpen up again. But I know a fellah, who knows 'wood' particularly the older models used in the era the house was built; but, this tree was felled long before that (drying and milling) so perhaps the mystery may yet be resolved. We shall see.
Selah...