Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Airline and RPT Rumours & News in Australia, enZed and the Pacific

Merged: Senate Inquiry

Old 28th Nov 2014, 03:47
  #2501 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: In Front of My PC
Posts: 188
Received 7 Likes on 2 Posts
600K You have got to be kidding!!
Bill Smith is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 04:15
  #2502 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: dans un cercle dont le centre est eveywhere et circumfernce n'est nulle part
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Disingenuous: adj. not sincere. lacking candour.


AKA: 'frog****'.

Last edited by Frank Arouet; 28th Nov 2014 at 04:17. Reason: underwhelming testimony needs reassessment of salary package.
Frank Arouet is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 08:19
  #2503 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: bigsmoke
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 3 Posts
Re ATC LAHSO concerns

Just for the record.

Concerns re the way LAHSO had been reinvented were expressed to management for all the good that did!

Noone bothers with the confidential word, its pointless.
longtermatc-career is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 10:42
  #2504 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Yosemite
Age: 52
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A whole lot of fobbing going down!!

Just for the record.
Concerns re the way LAHSO had been reinvented were expressed to management for all the good that did!
If you boys have got any documented evidence of that, whether it be diary notes, emails or meeting minutes I would suggest getting these into the hands of the only person who seems to be capable of detecting aviation safety risk and non compliances - Senator Xeonophon
Sarcs, two highly amusing yet downright concerning videos. In regards to the Staib video (the reddening neck and flushed cheek are a big giveaway), it would seem that for her generous $600k package (a little less than Russell's) she really doesn't have a handle on what's going on around her. It is even more alarming that some leftover 'Russellites' are still up to shenanigans within the not quite defunct 'Russell Airservices Club', and filtering information or withholding it from her Sounds like ASA have their own version of a CASA style Golden West Mafia! (GWM)
Unfortunately for the Hooded one he didn't come out smelling of roses neither. Some very serious questions need to be asked as to why he as the accountable manager was also kept in the dark over a very serious safety issue regarding the 20kn/5kn issue? To be fair to Hoody the issue commenced prior to his tenure commencing, however I find it highly unlikely that he only became aware of the issue on Nov 4 after Australia's only 'Safety Politician' Sen X, wrote to 'she who has a flushed neck'. Me thinks I can detect the familiar smell of pony poo. And I am sure the Senators are eager to know exactly how many aircraft landed in conditions outside of the AIP? Tsk tsk. Careful how you answer Hoody as I see the potential for an even bigger pineapple to be inserted up your LAHSO! I wonder if the FAA will also want to see Hoody's data, to see how many US carriers were allowed to land in unsafe conditions?? And surely ICAO can no longer turn a blind eye to the serious issues down under, surely?

So just when we thought that nobody could foster a worse unsafe aviation environment than CASA, ASA throw their hand back into the race to be first to the bottom
Oh well, it's all great viewing and a lot of fun for the armchair critic, however this will remain a circus. Even with the respectable intent of the Senators, this will end up nowhere unless the Senators snag additional political muscle, or a Royal Commission into Australian aviation is called.
Soteria is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 19:13
  #2505 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: sydney
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stoteria,

I agree that something is not quite right within ASA. Hard to put a finger on it but someone's left a prawn head under the couch somewhere.

Just one example of what just don't seem Kosher.

Originally, as I have been lead to believe, when discussions were being held regarding replacing some of the national radar network, someone pointed out that implementing a requirement for ADSB, and the government paying the bill to equip the entire Australian fleet was a cheaper option than replacing the radar.

Somehow or someone squashed that idea and the industry ended up being swindled out of a 100 million or so to save the government the cost of radar upgrades and enabled the Skull to crow at ICAO in Montreal, beating his chest and waving his willy, how Australia was leading the world .

The whole ADSB implementation has been a very costly exercise for industry, largely because, by leading the world, we found ourselves ahead of the technology. By being unique, the costs of installation were very much more expensive than they should have been and will continue to be in the future. Our world class maintenance reg's are not recognized overseas. Most of the unique Australian installations will have to be removed if the aircraft are to be ultimately sold offshore.

The FAA as I understand it in the US is subsidizing ADSB installation.

I also understand they will not be mandating it for all IFR aircraft. Given their traffic density compared to ours, seems a tad strange.

Guess that's what happens when "Foster and Promote" is included in their charter, they are required to look at the impact these sorts of things will have on their industry.

Our lot only look at the impact on directors bonuses.

Was a cost benefit for industry undertaken by ASA and CAsA on the impact on Industry of the ADSB implementation? If not why not?

How much of that 100 million or so swindled out of the industry got paid in directors bonuses?
thorn bird is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 20:41
  #2506 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: dans un cercle dont le centre est eveywhere et circumfernce n'est nulle part
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The whole costly ADSB implementation in Australia was exacerbated by incompetent and amateur input from a GA representative body acting after suitable gratuities and inducements were made available by the vested parties. These amateurs post regularly on this forum, (one in particular), who continues to demonstrate the sycophantic attitude of one captured by the allure of fame, (or notoriety), and an inability to accept his fall from grace. There are others who put up reasoned argument but still fail to justify the exercise for the low level GA sector. There was no cost benefit analysis, or if there was, the result was factored in beforehand, and negated any subsequent studies.


The whole thing, like so much more at the hands of people in charge of taxpayers money was a fraud.


Staib appears to think the credit card fraud doesn't matter because the cash came from industry and not the taxpayer. What base stupidity to think such money was not deprived from getting to the taxpayers coffers and is a fraud whatever the amount. When people are left in charge of my money, I need to know their probity is beyond question.


Governments don't like bureaucratic or corporate thieves. They hate competition.


EDIT for Kharon: The bracelets were from "camp couragie" an institution for upstream white water rafting.

Last edited by Frank Arouet; 28th Nov 2014 at 20:51. Reason: Practicing paddling skills.
Frank Arouet is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 20:49
  #2507 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Red face 6OOk Woman

Some clarity from the 600k Woman. Or any other please.

If Norfolk Island is classed as Australia, in an independent sort of way?
Understand that on the ground within 30km jurisdiction, including ocean, Norfolk Territory.

A rather different scenario in the air.

As ridiculous as these question may sound, gotta put it out there...

Who owns the airspace above Norfolk where NGA circled?
Australia or New Zealand?
Who dis-allowed different radio frequencies to NOT be used by Norfolk Airport Control that "could" of assisted? Words from the man himself on the night? Oz or NZ.
Where are the invisible lines drawn from air to ground as we descended into the ocean at Norfolk?

Has this been addressed adequately, or under the carpet amongst dust storm with other shoved aviation safety cluster-phucks.
Carpet shake needed.

Airspace, land space ownership and governance is a shamble. My goodness, what a pay package. Certainly not justified with piss-poor answers. Instead of the "wobble n swivel head puppetry" on display, quite common regarding this Senate, know your bloody job, we are paying you Lady. Remember that.
Not a good look.
Do they not have regularly have meetings promoting flowing communication, audits etc, as a Manager/CEO should do, especially when representing the safety of flight for your country and overseas visitors.
Wow lady. Very, very embarrassing indeed, and it seems more to come.

I think for the 6kWoman, the above questions could be answered from a concerned citizen.
Who is very confused as to why dodging questions seems acceptable.
Quite the norm for them.

Sad but true. Justice IS blind and the truth just a word without substance in the room of wobbly heads expressing "um"
We are paying these wobble heads. Defies logic for that amount of money to not know your ****, even when given warning to know your ****.

Sounds so very familiar. With all the head wobbles and turns to each other, a soundtrack behind it should make for some entertainment. Money's worth.
Collectively, I'd shudder to think of the combined income of the a-holes that have (allegedly) been dishonest to the Few Good Senators.

Z
Ziggychick is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 21:12
  #2508 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Go west young man
Posts: 1,733
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ziggy some good ponderings put..
Ziggy - Sounds so very familiar. With all the head wobbles and turns to each other, a soundtrack behind it should make for some entertainment. Money's worth.
Collectively, I'd shudder to think of the combined income of the a-holes that have (allegedly) been dishonest to the Few Good Senators.
It should be pretty easy to work out Ziggy but do we really want to know?? I've already puked the entire contents of my stomach and am trying to wade through my morning oats without further regurgitation...

Back soon with some updated vids...
Sarcs is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 21:18
  #2509 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Styx Houseboat Park.
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Courage, and shuffle the cards.

Well, we did warn them; (we did) that is an angry, insulted, well informed committee and they intend to see things put to rights. One thing for certain, they are better briefed than the hapless Staib and obviously have access to good 'intelligence', a commodity Staib seems to be lacking. This demonstrated from minute one, as she stumbled, mumbled and fluffed her way through the highly inflammatory opening statement. The statement was not only inflammatory, it was insulting to the intelligence of both Senators and observers, clearly designed to head off what ASA believed were the issues. Wrong: underestimating the will, intelligence, competence and fury of this committee, hoping that bluff and praying that pony-pooh will save the day, is an arrogant assumption. Attempting to deliver that message, into that atmosphere, in such a condescending manner simply added fuel to the flames. Some of the later rhetoric and heroic platitudes dragged out by a sinking Staib, were ill considered waffle, which only deepened to opening chasm. I'm going to wait for Hansard, there were some classic moments mixed with the pregnant, poignant and electrical ones, the detail is worth the wait.

It was a long session, while cringing with embarrassment during the 'reading' of the opening statement (Staib should spend some of her ill gotten gains on a public speaking course, after the reading lessons of course) I was watching the Senators, you could see the finely tuned, high power BS detectors at work, body language spoke of a hostile frustration, a larded with indignation, tempered only by good manners; the Senate Haka. Then it was game on. If public whippings, or humiliation is your thing, watch the video. – HERE

The Senate team systematically took the ASA apart, smacked their plush, plump bottoms, then sent them around again, to come back for more. The ASA were out played, out guessed, out gunned and had nowhere to hide; every dark corner and bolt hole was either lit or covered. Make no error, this was an orchestrated team effort which sent a clear, unambiguous message to Mrdak, CASA and the ATSB. The Senate crew are trusted by industry, they don't leak and they demonstrated that they can and will wisely use any information provided, to achieve sane, sensible governance of all matters aeronautical. Top marks Senators. Bravo.....(Choc frogs in the mail).

I really only used the Sarcs' bucket twice; the first was a big one (huge) – "Courage" badges, worn on the wrist. Ducking bright blue wrist straps with "Courage" inscribed. Did you ever, in all your days, ever hear of such a mealy mouthed, merchant bankers, multi handed stropathon. Once I'd stopped puking and Hoody has stopped waving his about, like a talisman to ward off the evil eye, I managed a smile. (I'll have to do a fairy story twiddle, it's priceless). Whoever dreamed up that piece of artificial feel good, psycho- babble, arse about logic for three year olds, crock of pony-pooh, deserves to be put in the public stocks and pelted with filth, on the hour, every hour for as long as they live. Ye gods, I though it was joke, until I realised, Hoody was a true believer; unless, he was just taking the Mickey and bringing the tomfoolery to the public attention. Anyway, I tracked down the manufacturer and ordered two gross, Red, with "Bollocks" inscribed for wrist wearing and two dozen small - with BOHICA inscribed, for Willy decoration, as IOS Christmas presents.

Speaking of the hooded one; did you ever see such a display of plain and fancy foot change dancing. Talk about chopped up for bait, even with NX playing nice and telegraphing his punches, Hoody still kept walking into them, left foot in mouth, no, no, quickly – right foot in mouth, no-no; Bugger says Hoody, clutching his courage badge as he walks into a straight right. No contest really, he did manage to salvage some dignity and struggled through to round three, but Xenophon was just patting him about for sparring practice in the end. My fault; for buying a ticket to watch a Bantam weight v Cruiser weight bout. Don't think ASA have grasped it yet, the LAHSO thing; I'll give them a clue : it's not really ALL about 'safety' (or courage....) think of where it's leading to.

Then, Staib fell into a beautifully preset, off-side trap; it was elegant in it's simplicity : "IF you don't call in PC Plod for fraud; why is he called when you suspect an internal 'leak' of the truth? " Well, out came the courage badges..., then the puzzled looks.... and memory loss ploys...., no defence though against a concerted panzer attack by the forward pack. ASA lost the ball, Staib is left laying in the mud, drowning, confused, by not initially seeing the inconsistency or contradiction. Then a dim bulb flickers into light and the denial starts, "Oh – but, but that's totally different". Bollocks: converted try: team Senate.

Well, much to study and ponder; must thank brother Sarcs for talking me into using part of a RDO to watch the one sided show. The senate team played brilliantly, it's hard to pick the man of the match when a well oiled team sets to business, the props Heff, Sterle played a solid 90 minutes with moments of dour defence and aggressive running, the hooker well supported, scrum half feeding the ball to the backs, who had some flashes of inspiration and moments of sparkling brilliance. The opposition, well, perhaps it's time they had a new coach, one who's plays are not so well known and; maybe, a captain who can actually tell whether a tossed coin has landed on it's head or it's tail: could be a help.

MTF?, I'd say so.

Toot toot.

Last edited by Kharon; 29th Nov 2014 at 00:54. Reason: 50,000 reads last week Nick, not bad for the WWIOS. A little PAIN goes a long way..
Kharon is offline  
Old 28th Nov 2014, 21:30
  #2510 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Go west young man
Posts: 1,733
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Angel Bollocks: converted try: team Senate.

Gold Ferryman pure gold!
Kharon -Then, Staib fell into a beautifully preset, off-side trap; it was elegant in it's simplicity : "IF you don't call in PC Plod for fraud; why is he called when you suspect an internal 'leak' of the truth? " Well, out came the courage badges.. ., then the puzzled looks.. .. and memory loss ploys...., no defence though against a concerted panzer attack by the forward pack. ASA lost the ball, Staib is left laying in the mud, confused, by not initially seeing the inconsistency or contradiction. Then a dim bulb flickers into light and the denial starts, "Oh – but, but that's totally different". Bollocks: converted try: team Senate.
For those who are not prepared to wade through the over three hour strapathon....here is the parts of interest in two segments (with a slight overlap):






Excellent theatre…Bravo Senators!!

MTF…

ps...


Yep Nick the IOS(MaMs)/WIOS/WWIOS are still here mate!

Last edited by Sarcs; 29th Nov 2014 at 00:01.
Sarcs is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 00:16
  #2511 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: have I forgotten or am I lost?
Age: 71
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
it is all nonsense.
useless political bollocks.
none of it has any direct influence on the world of aviation.

australia must be the dumbest, most poorly organised and managed nation on the face of the earth.

dubbleyew eight is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 00:59
  #2512 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 3,079
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As ridiculous as these question may sound, gotta put it out there...

Who owns the airspace above Norfolk where NGA circled?
Australia or New Zealand?
Australia.

Norfolk Island is part of Australia.

The airspace above Norfolk Island, and out to 12 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline, is part of Australia.

I may be completely wrong, but I think that in the course of the AAI there was discussion of an arrangement between Australia and NZ for NZ to administer that airspace on behalf of Australia. But whatever the case, the airspace is owned by Australia.

Again, I may be completely wrong, but my fuzzy recollection is that during the AAI, forecasts for YSNF magically re-appeared on Australian Area forecasts. After all, the 'Y" in YSNF = Australia and the "S" = the erstwhile Sydney FIR.

Judging by news reports, the government of Norfolk Island is a bit of a basket case. They want to be self-governing like the Northern Territory, but don't have the revenue to discharge those responsibilities properly. I imagine - again, I could be completely wrong - that the whole schemozzle became 'too hard' for Airservices Australia, but the AAI 'encouraged' Airservices Australia to try harder...
Creampuff is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 09:28
  #2513 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Australia
Age: 53
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you have not already watch the you tube clips!

How many times they used the 'I don't recall' line. this may turn up on mainstream news.
halfmanhalfbiscuit is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 20:44
  #2514 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Salt Lake City Utah
Posts: 3,079
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I did ask myself: Where was the safety regulator while all these apparent systemic LAHSO breaches were occurring over such a long period at Tulla?

But then I realised the safety regulator was necessarily dealing with the higher risk and therefore higher priority issues: CVD, community service flights and Jabiru engines. (It's probably just coincidence that these involve taking on the 'little guys' ...)
Creampuff is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 21:24
  #2515 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Yosemite
Age: 52
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Senators + 1 ...... ASA - 3

I did ask myself: Where was the safety regulator while all these apparent systemic LAHSO breaches were occurring over such a long period at Tulla?
Not to forget the other important issues such as the chasing of mischievous chopper pilots and arranging of pot plant decorations in ergonomically compliant buildings. Plus the earning of A380 endorsements and bull****ting the Senate soaks up a bit of time.

As I stated earlier, it's interesting how it takes a Senator to expose a safety issue and get it rectified. That's no disrespect to Nick as he is an intelligent man, but why does it take a SA politician to identify something the Regulator should've known? And the fix was introduced so quickly. If one was a sceptic one could say it was done so quickly so as to bury the issue quickly??? The best bit is that even with a head cold, Xenophon and his companions Sterle and Heff pissed all over the ASA in a articulate and succinct manner. It was poetry in motion.

Just a Sunday pondering, but;
- I do wonder though how such a robust 'latent' condition as the now identified LAHSO issue could supposedly go undetected for 2 years? Where was CASA's third party oversight?
- How is it that CASA didn't pick this up during a third party audit? (Assuming CASA has been meeting its responsibilities and has been auditing such a safety critical component of air operations).
- Does CASA not have a robust audit program in place for auditing ASA? Can CASA produce said audit program including a list of audits undertaken over the past few years, including a summary of all findings to the point that mitigation was implemented, and a review of any mitigation strategies undertaken post implementation so the 'loop' is closed?
- Should CASA have issued a NCN, or indeed a safety alert?
- Will the scalps of Cromarty (finally) and Hoody be sought?

Ho hum, just another day in the lives of CASA and ASA, with the ATSB not to be forgotten. C'mon FAA and ICAO, you know you want to......

Last edited by Soteria; 29th Nov 2014 at 21:37.
Soteria is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 21:56
  #2516 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Styx Houseboat Park.
Posts: 2,055
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Joining the radar return blips.

How many times they used the 'I don't recall' line. this may turn up on mainstream news.
Makes you wonder, don't it. That session exposed a little more than the 'general' ignorance disconnect, and is more akin to general denial and not being 'responsible' more than a simple "Dunno". There are I expect, many questions which an individual, running an operation cannot answer, that's reasonable – BUT – that individual should, without hesitation be able to identify the person who can provide a lucid, concise answer to a reasonable question and be responsible for that answer. It's delightful to watch the consternation as a question, to which a 'work-shopped' answer cannot provided is asked. Funny as. The word disingenuous is used far to often to define this troop of arrogant clods by their claim to 'general ignorance' and 'confusion' (the new buzz word). "We wuz confused M'lud"....Bollocks.

When you watch the video for the second time, it becomes apparent that the Senate crew have a very clear picture of the disconnect between a smooth talking creature like Clark, aided and abetted by a Doctor (who needs to count, on his fingers, in ones, to work out who was at the meetings he chairs) and the coal face. Watch the video, "Well, that's Umm one (thumb), then there was Um, that's two (index finger), etc. all the way up to the really big numbers between four and seven. Redefines the old joke, Grow your own dope – plant a Pom.

You see, LAHSO ain't the radical, root cause, if you like; of a deep, systemic failure based in greed and cover your arse. Pilot command discretion is slowly being diluted, the responsibilities and onus increased to protect the middle layer of parasitic management. ATCO face the same problem, only it's more obvious and without the pitifully few 'escape' clauses pilots may rely on. If a pilot and controller 'negotiate' a contract for a LAHSO operation, that should be the end of the matter; provided it's within boundaries set by common sense, sound operational practice and arbitrary recommended limitations. Cast in stone limitations are an anathema – legal at five knots of breeze, in jail at six knots, is rubbish.

The ATCO is chained to a treadmill; they know how to manage the traffic, know where and when 'discretion' may used and how much to use; but the ass covering 'rules' prevent this. They also know precisely where the red flags are and what they mean. They also, in all probability know exactly what's wrong with the system and how to fix it. Enter the dragon.

A suggested fix must be passed 'up the line', if it's any good, it will be hi-jacked for kudos but the responsibility for the idea will remain hidden, until something goes pear shaped and it lands on the head of the original 'sugestee'. Same with deficiencies and flaws within the system: ATCO puts in an alert, taking their own lives into their hands, for woe betide anyone who dares rock the Staib boat, the courage badge will not protect from AFP investigation. Anything like a complaint hits management filter 1 and much of the 'guts' of it are sucked out there. The complaint has entered the first disconnect, between the original intent and what filter 1 want (or need) it to mean. No matter, the now crippled complaint is kicked up the line to the next management filter.

Now filter two is interesting – for here the cast and crew are specialists in emasculation, intimidation and earn points for smoothing the waters; for here overseas trips like a month long, all expenses (credit card supported) holiday in Paris; or a nice little week in a Texas casino (using the card) are the rewards for massaging any form of 'alert' into a minor irritation, fit for 'little' board consumption. Filter 2 extracts reality and sells the finished product to the elite market of filter 3. "No sir, there are no problems, we are on track to make another 100 millions this year". This activates filter 3.

Filter 3 is located in a rarefied, other word sort of atmosphere and it's where the god like power, so desired by the lower order resides. The 'little' board reports to the big grown up board (filter 4) : "Morning all" says Angus, "anything of interest this month?" "Oh no Sir" gasps the gushing, wing wearing minion: "just some minor, technical issues which the little board has, smoothly and efficiently dealt with". "Oh, goodee" says Angus, "lets sign off and then we can all get back to the great works, philosophical contemplation and, perhaps 18 holes before beer-o-clock".

And so the humble suggestion, made at the coal face is filtered, the reasonable complaint is neutered and those with the temerity to actually speak up are intimidated into silence; if not by having one's 'courage' badge shoved into a fundamental orifice, then by the boots of the AFP metadata spooks.

Mind you, even if all this ever gets past filters 1 to 4 and anywhere near the surface; there is the CASA oversight circuit breaker to pop, which protects and fosters the government goose, laying it's golden, trouble free eggs, ever fattening those privileged to gorge on the product.

Like Nick X – I have a great respect, admiration and affection for our ATCO coal face boys and girls. That they manage so well, in such a toxic unholy atmosphere is a testament to their skill, dedication and commitment to efficient, safe aircraft movements. It's a tragedy that they are forced to live and work under the management of filter 3. Don't believe me; watch the video, carefully, for it tells it's own story, far more eloquently than I ever could. Let's all hope NX can open the filter by-pass and let some fresh air and light into the dark, subterranean caves of the ATCO underworld.

Now then, who's for Paris or perhaps Texas?. The only requirement is to wear your 'courage' badge and use your card, but only to the maximum limit to which you are entitled. Wings? – well perhaps not, some may see a pair of decorative wings pinned to your right tit as an insult to those who earned them, the hard way. But hells teeth, if what you are doing now don't offend, a pair of faux wings just don't signify. Anyway, symbolism is not an exact science and not really proven to work. Believe it if you like.

Toot toot.. Badges?

Last edited by Kharon; 30th Nov 2014 at 20:19.
Kharon is offline  
Old 29th Nov 2014, 22:44
  #2517 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Go west young man
Posts: 1,733
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
REPCON clusters, watching the birdy & joining the blips??

Ferryman nails it down...
You see, LAHSO ain't the radical, root cause, if you like; of a deep, systemic failure based in greed and cover your arse.
Systemic failure you bet, the clues (blips) are all there...

Meanwhile the ASA trough feeders are fondling their Courage Badges...


But is the Margie Mantra working?? Well judging from the REPCON cluster - highlighted in Nick's QONs - from the bureau REPCON webpage (which are strangely out of sequence...)...
...it would appear that their are at least some coalface ATCOs not happy with the mantra...

"Houston we have a problem!"

MTF...
Sarcs is offline  
Old 30th Nov 2014, 05:48
  #2518 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Terror
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Noob

An ATC mate and I were comparing notes on the state of our groups and he suggested I come have a look at this site. You guys certainly don’t hold back but it was nice to see the videos and in some strange way to know we’re all suffering together. Over the last year the fights over our senior leadership roles has made Lord of the Flies look like a teddy bears picnic. I doubt the CEO even knows its happening with fear and suppression the orders of the day. It seems you guys are in the same boat with the top jobs being given to the most inexperienced, mealiest mouthed, shallowest, emptiest, corporate wankword spouting, issue suppressing, ladder climbing yes men available. We both wondered why staff who are professional, dedicated, have the best interests of Airservices and industry in mind and above all are ethical continually get the ass, choose not to apply or are overlooked. Of course the penny dropped and we figured out we’d answered our own questions. What a sad state of affairs. Yours in disbelief and fear. Off to wait for the AFP. TC.
techcerted is offline  
Old 30th Nov 2014, 10:42
  #2519 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Go west young man
Posts: 1,733
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Addendum - Planetalking.

Australian ATC didn’t know Melbourne flights were at risk for two years


A disturbing dossier of evidence as to the unsatisfactory and abjectly incompetent state of public administration of air safety in Australia is being assembled by the hard core membership of the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport.

On Friday afternoon one of its key members, Senator Nick Xenophon (Independent SA) took a longer running exposure of dangerous practices by AirServices Australia at Melbourne Airport to a new level.

Plane Talking was unable to cover that hearing, but ABC journalist Melissa Clarke filed an outstandingly good report at to what happened here, and cut through the baffling complexities of the issue to render it understandable to lay readers.

It concerns the willful and/or incompetent exposure of the travelling public to unacceptable risks of collision of aircraft using a procedure called land and hold short operations or LAHSO at Australia’s second busiest large airliner airport.

Willful? Incompetent? Either AirServices Australia’s general manager for air traffic control Greg Hood knew what was going on, or he is a complete waste of oxygen being paid to be in a state of utter ignorance on such an important and vital part of his responsibilities.

If Mr Hood was that clueless at that level of responsibility, including as to how LAHSO became so corrupted at Melbourne in the first place, he needs to resign or be removed from that position forthwith.

What does he actually do to pull the money he does without being aware of such a dangerous failure of standards at Melbourne Airport? What does this tell us about the capacity of AirServices to even begin to understand its responsibilities, and why doesn’t it have any procedures in place to catch such operational failings. In short, what-the-hell-is-going on?

Does Mr Hood get off his backside and look in detail at the everyday running of AirServices Australia? If he does, how could he be so freeking hopeless at detecting what was going on at Melbourne Airport?

Could he produce timesheets that tell us exactly what he does and for how long each day so that the public at least knows how the money is spent? The focus of the Abbott Government is on public instrumentality efficiency. If it is as serious as its rhetoric, administrative timesheets are a must.


At Friday’s hearing the Senate committee queried AirServices Australia’s CEO Margaret Staib (above) over her alleged threat to call in the Australian Federal Police over whistle blowers or informers in AirServices Australia concerning safety or administrative issues.

A YouTube of part of her discussions with the Senators on this particular issue can been seen here, and Plane Talking thanks whomever it was who made and posted that and other related video clips on Pprune.org.
The essential element in Ms Staib’s responses to considerable questioning on said claimed threats was that she was referring to the improper public disclosure of commercially confidential material.

This is, Ms Staib, an absurd claim. AirServices Australia is a monopoly. There is no commercial alternative to what you are selling, so you have no commercial confidentiality to protect, and what you are really trying to say with your insulting contempt for the intelligence of the general public and even your customer airlines is that you want to call in the cops to punish the disclosure of a persistently inept and potentially dangerous management. For which you have been responsible for two years.

It would be good to see your threat carried through, assuming the Federal Attorney General didn’t intervene to prevent the excoriating process of a public court hearing, because this would be the pursuit of honorable people who have genuine concerns about the competency and culture of AirServices Australia, and such matters would benefit from exposure and testing.

It should be noted that the core membership of this Senate Committee in relation to aviation safety comprises Senators Bill Heffernan, Glenn Sterle, David Fawcett, Alex Gallacher and Nick Xenophon.

They are divided politically, but very united and determined when it comes to the public administration and accountability of CASA, the ATSB and AirServices, and have already uncovered some very disturbing truths about the two former bodies in relation to the Pel-Air crash embarrassment and the discreditable performance of the chief commissioner of the supposedly independent safety authority Martin Dolan.

They made a fool of the previous Minister supposedly responsible for aviation, Anthony Albanese, while the current Minister, Warren Truss, needs no help in coming across as hopeless, or hapless, in a portfolio that successive Labor and Coalition Governments just couldn’t give a toss about.

With reports as lucid and prominent as the ABC account of the latest Senate committee session on AirServices Australia’s performance, perhaps Cabinet will pay a bit more attention to safety implications that cannot be ignored or patronized away for much longer.

Reminder that tomorrow is D-day for the TSBC peer review report...

MTF...
Sarcs is offline  
Old 30th Nov 2014, 11:23
  #2520 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Australia
Age: 53
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Kharon, in addition to choccy frogs how about those badges?

Pony pooh

B**l**ks

I don't recall.....Senator....

Or days of the week for people with short memories?
halfmanhalfbiscuit is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.