Chris (and DirtyPierre):
Thanks very much for your professional response; much appreciated.
However, please note that my nic is QSK not DSK (the latter is a bit too close to the initials of one Dick Smith for my liking).
Firstly, I must strongly clarify one point. I'm not a supporter of Dick Smith's position on NAS, and never have been, as can be evidenced by my numerous contributions on the NAS topic. I am totally aligned with most controllers and professional pilots on this one!
Consultation with professional stakeholders, as you have proposed in your response, is both a given and a must and is fully supported by me and other aviation professionals. It's a pity that it never occured properly as you have alluded to in your response.
No, my initial email was simply "having a slight dig" at DP at his blind insinuation that, because someone only holds a private pilot's licence, they can't be an "aviation professional":
(1)...someone who is a private pilot, regardless of his/her hours, has neither the experience nor training to be an aviation professional; and (2) If I want an opinion from an aviation professional I'll talk to one whose training, qualifications and experience enable them to have an aviation career.
I, for one, have the training, qualifications and experience to have a very flourishing aviation career. I guess the many other guys who used to be former military or airline pilots, or guys who used to be flight ops specialists or controllers in the old DCA, and can now only hold a private pilot's licence as they no longer qualify for a Class 1 medical, don't qualify as "aviation professionals" under DP's stringent criteria.
And a final message for DP. Don't get upset mate, it's all tongue-in-cheek, good humoured fun. I've been an admirer of many of your posts and looking forward to when you post again! Cheers mate.