Station: 4BC Program: John & Ross Breakfast Show
Aired On: 15/04/2004 6:48 AM
John Miller and Ross Davie talk to Dick Smith regarding his media release out this morning. Smith says the controversy surrounding the new air space arrangements for Australia is a beat up. Smith says the latest figures show that since the introduction of the new arrangements, there has been a 21% reduction in aircraft near misses. Smith says our airspace is safer now than ever. Smith says the Aviation Reform Group, set up by Min John Anderson, to oversee the implementation of the new arrangements included professional pilots. Most notably in the Group was Angus Houston, the Head of the Air Force. Smith talks about the serious incident from last week where it is claimed by air traffic controllers that a Virgin plane was allowed to descend to within 400 feet of another plane. He says the air traffic controller allowed the situation to occur and claims it was a "basically criminal" action. Smith says the same thing happened in Melbourne a few weeks ago. Smith says professional air traffic controllers were not included in the Aviation Reform Group because they naturally have a self-interest in making sure there is as many air traffic controllers employed as possible. He says for the past 13 years, government has tried to move forward to a modern airspace system but air traffic controllers have run a very effective industrial campaign to stop any such moves. Smith goes on to talk up the current new system saying it is the same type of system being successful utilised in America, Canada and Europe. Smith says he believes that air traffic controllers are now deliberately manipulating the system to justify their own existence. He says they are risking people's lives for an industrial agenda.
Interview: Dick Smith, Former Foundation Member of the Aviation Reform Group
Dick, if there was any doubt about you being a fool, case solved.