Just like to thank the people who replied to my posting.
Though whirly gig, a couple of points I'd like to pick up on
Well also being a memeber of a proffesional, (engineers cannot spell for toffee), institute the ImechE and having passed some exams I still find thier prices somewhat inflated.
Let me take your points a single issue at a time:
(i) Safety Evenings: Doubltess these will be based upon a procedure produced by the CAA and would in my guestimation, I know not a real word, would give a broad outline of the procedure/specification and any revisions to it. In the real world world a seminar would have be made to pay for itself, a circular produced interested parties contacted see if they wanted to attend and a decision date implemented to see if holding the event could be justified on financial basis. If not the procedure is always available to read for the individual parties or special arrangement for a seminar are made to the interested parties, with those involved meeting the costs naturally.
(ii) Maintenace of a web site. Well having been given the dull job of maintaining a the departmental pages (every one in my department had to take turns in doing so) of an intranet website for an organisation, much to your might be interested to learn I had to liase with the person in control and maintenace of this web site. Shall I tell you the size of their group, well it numbered 1. For a company of 12,000 people I was surprised but their you have it.
(iii) Advice, hah, where you clutching at straws on this one. Ever telephoned the CAA for advice using their advertised/regular channels obviously not or you would not have commited your finger to the appropriate keys those being A-D-V-I-C-E. Shall I just say this about advice, Automated telephone service, and phones that ring for ever when you wish to speak to someone. I always have this image of some dusty empty room with cobwebs everywhere especially all over the phone with it endlessly ringing away.
Just like to add my Professional institute gives me professional indemnity of £Xmillion pounds. If I do something wrong that costs lives or money then my institute will cover me. Not the case in aviation I imagine.
Not that that I mean to berate anyone, but I have definite ideas about people/orginisations paying their way in the world at justifiable cost to their consumers, in a justifiable return for the service provided. How can you justify Peter paying for Paul??
Yes I know this opens another can of worms, with regards the status of the CAA, there can only be one single body governing aviation in a country, should they have been pushed out into a commercial world? How can a single company operate in a single market in a single state, with no competition? Who regulates them? All questions. You could write a book on the subject I am sure.
Again thanks.