John, about the only argument we have is the definition of a real aeroplane. Mine is one that has an engine that spits, belches, smokes, f*rts and can otherwise misbehave in polite company.
Given the past incidents you relate and given that forecasting is 50% science and 50% art do you not think that Perth may be deserving of a more conservative policy than that seemingly in use - payload and profit not withstanding, it becomes part of the cost of doing business. As people have found you can drive through a red light and get away with it for only so long before you find yourself at best embarrassed or worse dead. Have we reached the point of embarrassment? Getting something wrong now and again is human nature. Allowing that error to create a calamitous
accident chain is bad risk management. The shame of it all seems as ShockWave puts it
"There is also a huge amount of pressure on crews to carry less fuel" There ought to be no pressure or having to explain in writing to the CP why you elected to load extra. Who takes the wrap after all if things don’t go as well as one hoped. I'm reminded of a quote,
Career flying is an uptight, stressful occupation. Laymen have little conception of the pressures under which a professional works. His work is regulated to the point of absurdity by non flying management and federal officials who pretend to understand flying better than he does. He carries a thick book of rules so confusing even its authors can’t explain them. In effect, a committee of deskbound experts ride with him on every trip, instructing, admonishing, warning, watching – until there’s a problem.Then all fingers are pointed at him.
Next time you're in your 146 sim, get the instructor to set the viz to 100 metres and fly the ILS manually until you see the runway lights. You may be surprised.
Tried 0/0 Jack in the sim for the machine I flew which drifted over the fence at a leisurely 70 knots and is not one I'd wish to repeat for real, although when in the navy we used to practise GCA's to touchdown using the navy no flare method of landing, which of course the aircraft were built to take.