A quick break to update the newcomers....
definately not a b737800capt06: Mr Smith's position is completely opposite to yours. Please join the legions trying to minimise the damage (even though you respect him so highly
).
WOG: You are correct. Mr Smith and others ARE trying to align airspace, ATC duties etc. to more closely align with the US. However, he is trying to do this whilst EXPRESSLY NOT changing any infrastructure to match. In fact, he is trying to stop us doing what we do that mitigates our lack of infrastructure, removing the "Australianess" of our system (DTI in G). This is what the industry is railing against (both the end product, and his methods of achieving it). He
believes that if we all start talking and acting like the US, we magically don't need infrastructure like radar, flight service etc.
Many here are simply pointing out that advances in technology will give him what he wants soon enough, without the bull-in-a-china-shop approach. It begs the question; why? To an outsider, it would almost seem that Mr Smith's aims have nothing really to do with "safety" or "helping GA". I'm sure one could be forgiven for thinking he just has a pathelogical hatred of (in order) the ATSB, CASA, ATC, airline pilots, other government departments etc. etc. Don't you agree?