its plain WRONG
Its capitulating to the terrorist thugs, its us the good guys giving in. Geroge W and co all said we would not let them take our freedom. Seems they have. At least some of them.
Perhaps if enough tech crew petitioned their employers and DOTARS and Mr Howard this could change.
It just takes some determination and dare I say it "Common Sense"
If is was in your shoes, I reckon I would start the process.
In fact maybe get a high profile pilot on side to push the point in Canberra, even a set of rules, allowing kids, pax kids too a method of securely doing this.
I know some very long term QF techies who retired early simply because the fun went out of flying after 2001, and a big part was this stupid ruling.
J
All it takes for the forces of evil to rule the world, is for enough good men to do noting.