so-long,
I am not blaming air traffic controllers for this one.
I know the people at CASA who changed the certified air ground requirements from “a pilot or any person who could be trained” to that of a person “who previously held an air traffic control or flight service licence.”
These people were creating jobs for retired air traffic controllers and FSO’s. They made the change at the time Mick Toller was the CEO and he did not even know it had been made until a number of years later.
I can assure you there has been an ongoing campaign by people within the bureaucracy to ensure that the simple proven highly safe non-prescriptive US UNICOM system never exists here in Australia. Of course, they will eventually lose.
By the way, I understand it is ex air traffic controllers at Airservices who are promoting the new non-prescriptive trial at Dubbo and Wagga. I have all praise for this.