Dick Smith
I have flown in many parts of the world too - and I 100% agree with you we are living in the past. Remember once the retiring 747 captain who stated to an Australian approach controller on his final departure that he thought they were the second best ATCs in the world............and the controller asked who is the best and he said "Everybody!"
But our aviation industry in not just NAS....ADSB....blah...blah.
Why do you not use some of your political pull to stop the dillusion of Commonwealth airport assets. Nothing is being spent on airport infrastructure and GA airports (except security) and operators are dying on the vine with massive increases in landing charges and rents which were only supposed to be linked to CPI.
John Anderson (your mate) Mark Vaille (now at Virgin - unbelieveable) Warren Truss and now A Albanese - God help us! The ALCs are getting away with murder on RESA, new buildings in the obstacle limitation surface, airports being downgraded from certified to registered, runways being shortened or closed, ALOPs collapsing.....there will be no grass roots Australian aviation soon.
You fly fixed and rotary wing - look at the helipad at Bankstown. Call that safe?