This was a good thread a while back but then it became another Bash Dick Smith/Benalla/Swinging dick club. He said this, you said that, bla bla bla.
What happened to common sense and manners.
We are supposed to be professional people in a high tech industry. People trust us with their lives.
Any wonder nothing changes or improves.
How about we all get off our personnal soap boxes/vendettas etc and get back to discussing how things could be improved, ie the safety of those who fly, GA, RPT, MIL, whoever.
People died at Benalla and unfortunately people will die in the future but the focus should always on preventing as many as possible. We all do this every time we plug in or start up. Whether you agree with Dick Smith or not, he is raising a safety issue that he feels very passionate about. Nothing wrong with that (and no I'm not his love child).
In todays busy world it is all too easy to say NO and then justify the answer. Maybe if we started saying, Can this be done? Is it worthwhile? will things improve? and of course how much?
Where things are going wrong is when Pilots and ATC's rip into each other and the US and THEM club forms and nothing changes.
Dick, you need to spend some time in one of the centres. I think you would be surprised at how well you would actually be received and welcomed.
For other ATC's and Pilots, go and visit each others work places or get together and have a beer at the local flying club. You will be surprised what you can learn from one another.
On a more positive not, here is a link for all you aviators.
Airday Spectacular