I have managed to clean my screen, my disappointment will keep for another day.
GS - CASA were determined that we would not succeed. They told me at the CP interview that, "the easiest way for us (CASA) to stop an operation from flying is to remove the Chief Pilot" and that "we (CASA) may have handed you (me) a poisoned chalice".
A CP 'interview' is not a tea and bickies, feel good, fuzzy mutual stroking exercise. A potential CP would have more than a vague inkling that there was 'trouble at mill' before walking in. A seasoned CP would have come away from the meeting with at least two important pieces of paper.
1) An agreed written list of all the issues which were causing anxiety, signed by both parties. Including the alleged 'poisoned chalice' remarks.
This list is then studied by the CP and formatted into a time line, in order of priority detailing the proposed method of 'sorting' the perceived areas of discontent and the milestones. Handled a bit like a RCA.
2) Then at the second meeting with the FOI responsible a 'ways and means' agreement is hammered out and formalised. The local CASA manager needs to add an approval to this proposal and if warranted, agree to some additional surveillance. CASA may not be legally entitled to mentor or assist but they can survey and audit the crap out that puppy.
Thus armed the CP then invites the Operator and CASA to an Indaba. Here the agreed process is explained in detail and the operator's cooperation is ensured. Then can the CP go to work; stick to the process, meet the deadlines and engage CASA to sign off every milestone. With skill, determination and a little self generated luck it should be smiles all around within 3 months of kick off.
If not, there is an iron clad defence available against any change of heart by either the operator or the authority. Instead of this valiant but doomed charade:-
GS - Kicking goals from the back line was our Solicitors comment and, cogent and compelling was the Judges comment on my testimony. Very well defended, he went on to say but he couldn't be held to account for letting Alligator fly again.
Being a CP means just a little more than looking pretty and making the right noises, you have to mean it; as you can see from this sorry episode - business, jobs, the community and almost several lives are hanging in the balance.
It's why they get the big bucks – right.
Steam off.