This Truss review panel is going to need (like it or not) to address some big issues. Whether these issues go quietly into the night or not will very much depend how well the smoke, mirrors and ToR preventing clarity are circumvented. A fair test of this will be seen in two forms, the ministers response to Pel Air; and, whether the Senate committee responsible for the Pel Air inquiry turn out to be sheep in wolves clothing; or the real deal 'wolf pack'.
Much depends on independent Nick Xenophon being supported by the other 'bi-partisan' Senate committee members. In terms of the 'regulatory deformation' process, NX has made a start, upsetting the CAO 48/ FRMS apple cart. There is much empirical evidence and scientific study which makes a nonsense of the CASA non science of flight crew fatigue. NX nailed this down during the inquiry into 'pilot training', ran with it through the Pel Air inquiry and, put his money where his mouth was, blocking the shambles known as CAO 48. The bi-partisan committee, although quiet must at least tacitly support his cause. For example; despite fatigue being blithely ruled as an irrelevance in the Norfolk ditching; fatigue was clearly a factor.
Although the serious safety based questions hanging over the ATSB, their relationship with CASA, the abysmal quality of their recent reports and the implications to industry being fed and reliant on non relevant or misleading safety information is not within the ToR for the Truss panel; the whole package is of critical relevance to 'safety'. The Sarcs posts –
34 –
104 – here on PPRuNe leave little room for argument that the fine work and positive safety outcomes generated by the –
TSB reports - serve to highlight the depths to which our very own ATSB have plummeted.
T28 #105 -"Has been on my mind for some time, is the "fix" in ? one might be a little concerned given the number of Montreal trips and the close association of the witch doctor in Montreal that the "fix" is indeed well and truly "in" we hope not but hope is a slippery thing to hold onto.
This is a racing certainty. One does not need clairvoyance or voodoo to agree with the T28D opinion of the lettuce leaf review. These issues may not be covered by the trite, narrow, nugatory Truss ToR, but they are crucial to safety. The Senators recognised this, industry recognises this, hells bells, the world and it's wife realises this. So here we are then, nearly into another new year, dragging the last 25 years of baggage behind us. It's not as if the Senators are unaware; it's not as if the bi-partisan political horsepower is lacking: we've all seen all the Senators challenge the grip of the iron ring, unafraid to beard the lions in their dens.
Now good Senators; will you let Truss and his minders undo all your good work? What's it to be Senators ?; will ye be seen as wolves or sheep ?.
Tick Tock indeed.