Honour, rectitude, integrity. Often hear those words bandied about. Probity, fairness, decency are some others which get flicked about, with little thought given to what they really mean. No, I've not lost 'it'; just had time to look at, study and think about things, like the CVD pilot issue; all triggered by the Avmed situation and creating some sort of quasi 'medically flavoured' submission to the WLR.
But how to get the right message into the Kenwood safe and have it understood is a puzzle. How do you correct legislation which is essentially correct, for starters. It appears that Australia is unique in our 'enlightened' approach to colour vision and the evidence is there to support that safety has not ever been compromised. There has been no foul or penalty caused by our scientifically proven system. Yet although we are, arguably, one of the least ICAO compliant countries, (if you count the registered differences); but suddenly, for some outré reason, we need to regress. Why ? Oh, because we may be 'out of step' with ICAO, EASA and FAA. So what, tell them to catch up, be a leader not some whining puppy following the big dogs. Our CASA medico's need to be showing the way and defending the Australian track record.
It's bad enough that half a dozen or so competent blokes have had to fight for their medicals. Avmed do have a fair few scalps on the trophy wall, but they are insatiable. A visit to the AAT list will demonstrate the litigious nature of this branch of medicine. The DAS could, with a stoke of a pen, rectify this and support the industry which contributes to his pay cheque. We get all manner of instruments dished out, exemptions and the like. We need someone to honour the system, show some integrity instead of sitting back and authorising (or allowing) the spending of an untold amount of money attempting to have men, the calibre of Dr. Arthur Pape disqualified as an independent witness. Disgusting. Until fairness, decency and some common sense is flowing from the top floor, we are going to be stuck on this bloody awful merry-go-round.
What's wrong with a simple system, like the USA one ?. Go to the vet, nose wet ?, coat shiny ?, tail wags ?, no worms ?, all good: issue certificate and pay money; job done. Bureaucrats building empires, by decrying the very people they approve to do the job, (that's the qualified, skilled, hands on medical practitioners at the coal face) are creating a world were your fitness assessment will solely depend on a form and a pro-forma, managed by a clerk. The WLR is too small a blade to carve up this turkey – bring in the Senate crew, open the whole thing up and clear out this unholy mess, so cunningly concealed from public view. "Specialists, don't need no stinkin' specialist opinions".
And, just for Saturday fun -
Barry Hempel came to town,
a riding on a dispo;
he tipped his aircraft upside down
and finished up as 'ipso'.
Barry Hempel saw the vet,
he said his head was cured
Don't mind the hole, it's in control
I'll never end up skewered.
Chorus –
Barry Hempel is our man, he conned the boys at avmed;
bluffed the law by the hangar door
and went off flying, evermore.
To the tune of -