We may yet, if (
IF) the latest rumour out of Cant'berra proves accurate, have to have whip around to fill the Sunfish hat with choc frogs. Seems he may well scoop the pool if the dire warnings of PMC involvement go from 'strong' rumour to cold fact. We may yet have been throwing rocks onto the wrong chook shed roof. The latest has it that it's the Abbott chooks slowing down the process, not the Truss non layers. Word is the Yanks are coming and there's going to be trouble (T). So, the rumours make sense; well , enough for discussion purposes at least. The story goes:-
CASA were gifted a reprieve after the last FAA (ICAO) visit: the negotiation to give them a chance to put their house in order was conducted at high level, promises were made and money was made available to keep those promises. It seems, it's just not the IOS who are aware that CASA not only took the money, but the Mickey Bliss as well, by not keeping those promises and thumbing their nose not only at the Yanks, but their 'real' masters. Which, naturally enough, has angered and embarrassed some heavy duty folk. With the shameful CASA and ATSB performance known to the real world –.
Abbott is going to look bloody silly, grabbing 'Vlad' by the shirt front and banging on about anything aeronautical. It's a bad negotiating position and starting on the back foot is not a smart move; so until the G20 hoo-haa is over, rumour has it that the PMC have their foot on the throat of matters aeronautical and nothing will happen. Well, not until the PM can return to the land of the free only slightly ruffled, rather than humiliated and chastised. Anyone watching will see Vlad smiling quietly, listening to the Abbot tirade then saying "So; Tony, let go my shirt front (wipes off self righteous drool) and tell me, will MH 370 be managed the same way as Pel Air?" "I notice you have the same crew running it". Game, set and match - Vlad....
Then of course there is the Canadian cousins whispering to their American cousins. They may play the diplomatic game and 'massage' their report to fit the ToR, but make no mistake, they will be speaking to their counterparts in FAA. "Well, it's in a hell of a mess down there, thought you guys had sorted it out last trip" (smirk, smirk). The FAA will not be too happy that the Canadians are laughing and making snide remarks about how the Aussies 'third world' authority have treated the last FAA audit. The hook may not be so easy to shake this time; rumour has it the Yanks are officially, if quietly, miffed...
This is all to be kicked upstairs to their grown ups, who will talk to our grown ups, who will put the brakes and silencer on any or all proposed changes related to matters aeronautical. With nothing to be done until the top level gabfests and the G20 shindig are over and face saved. Which explains, in part, the appalling delay in any form of response from the miniscule.
It's true that most important matters are managed by the PMC in some way; but, if it is true that the PMC have actively taken over the management of aviation direction, then things may just work out as Sunny forecast. Then again, it may all be supposition, rumour and pub gossip. But it makes a sort of sense; and any morsel is welcome in the desert of no response, no comment and no announcement of any sort.
Still, big meetings to come, perhaps then we shall see. Time will tell if the tale is true.
But it's quiet Tonto, too damn quiet...