I believe that before Be-a-Cur is allowed to slither off, clutching his golden parachute, fur lined jock strap and hand crafted golf ball warmers; there are some serious questions which must be answered. Should the answers to those questions be found 'disingenuous', then the civil and criminal matters raised within those questions must be addressed; in the national interest, further, those that were associated with those acts should be included in the investigation.
We need to step back in time, just a short way, to identify where and when the whole Pel-Air saga began. The 'potted' version starts with the Chief pilot, as was in 2008, in the short version the CASA supported 'usurper' was, willy nilly, to have the job. In order to achieve this the audit weapon was used, selectively to erode the incumbent – 'things must change' – and the short term AOC ploy was dusted off and played. The incumbent demurred, got off the pot and the new bottom was plonked down on the still warm rim. Problem – the 'new-bottom' had NFI about how to set about doing an international, long range, jet operation, let alone developing policy and procedure to 'fix' the audit reported problems. No matter, as the problems were mostly artificially 'enhanced' they could be let slide and the 'fleet manager' (or some-such) was left to sort them out. Everyone forgot that the now FM, was, last week, the CP and smart enough to know that if little was done, the same 'audit' problems would, or could be aimed at the CASA glove puppet. Office politics, a nasty game, but no real harm done. Then DJ decided to give his West-wind a swimming lesson.
Suddenly, office politics took on whole new, sinister meaning; someone's arse was in a sling and the company reputation was heading down the pan at a hell of a rate. Oh oh. What's to be done? Which brings us to the point of the ramble – what was done, who did it and why?.
I feel it's a reasonable assumption that Sharp would want the whole thing hosed down, strapped, fed and back in it's box with the minimum of fuss. This, of it's self is an acceptable, honest request for a CEO to make of the regulator. What Sharp probably wasn't aware of and didn't realise was the unholy, artificial, fully supported mess the operation was in, to start with. It is, IMO also fair to say that had he realised it; something would have been done to fix the mess, properly, and sooner rather than later. A CEO playing for high stakes cannot afford to have the type of snake pit Pel Air was at the time; it's counterproductive and, as demonstrated, ultimately detrimental and expensive. Not the Sharp style at all.
So the games began, CASA audit, parallel investigations, reports, more reports and enough NCN to choke a horse. ATSB same-same; miles of paperwork. All for naught, the fix was in. But only certain, select Bankstown FOI knew where the real issues lay; their pet, hand reared CP had fluffed it, caught out by the 'enhanced', unattended audit 'gotchya's, raised by CASA used to nobble the previous CP. Followers of the Pel-Air 'ducked up cover up' will be aware of what happened next. Sharp only wanted expediency and closure; but, if the rest were horribly exposed to allegations of 'skulduggery', then every single method of CYA would be employed. There has to be some motivation for the terrible risks McComic, Chambers and his merry bunch took; CYA is as good a reason as any, and better than most.
This is however only where the questions start; just for fun, lets work backwards starting with what Dolan and Mrdak would have allowed the TSBC to see related to Pel Air. Would the TSBC have seen the original honest ATSB and CASA reports; those which were denigrated and shuffled off to one side, the HF, operational and fatigue reports?. Would the TSBC have even been given the sanitised versions?. Were the TSBC given the opportunity to compare those with the original, honest reports?
Then there are questions of the 'grape' (Ayup, there was a bunch of 'em) of the spirit, intent and rules of the MoU, which beg to be answered.
Then there are questions about the pillage and rapine of the TSI Act, section 24 and those who willingly participated in the event which beg for answers; even if just to 'eliminate' the suspicion from our ongoing enquiry', as they say..
Then the hiring by CASA of a protected species specimen, to further protect it from the cold winds of hard truth and responsibilities, was it just that which needed shuffled paperwork and a scapegoat to enact? This stand alone raises more question than have been answered.
I, for one would like to see Anastasi, Campbell, Chambers, Farquharson, Grima, McCormick, White and Whickham from CASA, followed by ATSB Dolan, Walsh and Sangston, in front of a fully briefed Senate committee armed with the evidence of Watson, Hattley and several others.
Was Dolan simply a dumb Muppet? Removing him and allowing the rest to escape unscathed seems pointless; particularly as the notion that the TSBC was short changed and the Senate was lied to has not been fully eliminated. While those questions linger, no one, not with any certainty anyway, can assume that a repeat performance will not be given, the next time valuable safety information is; ostensibly used to protect individuals, deceive management and enhance two careers at the detriment of others.
I'd bet the TSBC would be interested, maybe even the ICAO. Has independence has been curtailed, probity lost in the mists of obfuscation and the Senate a victim of sleight of hand? Then, just to put a hat on the ensemble, the same crew will all be ringing the changes and laughing with relief, that Beaker; poor, mislead, misguided, willing Be-a-Cur, the used and abused Muppet, has taken a big one, for the team, that brought you Pel Air.
Simply Marvellous Horse-pooh was clearly not the answer, was it children. 'Less he peaches, someone asks. Well, that would warm the pot up a bit; but no chance. New horizons on offer from the Murky Machiavellian job search team, maybe even with Customs – then he can have tea and pasta with Lubby Loo, before she goes on holiday – perhaps in the Canadian spring. That aught to make SMH page three, at least.
What a mess Mr. Dolan; what an absolutely disgraceful bloody mess you leave behind for others to clean up. But, be assured, the truth will out, one day. Where then will you hide and who will CYA, not the Murky Machiavellian, definitely not the Wabbits' crew: that is for absolute certain sure. Bet the house on it – Oh, you have.
Aye, it's a puzzle alright. But, as there is ice-cream and Brandy Snaps on offer, I may just take them to a shady part of the garden, sit a while watching the river flow by; and, maybe share the spoils of an illicit kitchen raid with the Gobbledocks' mighty elephant, who, as it happens, shares my particular fondness for stolen ice cream....
Toot toot...
