AOTW, I am sure you are right and that AVM. Skidmore is a hard working man of great integrity, charm and intelligence with nothing but the best interests of the industry at heart. I do not know the man at all and I am happy to agree with your assessment.
BUT, we are talking about the office of Director of Air Safety, a public office, and Australians have a long and proud tradition of refusing to sanctify office holders and also subjecting them to robust (and unfair) criticism.
The issue is whether the DAS can implement any meaningful reform within CASA. My opinion is that he can't. This is not a personal reflexion on his character. There are some jobs that can't be done.
To put that in sporting terms; if I say "Full forward X is going to make mincemeat of full back Y" its ridiculous to respond "how dare you say that about Y? He is a good bloke."
I'm sure everyone wishes AVM. Skidmore all the best, but the chance of him doing more than scratching the teflon like surface of CASA are slim.