Er, I think a look at Hansard may be enlightening.
I am talking about the CAA when Mr Smith was VERY involved; no?
THEN we have the CASA Board but that was the second time around when the current ACT was not the then ACT.
I do have some insight into what the original Civil Aviation Act and every amendment since said and say about the powers of the Chairman when Dick was Chairman of the CAA and the Chairman of CASA. All of that legislation is available on line.
The Chairman does not have, and has never had, any regulatory powers. The very limited internal governance powers are there for anyone who can and wants to read them.
Dick has political power. Pollies don't want to get him offside. That's why they keep giving him toys to play with, while nodding and smiling and ignoring him. This year should therefore be interesting.