The short answer is the Forum title won't be changed.
One user recently reported a number of Dick Smith posts for reasons unrelated to our rules and asked that Dick Smith be banned from PPRuNe.
That user also objected to Dick Smith's use of the term "military mentality" in his posts. My response to that user:
Dick Smith has no immunity on PPRuNe - he is treated equally and the same as any other user.
Dick has an opinion which he is entitled to state, provided it is within the rules. It is not for PPRuNe Mods to judge or ascertain the veracity of his posts.
Dick has those that support his views and he has those that oppose his views. Reading his threads you will find the responses generally average around half in favour, half against. For that reason his posts are "reasonable" and valid on PPRuNe.
Of course, those that support and oppose his views are also entitled to post their opinion provided it is within the rules.
You seem to object to his term "military mentality" existing within CASA? He is not referring to any individual current or ex military person; he is not referring to any particular arm or of the military; nor is he even indicating to which country military he is referring - he merely mentions "military mentality". After 30 years in the airline industry and numerous contacts with CASA, I understand exactly what he means by "military mentality" and as a personal observation, I believe "military mentality" has existed in CASA for many years and has influenced CASA mentality and policy. The well known "Group Captain's Club" in CASA in years past, is one example.
One last point around "military mentality" within the Government aviation agencies. Michael Huerta is the Administrator of the US Federal Aviation Administration. He is an Administrator, no previous military experience. Andrew Haines is CEO of the UK CAA. His background is in commercial rail transport, no previous military experience. Graeme Harris is the Director of the New Zealand CAA, no previous military experience - and New Zealand re-wrote their Civil Aviation Regulations in less than five years, compared to the 28 year Never Ending Story in Australia.
Interesting that here in Australia we are unable to identify and engage any competent aviation Administrators and must reply upon retired Air Force officers, with no commercial aviation experience, to manage our entire aviation related infrastructure?
Dick Smith's posts do not contravene the PPRuNe Rules and will remain.
Have a great day!
Go read this thread if you want confirmation that Dick Smith has both supporters and detractors in PPRuNe, in almost equal numbers:
http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...rything-2.html
Reading these Aussie forums, there are many, many individual posts within threads which are highly critical of aviation regulation management in Australia - read the thread "
Alliance switch to NZ AOC" as just one example.
Conversely, it is exceedingly rare to find any posts that support our regulation management, aviation legislation or aviation regulator. Indeed, the CASA Cheer Squad appears to consist solely of abysmal and incompetent Ministers for Transport, the odd retired senior Air Force officer and a few CASA employees that can't get a real job outside the public funded umbrella.
As an Aussie with over 30 years aviation industry involvement, I personally find it deplorable that so far it has taken CAA/CASA 28 years and probably somewhere north of $400 million to re-write the Civil Aviation Regulations, from a mostly rational, coherent, useful document pre 1988, to a mumbo jumbo which will ultimately destroy private aviation and general aviation in Australia. It took New Zealand and Canada five years to re-write their Regulations to better meet the needs of their contemporary aviation industry. Why is Australia satisfied with a very expensive third world aviation regulatory structure?
Sometimes I open these Aussie PPRuNe Forums and think: "
Oh God, Dick has been here again!" But then I remember that few others are prepared or have the guts to champion the cause of recreational, private and commercial aviation in Australia, restricting their obvious frustration to the odd PPRuNe comment which will not lead to change. He may not always be right but at least he has a go!!
It is not a Moderator's task to censor any thread or post, or determine the veracity of any thread or post (unless it is obviously ludicrous); a Mod's task is to ensure all posts are within the rules and posts remain relevant to the thread title.
Like any other user, Mr Smith's posts will remain whilst they comply with the PPRuNe rules. If you don't want to read threads he starts, you are at liberty not to open his threads.
You all have a great day!!
