Four Seven Eleven
18th Apr 2004, 11:48
Dick Smith: Anti-Australian Economic Terrorist?
Many who read these forums and who have an interest in aviation matters will be bemused by the recent rantings of Dick Smith.
His accusations of ‘basically criminal’ activity by Australian air traffic controllers will have puzzled and shocked many – particularly those who have, until now, believed that Dick Smith, despite his methods, has been acting in what he believes to be the best interests of Australia.
His most recent lies, however, have exposed Dick Smith for what he really is. He has created the vicious falsehood that Australian air traffic controllers are deliberately placing lives at risk.
The defamatory aspects of this lie will be addressed in subsequent legal action, and it is not my intention to address that matter here. I intend to explore the motives of a man intent on destroying Australian aviation, at great cost to the Australian economy.
It is next to impossible to fathom the motives of such a dastardly and treacherous act. I will concentrate only upon the facts.
Fact 1: Dick Smith campaigns against the incumbent Minister of Transport at the 2001 federal election, calling him the ‘ worst aviation minister’ in Australian history.
Fact 2: The Minister responds, calling Dick Smith, someone who “nobody take(s) seriously on aviation… except Dick Smith.”
Fact 3: Dick Smith cancels his campaign against John Anderson.
Fact 4: John Anderson appoints Dick Smith to the ARG.
Fact 5: The ARG is constituted to decide between LLAMP and NAS.
Fact 6: Dick Smith was the chief proponent and author of NAS.
Fact 7: Dick Smith's NAS becomes the chosen model.
Fact 8: NAS 2B comes into effect on 27 November 2003, despite warnings from many industry professionals that removing the ability of air traffic controllers to separate aircraft from each other would lead to incidents.
Fact 9: A number of incidents occur (Canty, Launceston and NW of MC), exactly as predicted, and with everyone following the rules as per NAS 2B.
Fact 10: Not one of these incidents could have occurred before the rules were changed.
Fact 11: Dick Smith utters the most outrageous lie in Australian aviation history. In a craven, cowardly attack on air traffic controllers, he blames his own egregious faults on the very people who warned him not to endanger lives in this way. Whilst admitting that the risk to lives is ‘horrific’ he attempts to shift blame away from himself, and to the very people who are left with trying to sort out his mess.
Ultimately, the financial cost of this defamation will be met by Dick Smith, albeit after lengthy legal proceedings. The cost to the Australian economy will be met by every airline, every GA operator, every hotel or motel, every B&B operator. Dick Smith’s treachery will reach every community which relies upon tourism, every small business operator who relies upon either domestic or foreign tourists to feed their families.
Why would anyone willingly risk Australian lives and at the same time cause such immeasurable harm to the Australian economy? Already GA training activity is down by 25% since NAS2B was introduced.
Dick Smith has already admitted that he pressed for cost reductions, while totally ignoring a CASA survey in which 100% of respondents did not rate air navigation charges as a significant factor in their business activities.
So, why is Dick Smith so intent on destroying the Australian aviation and tourism industries? I do not know the answer, but look forward to finding out.
Should you find yourself Australian and out of work in the aviation industry, who do you think might be to blame?
Many who read these forums and who have an interest in aviation matters will be bemused by the recent rantings of Dick Smith.
His accusations of ‘basically criminal’ activity by Australian air traffic controllers will have puzzled and shocked many – particularly those who have, until now, believed that Dick Smith, despite his methods, has been acting in what he believes to be the best interests of Australia.
His most recent lies, however, have exposed Dick Smith for what he really is. He has created the vicious falsehood that Australian air traffic controllers are deliberately placing lives at risk.
The defamatory aspects of this lie will be addressed in subsequent legal action, and it is not my intention to address that matter here. I intend to explore the motives of a man intent on destroying Australian aviation, at great cost to the Australian economy.
It is next to impossible to fathom the motives of such a dastardly and treacherous act. I will concentrate only upon the facts.
Fact 1: Dick Smith campaigns against the incumbent Minister of Transport at the 2001 federal election, calling him the ‘ worst aviation minister’ in Australian history.
Fact 2: The Minister responds, calling Dick Smith, someone who “nobody take(s) seriously on aviation… except Dick Smith.”
Fact 3: Dick Smith cancels his campaign against John Anderson.
Fact 4: John Anderson appoints Dick Smith to the ARG.
Fact 5: The ARG is constituted to decide between LLAMP and NAS.
Fact 6: Dick Smith was the chief proponent and author of NAS.
Fact 7: Dick Smith's NAS becomes the chosen model.
Fact 8: NAS 2B comes into effect on 27 November 2003, despite warnings from many industry professionals that removing the ability of air traffic controllers to separate aircraft from each other would lead to incidents.
Fact 9: A number of incidents occur (Canty, Launceston and NW of MC), exactly as predicted, and with everyone following the rules as per NAS 2B.
Fact 10: Not one of these incidents could have occurred before the rules were changed.
Fact 11: Dick Smith utters the most outrageous lie in Australian aviation history. In a craven, cowardly attack on air traffic controllers, he blames his own egregious faults on the very people who warned him not to endanger lives in this way. Whilst admitting that the risk to lives is ‘horrific’ he attempts to shift blame away from himself, and to the very people who are left with trying to sort out his mess.
Ultimately, the financial cost of this defamation will be met by Dick Smith, albeit after lengthy legal proceedings. The cost to the Australian economy will be met by every airline, every GA operator, every hotel or motel, every B&B operator. Dick Smith’s treachery will reach every community which relies upon tourism, every small business operator who relies upon either domestic or foreign tourists to feed their families.
Why would anyone willingly risk Australian lives and at the same time cause such immeasurable harm to the Australian economy? Already GA training activity is down by 25% since NAS2B was introduced.
Dick Smith has already admitted that he pressed for cost reductions, while totally ignoring a CASA survey in which 100% of respondents did not rate air navigation charges as a significant factor in their business activities.
So, why is Dick Smith so intent on destroying the Australian aviation and tourism industries? I do not know the answer, but look forward to finding out.
Should you find yourself Australian and out of work in the aviation industry, who do you think might be to blame?