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scramjet77
31st Aug 2004, 00:13
Lifted verbatim from Dick's website. My two year old shows more maturity than this man.

Direct link:

http://www.dicksmithflyer.com.au/Content.php?ContentID=302

Every time you talk to an air traffic controller, congratulate the controller for screwing you. Every time you hear a Qantas or Virgin pilot, congratulate them for screwing the general aviation industry.

Yes, congratulate them for their victory. Remember how much they must be gloating because with their excellent salaries, they can all head off to the USA for their skiing trips, flying in the US airspace and benefiting from the freedoms and lower costs of that country.

Even Qantas has John Travolta as their spokesman. Travolta loves the US airspace system and revels in its freedom – whilst Qantas prevents the US system from being introduced here, and destroys general aviation in Australia.

Next time you talk to these pilots or controllers, tell them how proud they must feel.

I would suggest to all small aviation business owners that you now look at getting out of GA before you go bankrupt. I would say there would be at least another 5 or 10 years of exploitation by the big airlines, pilots and air traffic controllers. As I predicted previously, it will then get so bad that someone will step in and fairness will prevail.

I think it is a great example to all that when people become powerful, and with weak leadership, they exploit. “Absolute power corrupts”. Remember all that the general aviation industry wanted was the balance of safety and freedom that US pilots already achieve. That is, we wanted the same classifications as used in the USA for radar covered airspace, and the same classifications as used in the USA for non-radar covered airspace. Nothing more, nothing less.

Don't believe the claptrap that NAS was greatly different to the US system. The differences were very minor and always added to restrictions and costs. For example, GA agreed to a mandatory transponder requirement in all Class E airspace - this requirement doesn't exist in the USA - and GA agreed that Class D airspace would go to 4,500' AGL - in the USA it goes to 2,500'. The differences were minor and were all agreed by compromise so GA could get a far less expensive and more efficient airspace system in Australia.

It is extraordinary how well the airlines have done with their ruthless power. They have kept virtually every one of the greater restrictions agreed to (i.e. the mandatory transponder requirement just about everywhere) and then removed the freedoms (i.e. Class E airspace over Class D).

Coupled with this, there is an interesting historic fact. When Qantas owned Lizard Island, GA aircraft were not allowed to fly into the airspace within 30 minutes of the Qantas flight - even though the Qantas flight was a twin engine Cessna! Yes, I kid you not - this is how they run things when they have the power. Qantas have now forced the owner of Avalon Airport to ban all GA aircraft from landing.

Remember, this is very much a one way trip of exploitation.

Capt Claret
31st Aug 2004, 00:18
scramjet77

All we can hope for is that he works himself into such a state that he bursts a blood vessel! :yuk:

onya
31st Aug 2004, 00:27
Not a big fan of abuse on this forum but this leaves so little to be desired. By name by nature. Grow up you sorely beaten child. And to think at one point in time (through nothing more than ignorance) I actually thought highly of you. What an immaculate fall from grace you've decided to take. Take your thick and unsustainable hide elsewhere. You'll be remembered Dick, unfortunately not for the right reasons.

:(

Pinky the pilot
31st Aug 2004, 00:42
I once heard that the one sure sign of megalomania was when a person started to believe in his own press releases.
I am now more than ever convinced that the man has totally taken leave of his senses!
Very sad really.

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

scramjet77
31st Aug 2004, 00:52
Hey Pinky,

Is there a story behind your "you only live twice", I would be interested to hear what it is.

Sunfish
31st Aug 2004, 01:40
Serious question since I don't even know where to look for the answer - Are GA aircraft allowed to use Avalon?

Howard Hughes
31st Aug 2004, 02:22
Dick

If you think flying is soooo bad, GET A BOAT!!

At least now when I'm finished flying my passengers, I'll be able to sleep at night!! ;)

Cheeers, HH.
:ok:

Oh yes and by the way with regard to Avalon what a load of crap!! How long have RFDS and Sharpies not been in GA? My god man they fly there evryday!!

NAMPS
31st Aug 2004, 03:07
I would suggest to all small aviation business owners that you now look at getting out of GA before you go bankrupt. I would say there would be at least another 5 or 10 years of exploitation by the big airlines, pilots and air traffic controllers. As I predicted previously, it will then get so bad that someone will step in and fairness will prevail.

I'm sick of Dick's discursive diatribe and blaming GA's woes on rollback of NAS.

The real source of GA's woes is the privatisation of airports that has resulted in the new private corporate owners increasing rent on leases. This has the obvious flow-on effect of higher maintenance fees etc.

This, together with ASA proposing ludicrous increases in landing fees at secondary aerodromes, will probably sound the death knell for GA as we know it.

Dick, if you have any desire to save GA, why don't you address these issues as forcefully as you try to push NAS?

Obiwan
31st Aug 2004, 03:38
Sunfish Serious question since I don't even know where to look for the answer - Are GA aircraft allowed to use Avalon?
Same with Lizard Is. How long ago? If it was before I was born - what relevance is it?

Okey Dokey

Just read the following on another forum

A very minor point perhaps, but since the days of Bush Pilots/Air Queensland, ARAQ etc the Lizard Island service was operated with Twin Otters. The 30 minute landing restriction was during the scheduled on ground period of the RPT flight due parking restrictions.

Never been to Lizard Is...

Here to Help
1st Sep 2004, 00:23
D Smith has modified his comments about pilots and controllers. His original statement was Every time you talk to an air traffic controller, congratulate the controller for screwing you. Every time you hear a Qantas or Virgin pilot, congratulate them for screwing the general aviation industry.
yet now it appears on his site (http://www.dicksmithflyer.com.au/Content.php?ContentID=302) as:Pilots are telling me that every time they talk to an air traffic controller, they feel as if they are being screwed. Every time they hear a Qantas or Virgin pilot on the air, they feel as if they should congratulate them for screwing the general aviation industry

Why the change?

tobzalp
1st Sep 2004, 00:34
Because he is a lying f(_)ckwit oxygen thief who should eabod.

Romeo Tango Alpha
1st Sep 2004, 00:59
As another poster commented, I too once admired the man for trying to fix some of the smaller problems with airspace regulations etc in Australia. AMATS was a good change, but then the rot developed...

What we ended up with is short of GARBAGE, derided the world over. It was patently UNSAFE, waiting for an accident to happen. Australia's almost lack of radar coverage coupled with the idiotic cost saving of shifting ops to Melbourne etc just was borderline farsical! Bit like Telstra shifting customer service to damned India!

Dick, just bow out like a human being, instead of the megalomaniac you are portraying yourself to be. You LOST, now take it like a man, not a Richard Cranium!

If pilots and controllers considered your notions safe, then why the HELL was it overturned?

Get a life old man. Stick to Tandy / Dick Smith Electronics.

Pinky the pilot
1st Sep 2004, 04:25
Scramjet 77; Check your pm's.

You only live twice. Once when
you're born. Once when
you've looked death in the face.

DownDraught
1st Sep 2004, 06:08
Here To Help, I would say the change is for legal reasons. If HE make a statement then he is accountable, however if he states othe people are saying this (hearsay) it is a different matter.

Adamastor
1st Sep 2004, 06:42
The bloke is quite obviously one of Australia's greatest morons (and I mean that in the literal IQ sense of the word). To discover that he has no balls as well comes as a big surprise?

Chapi
1st Sep 2004, 08:53
Serious question since I don't even know where to look for the answer - Are GA aircraft allowed to use Avalon?
Avalon is privately owned. Prior permission is required for all ops there ... so I guess its upto the owner. ERSA does say "GA parking AVBL on N apron adjacent to passenger terminal"

TIMMEEEE
2nd Sep 2004, 06:16
Dick, I have addressed you before having seen you in action.

I said it before and I'll say it again - your biggest problem is that you talk at people, you dont talk to them!

You never let anyone have their say in a public arena and as soon as they disagree with yourself, you but in and cut them off.

Well this time Dick the true Professionals of the industry have spoken and thank Christ someone (unlike yourself) has actually listened and intervened to prevent an impending disaster.

Just because good 'ol Uncle Sam has a system that works for them doesnt mean it will work for us or that it's worlds best prac tice.

Yes Dick, this time old son you'll go to your grave knowing that responsible professionals who care about not only the industry and the public's safety, but also about their profession have won this battle of common sense.

Please retire Dick or go lobbying for someone like Bob Brown who wont be happy until all planes and cars are banned and we are riding around in horse-drawn carriages and bicycles.

Obiwan
2nd Sep 2004, 10:07
Please retire Dick or go lobbying for someone like Bob Brown who wont be happy until all planes and cars are banned and we are riding around in horse-drawn carriages and bicycles. Too much methane out of the horse - walk instead:ok:

Obie
2nd Sep 2004, 10:56
One really has to feel sorry for Dick...

what an inglorious end to an inglorious career!

There are none so blind as those who will not/can not see!

Good riddance to the biggest aviation idiot I've come across in 40yrs of Oz aviation!! :p :p :p

DownDraught
3rd Sep 2004, 10:35
Yes, It's looking more like two toomers in my opinion!

Binoculars
3rd Sep 2004, 12:35
Here to Help,

Thank you for making that change a matter of public note. This has been the most extraordinary implosion by a public figure I've ever witnessed, and I confess to enjoying every minute of it. Megalomania is finally wreaking its inevitable toll, and I can only repeat my previously expressed wish that SURELY this has been the last time anybody in power will ever listen to this man on matters of airspace.

Dick, even if you believe you're still a chance to be the first President of an Australian republic, be absolutely assured that though the great unwashed may remain ignorant of your precise role in this cockup, there are lots of us around who will remind them at the appropriate time.

To those claiming Anderson is a decent man, he may well be. He has also proven himself to be the weakest, most malleable, ineffectual and incompetent Minister since Whitlam's era.

Goodbye to both of you, and good riddance.