Request to Rename SubForum

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

To better reflect the content these days, may I suggest that this SubForum be renamed:

The Pacific: General Aviation, Questions, & Dick's Whinges.

[LeadSled]

How droll!
Tootle pip!!

[AmarokGTI]

Seconded.

Unrelated to your post at all, how do you block an individual user?

[Capn Bloggs]

Thirded! :D

[Toluene Diisocyanate]

I was going to suggest the Dick Smith and AOPA rejects forum.

Not a lot else to read here nowadays, apart from constant whingeing from people who are not professional pilots.

Perhaps we could rename this the Private Pilots Rumour Network? Wouldn't even have to change the abbreviation :D

[Aussie Bob]

It would appear you blokes sit and grizzle and do nothing but when someone actually tries to do something you just knock them and bag them out.

Seriously, (with the exception of Leady) what exactly are you blokes doing for the betterment of aviation in Australia? Like him or not, at least Dick is having a go. Unfortunately to achieve anything in politics these days, whinging and postulation are a requirement. It's only the squeaky wheel that gets attention.

So, its over to you; Blogs, Swifty and Traffic, an outline of your attempts at improving Australian aviation please.

[Styx75]

It would appear you blokes sit and grizzle and do nothing but when someone actually tries to do something you just knock them and bag them out.

Seriously, (with the exception of Leady) what exactly are you blokes doing for the betterment of aviation in Australia? Like him or not, at least Dick is having a go. Unfortunately to achieve anything in politics these days, whinging and postulation are a requirement. It's only the squeaky wheel that gets attention.

So, its over to you; Blogs, Swifty and Traffic, an outline of your attempts at improving Australian aviation please.

Thanks! I've been waiting for someone to post something like this. I've felt for better or worse, Mr Smith has had nothing but the best interests of GA at heart. He's probably one of the few that could afford the demands that are being placed on GA, but still speaks out for the rest of us. I say get behind him and see what happens. Couldn't be any worse then where we'd be headed without him.

Styx

[Chronic Snoozer]

Like him or not, at least Dick is having a go.

Yes, he is the Donald Trump of GA.

[AmarokGTI]

It would appear you blokes sit and grizzle and do nothing but when someone actually tries to do something you just knock them and bag them out.

Seriously, (with the exception of Leady) what exactly are you blokes doing for the betterment of aviation in Australia? Like him or not, at least Dick is having a go. Unfortunately to achieve anything in politics these days, whinging and postulation are a requirement. It's only the squeaky wheel that gets attention.

So, its over to you; Blogs, Swifty and Traffic, an outline of your attempts at improving Australian aviation please.

My attempt involves getting rid of posts like "Do as CASA says and DIE" or words to that effect.
They are not helpful. Sensationalism and constant negativity are of no assistance to anyone.

[AmarokGTI]

It would appear you blokes sit and grizzle and do nothing but when someone actually tries to do something you just knock them and bag them out.

Seriously, (with the exception of Leady) what exactly are you blokes doing for the betterment of aviation in Australia? Like him or not, at least Dick is having a go. Unfortunately to achieve anything in politics these days, whinging and postulation are a requirement. It's only the squeaky wheel that gets attention.

So, its over to you; Blogs, Swifty and Traffic, an outline of your attempts at improving Australian aviation please.

My second attempt would be to reevaluate recruitment in the industry. I have a lot of friends who are good pilots with solid experience and who can't get jobs up the ladder anywhere else. Not even interviews. Whereas there is a seemingly steady (albeit slow, but stready) flow of those who "know the right person" and get jobs with nothing near the same experience levels.

[Horatio Leafblower]

Every election brings a flurry of hysterical and shrill posts from Dick that tends to bring nothing positive, resembles nothing more strongly than preaching to the choir, and certainly doesn't seem to get any cut through with the wider lay press.

The general public is the audience that actually needs to hear... something more positive.

Let's look ( I ask again) to channel Dick's undoubted passion and energy to a positive message about the positives of aviation for the everyman.

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Unfortunately to the great unwashed, "GA" is just seen as a hobby for the well heeled. Dick, for all his good intentions, is just seen as another rich guy complaining about being hard done by. Joe public pays him as much heed as they do the horsey neighbour being upset that the council is resuming his polo fields. Sensationalism, brow beating and accusations of unprofessionalism thrown at everyone who disagrees with him are not doing him any favours.

[Capn Bloggs]

So, its over to you; Blogs, Swifty and Traffic, an outline of your attempts at improving Australian aviation please.
Excuse me? Have I ever complained about the setup here (with the exception of the stupid stuff, like E airspace, that we have force-fed down our throats by the "experts" like you-know-who)?

[tail wheel]

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-general-aviation-questions/575862-listen-dick-smith-you-will-lose-everything-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 (http://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/575610-alliance-switch-nz-aoc.html)" 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!! :ok:

[thorn bird]

Thank you Tail Wheel,
well said.

[cogwheel]

Well said Tail Wheel.......

[Traffic_Is_Er_Was]

Thank you Tail Wheel.
My post was meant purely tongue in cheek. In no way would I want Dick or his opinions removed from PPrune. Someone challenging the status quo is always good value, even if their methods do not always meet everyone's approval. As the original poster, could I request the thread be locked.

[Arm out the window]

Well it wasn't me that asked for him to be banned! I argue with him a fair bit but I wouldn't suggest we try to stifle debate.

Seeing as it's been raised again though, this 'military mentality' thing comes across as really quite insulting to those of us who've spent a considerable portion of our working lives there, and despite all disclaimers, it serves to tar us all with the same brush. It's also a bit of a smokescreen, because the argument about what's wrong with CASA then stops at 'it's run by ex-RAAFies and therefore we're all stuffed.'

If you throw enough crap it sticks, and to see every second post about what's wrong with aviation in Australia being linked to the military keeps reinforcing the stereotype. As has been said, and as I hope everyone sees, pig-headedness is not limited to the services.

[Lookleft]

Maybe AOTW you could counter with the "entrepreneur" mentality that a lot of self-made business people have. You know the mentality that considers that because they made a lot of money it means they can turn their hand to anything and make it a success. The mentality that thinks all government should be run like a business and if people disagree with what they want to do then there is something wrong with the people. The mentality that pushing an agenda can't be flawed because they made a lot of money so they must be right. Of course I'm talking about Donald Trump in case you were wondering.:ok:

[TBM-Legend]

Another juvenile request>>

[Another Number]

You should feel sorry for poor old Dick at the moment ... not only has his name been trashed by the effects of the corporate bastards of anchorage capital ...

Now, that slightly less well-known Cr--k ("rhymes with brook") Ruslan Kogan appears to have bought the Dick Smith name.

The Dick Smith name will become a byword for second-rate, parasitic, dubious, tax-dodging, get-rich-quick-scheme-funding crap...:yuk:

[Slippery_Pete]

Tail Wheel,

Dick may not be breaking forum rules per say, but to not recognise that he is doing the website a huge dis-service is IMHO a big oversight.

Gauging the number of for/against posts as representative of the level of support for Dick's political agendas ignores the fact that the majority of professional pilots, who come here to discuss professional aviation, take one look at his numerous threads - and can't be bothered and won't weigh in. It's pushing them away from the website.

I've spoken to three colleagues in the last few weeks, all of whom have stated that they've abandoned Pprune recently because 90% of Australian content is Dick having a cry about being able to plough through Willy airspace, non ADSB when he pleases. Those three professionals will be a big loss to the site.

It's not the actual arguments - it's the making of this site into a mockery - and something which will push professional pilots away, not attract them.

You are right, in that some causes he champions for GA may well be in the interests of the industry as a whole. But those points can be made without the inflammatory post titles, negative attitude towards anything and anyone involving defence forces, and blatant and unfair conclusions such as "ATC sent the five people in VH-MDX to their death". It's not needed, and it's unfair.

And by the way I'm not military, never have been, never will - so no bias here.

We don't want him banned. We don't necessarily agree with what he does or doesn't say.
What's ****ting us off is the way he's going about it.

You might believe Dick to be playing by the rules, but the reality is he's turning Pprune into his own sensationalist news.com.au - and if left unchecked, it will be to the detriment of PPrune in Oz.

[Horatio Leafblower]

Amen!

Ten words added to make up the word count

[Plazbot]

I'm pretty sure spamming forums is against the rules. This joker's posts are just as useful as that Nigerian chap who tries to get me to help him get his billions out of some place or other. Is Diksmithlyer Web site broken or something?

[Toluene Diisocyanate]

Well written, and my sentiments EXACTLY, Slippery Pete.
Most of my airline colleagues can't be bothered anymore because D&G has deteriorated and seems to be dominated by a rabble of recreational/AOPA pilots. They've successfully turned the place into a whinge forum, complemented by a political grandstander.:ugh::ugh:
Both of which professional pilots have little interest. Yes, I said professional pilots.
See youse :ok:

[Frank Arouet]

As the concept of "futurism" was consigned to history when it became out of favor, the Dick Smith abusers who refuse to learn from history or experience of their forebears are doomed to re live the experience. When posters purporting by their "handle"to be a toxic and cancerous menace to society take to the stage with little more than an elements portfolio and pretend victimhood the concept of a free and orderly discussion forum are rendered impotent. Are we to expect shortly this sort of rabble will claim Australian victim status? Is there a LGBTI connection? Can we expect the moderators to facilitate this behavior? Something probably more akin to the jetblast forum threads now permeating the clear but robust air of D&G.


Give me a break... but fight you bastards, fight.

[Aussie Bob]

When posters purporting by their "handle"to be a toxic and cancerous menace to society take to the stage with little more than an elements portfolio and pretend victimhood the concept of a free and orderly discussion forum are rendered impotent.

My, my Frank, you are in fine form tonight ! :ok: