CASA Exams - ATPL

[TwinNDB]

This is not meant to be another thread complaining about the recent exam restructure nor the increase in fees but rather an attempt to make we Aussie pilots realise that this situation is affecting other people - not just ouselves.. .. .Let me explain.. .. .I recieved a phone call at about 1945 tonight from CASA. Yes a government agency calling me after hours to help. The call was from an administrative staff member from CASA'a ATPL exam office asking how I would like to allocate my remaining exam credits and if i had any other questions relating to the changes. . .. .I started out with how i thought the industry as a whole felt that the changes were highly unfair etc etc and that we were more than likely more dissapointed with the fact that we weren't even asked our opinions than with the changes themselves. With this the staff member agreed and then pointed out that she (and other staff members) had similar feelings with the implementation of the new cyber system BUT here is what got me.. .. .All of the staff members are now out of jobs because of this change. We might have to cough up more money to sit our exams but these people are losing their income and stability. Keep in mind that these are not the enforces of CASA's regulations in the field but merely there to try and help us. She said that two of here staff members had gone home crying during the last couple of days because of the abuse they recieved over the phone from pilots who are unhappy (all of us i believe) but this is not the way for us to get our message across.. .. .She did suggest that any gripes be addressed in WRITING to our local Federal MP to raise in Parliment, Matthew Anderson himself or anyone else in a position of power. We might not be able to reverse this decision but if address the issue in the correct manner instead of abusing people over the phone like enraged children we may be able to prevent another change of this magnitude in the future without industry consultation.. .. .Come on guys - do NOT shoot the messager. Be angry by all means but let the right people know about it. The staff members have been affected more than us by other peoples decisions.. .. .Twin.

[kez]

Twin, totally agree ... I can't understand why exams get MORE expensive when the intro of technology KILLS jobs and, rumour has it, makes the whole process "more efficient". More efficient to me means less cost .. unless I'm totally misguided there. But airing your thoughts at the "delivery boy/girl" doesn't achieve much of a positive outcome.. .. .I did voice my oppinion in a recent survey conducted by ASA. I know there will be many that cast doubt on what the benefit of the survey will be .. "why make the effort when they usually don't do anything about it ...etc etc" but I guess it's worth a shot.. .The survey is something like:-. ."how do we get people back in the air" and can be found at:-. . <a href="http://www.flyingaustralia.com" target="_blank">FlyingAustralia</a> . .or at. . <a href="http://www.airservices.gov.au/publications/survey.htm" target="_blank">Airservices</a> . .. .If enough people respond, there may be some action taken? Wait & see I guess.. .. .Cheers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />