CASA - You Can Stick Your Online ASIC Application Up Your ***
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CASA - You Can Stick Your Online ASIC Application Up Your ***
I've just wasted an hour of my own sweet and highly valuable time trying to renew my ASIC on CASA's online system, and I am mightily and totally pissed off!
All I can say is that if you call this process "efficient" then God help Australian Aviation!
It started last week when I went to CASA to get a renewal form, to be told politely by the nice lady at the counter that the renewal was "all online now". Good thinks young internet savvy Sunfish, those CASA blokes don't miss a trick to improve efficiency! So Today I have a few minutes to spend so I fire up the new dual core Pentium Vista powered computer thinking I'll get this over and done with right now.
1. However, nowhere on CASA's main ASIC/AVID page is there a simple box marked "Existing ASIC Holders Needing Renewal click here", no, you have to look through their FAQ to find the link to their on line application form. Time wasted a couple of minutes.
2. Oh Goody! I find the form. There is this big warning "" Only use with Microsoft Explorer - so shut down Firefox(a far superior product) and start buggy insecure Explorer...oh well. Now the programmer gets to display their erudition. Two "Ifs" in sequence with no logical link between.....
Am I applying to renew? Tick the yes box. Then appears another little box...
Did CASA issue my original ASIC? Tick the yes box. I'm still at a loss what happens if I tick the "no " box, what does it then say? Another little box appearing saying "You poor bastard" or something" This is plain bad design that a first year interface design student would be failed for.
3. Oh Goody! I get to apply online! No more visits to crowded doctor's surgeries for recertification that I am human, CASA already know, they gave me an ASIC didn't they?
I fill in all the boxes neatly, although by now I'm slightly surprised that they haven't just recovered my previous details leaving me to update them and voila! But this modern technology is still great!
4. I update my long list of criminal convictions and idly wonder where the online comment box doesn't come up for me to explain how it wasn't really my fault that I crashed Aunt Bertha's car into the Police station last month. They must already have the rest of the list of my pathetic explanations on the database from my previous application.
5. I decide to pay online. I give my credit card number to the screen, Idly wondering if I can see the "secure session" lock, but I can't make it out on this new fangled windows Vista screen, but CASA wouldn't be asking me for my Card number and details on an unencrypted link would they?
6. Now comes up another screen with a big "Print" button on it. Oh Good! I get to print a copy out to remember what Lies I told in two years time, surely my submission is online.
7. Vista duly downloads a copy of the form and opens it to be printed, and.......................
I've wasted all this time to fill in a bloody .PDF form application?? And I've STILL got to get new photos, passports, identity documents to prove who the **** I am? And then mail the whole bloody thing to them????
WTF didn't you just tell me to print off the application form and fill the bloody thing in instead of leading me through a phony "On Line" experience.
But wait, there's more....so I goes to print this document on my whizbang network printer...and Vista can't find my printer. In fact Canon and Microsoft are having a bit of a barney about compatibility so I can't print this effing document anyway.
Ah Ha! I think, I'll go to my own old computer and fire that up! I'll print it from there, but when I go to save my application, I get a prim little message from Adobe saying "you can't save the contents of the form"...wonderful.
I've just F***ed around for thirty minutes to fill in a form that could have been done in five minutes.
But now the confusion sets in.. Was any of that session actually "on line?????" Where has my data gone? More importantly where has my credit card number and $186.00 gone?
I'm so F***ing mad at this needlessly complicated mess that I may not even bother with an ASIC at all. I may not even bother with a flight review later this year. I won't be reapplying for an ASIC anytime soon, at least until I cool down.
Why is this crap so needlessly complicated, time wasting and pointless? The farcking terrorists won when they let this toxic administrative crap loose.
All I can say is that if you call this process "efficient" then God help Australian Aviation!
It started last week when I went to CASA to get a renewal form, to be told politely by the nice lady at the counter that the renewal was "all online now". Good thinks young internet savvy Sunfish, those CASA blokes don't miss a trick to improve efficiency! So Today I have a few minutes to spend so I fire up the new dual core Pentium Vista powered computer thinking I'll get this over and done with right now.
1. However, nowhere on CASA's main ASIC/AVID page is there a simple box marked "Existing ASIC Holders Needing Renewal click here", no, you have to look through their FAQ to find the link to their on line application form. Time wasted a couple of minutes.
2. Oh Goody! I find the form. There is this big warning "" Only use with Microsoft Explorer - so shut down Firefox(a far superior product) and start buggy insecure Explorer...oh well. Now the programmer gets to display their erudition. Two "Ifs" in sequence with no logical link between.....
Am I applying to renew? Tick the yes box. Then appears another little box...
Did CASA issue my original ASIC? Tick the yes box. I'm still at a loss what happens if I tick the "no " box, what does it then say? Another little box appearing saying "You poor bastard" or something" This is plain bad design that a first year interface design student would be failed for.
3. Oh Goody! I get to apply online! No more visits to crowded doctor's surgeries for recertification that I am human, CASA already know, they gave me an ASIC didn't they?
I fill in all the boxes neatly, although by now I'm slightly surprised that they haven't just recovered my previous details leaving me to update them and voila! But this modern technology is still great!
4. I update my long list of criminal convictions and idly wonder where the online comment box doesn't come up for me to explain how it wasn't really my fault that I crashed Aunt Bertha's car into the Police station last month. They must already have the rest of the list of my pathetic explanations on the database from my previous application.
5. I decide to pay online. I give my credit card number to the screen, Idly wondering if I can see the "secure session" lock, but I can't make it out on this new fangled windows Vista screen, but CASA wouldn't be asking me for my Card number and details on an unencrypted link would they?
6. Now comes up another screen with a big "Print" button on it. Oh Good! I get to print a copy out to remember what Lies I told in two years time, surely my submission is online.
7. Vista duly downloads a copy of the form and opens it to be printed, and.......................
I've wasted all this time to fill in a bloody .PDF form application?? And I've STILL got to get new photos, passports, identity documents to prove who the **** I am? And then mail the whole bloody thing to them????
WTF didn't you just tell me to print off the application form and fill the bloody thing in instead of leading me through a phony "On Line" experience.
But wait, there's more....so I goes to print this document on my whizbang network printer...and Vista can't find my printer. In fact Canon and Microsoft are having a bit of a barney about compatibility so I can't print this effing document anyway.
Ah Ha! I think, I'll go to my own old computer and fire that up! I'll print it from there, but when I go to save my application, I get a prim little message from Adobe saying "you can't save the contents of the form"...wonderful.
I've just F***ed around for thirty minutes to fill in a form that could have been done in five minutes.
But now the confusion sets in.. Was any of that session actually "on line?????" Where has my data gone? More importantly where has my credit card number and $186.00 gone?
I'm so F***ing mad at this needlessly complicated mess that I may not even bother with an ASIC at all. I may not even bother with a flight review later this year. I won't be reapplying for an ASIC anytime soon, at least until I cool down.
Why is this crap so needlessly complicated, time wasting and pointless? The farcking terrorists won when they let this toxic administrative crap loose.
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I just finished reading the weekend junk mail and Coles has 24ply tissue's at $1.19 [saving of 39cents] would you like me to buy you a couple?
Last edited by Skystar320; 21st Feb 2008 at 03:21. Reason: Bigger font
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Why bother dealing with CASA? Go here http://www.aviationidaustralia.net.au/application.html and renew without hassle. You’ll still have to get the photos and other ID required and post it, but my renewal was back within 10 days.
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If you want easy friendly service that works well go direct to the boys at Aviation ID at Merimbula. They did my initial one then my new one (there's no such thing as a renewal) to my complete satisfaction.
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Install PrimoPDF(free pdf printer), so that when it tells you that you can't save it and your printer is up the ars-, print it to . pdf and then you can save it.........works a treat.
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Dear Captain Fish,
I was very sorry to hear of your recent misfortunes with your village's CASA. I may be able to assist you in your endevours, but first I need assistance to get my ASIC printing machine operational.
You may like to invest in this venture with me by forwarding a measly sum of US$2000 to me. In return for this, I will be able to repay you US $3.1415927 million dollars and in addition to this very kind gesture, I will forward you an ASIC/S in whatever name you require.
You must be very quick with your remitance as I have many other investors seeking this opportunity. Silence is of the essence in this venture also Mr Fish as the evil tribe of CASA will be very jealous of your riches.
Forever yours,
General Solomon Mohamed Umfukalofu.
I was very sorry to hear of your recent misfortunes with your village's CASA. I may be able to assist you in your endevours, but first I need assistance to get my ASIC printing machine operational.
You may like to invest in this venture with me by forwarding a measly sum of US$2000 to me. In return for this, I will be able to repay you US $3.1415927 million dollars and in addition to this very kind gesture, I will forward you an ASIC/S in whatever name you require.
You must be very quick with your remitance as I have many other investors seeking this opportunity. Silence is of the essence in this venture also Mr Fish as the evil tribe of CASA will be very jealous of your riches.
Forever yours,
General Solomon Mohamed Umfukalofu.
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The CASA version is actually hosted at aviationidaustralia.net.au
(it even says so if you click 'yes' to the Have you ever been issued an ASIC by CASA? question.)
I tried it using Seamonkey (Mozilla) and it worked fine.
Out of idle curiosity I tried doing a 'normal' AviationID application, and apart from the branding logo at the top of the page it appears to be identical to the CASA one.
It's all being done by https:// so your data-entry and C/C details should be ok.
I was amused by the year-range allowed in the mandatory 'Residence Since' field. (honest guv, I have been living at the above address since 1908)
(it even says so if you click 'yes' to the Have you ever been issued an ASIC by CASA? question.)
I tried it using Seamonkey (Mozilla) and it worked fine.
Out of idle curiosity I tried doing a 'normal' AviationID application, and apart from the branding logo at the top of the page it appears to be identical to the CASA one.
It's all being done by https:// so your data-entry and C/C details should be ok.
I was amused by the year-range allowed in the mandatory 'Residence Since' field. (honest guv, I have been living at the above address since 1908)
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Open source is your friend
CASA really seem to be off their mark.... surely they could have strung you out for longer. Their heart just doesn't seem to be in it these days 
Anyway, here's a couple of open source tools that will help with the tech side of things.
PDFCreator is a great little free program like PrimoPDF. I tend to save all web pages / forms that I need to keep as PDF's in a folder on the computer rather than printing them out and losing them in my *ahem* filing system. If your printer goes tits up then just save the appropriate file to a USB stick and print it elsewhere.
User Agent Switcher is an add on for Firefox that will allow your computer to pretend its using the current version of Internet Explorer and bypass some of those websites that claim they're incompatible with the far superior product Firefox happens to be. (Also try Safari as an alternative to Firefox. Its still got some bugs on windows but is much less of a RAM hog and I reckon renders pages faster). The only problem with User Agent Switcher is if the website designer is so retarded that they depend on Active X controls in which case your f@$cked. This doesn't happen much anymore and if I come across a website like that on my Mac then I just take my business elsewhere.
Ubuntu is what Windows should be
If you cut Microsoft out of the equation then you can focus all your stress in exactly the right direction. On CASA.
Good luck
Anyway, here's a couple of open source tools that will help with the tech side of things.
PDFCreator is a great little free program like PrimoPDF. I tend to save all web pages / forms that I need to keep as PDF's in a folder on the computer rather than printing them out and losing them in my *ahem* filing system. If your printer goes tits up then just save the appropriate file to a USB stick and print it elsewhere.
User Agent Switcher is an add on for Firefox that will allow your computer to pretend its using the current version of Internet Explorer and bypass some of those websites that claim they're incompatible with the far superior product Firefox happens to be. (Also try Safari as an alternative to Firefox. Its still got some bugs on windows but is much less of a RAM hog and I reckon renders pages faster). The only problem with User Agent Switcher is if the website designer is so retarded that they depend on Active X controls in which case your f@$cked. This doesn't happen much anymore and if I come across a website like that on my Mac then I just take my business elsewhere.
Ubuntu is what Windows should be
If you cut Microsoft out of the equation then you can focus all your stress in exactly the right direction. On CASA. Good luck
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Dude.....just jump through the hoops. Its 2008 (post 9/11)-we all have to go through the same process. Yes we all remember the days when you could stroll around the tarmac without a care in the world (because you had a Pilots Licence) but those days are gone. So next time you have to apply for an Asic card...maybe go for a walk first and get some fresh air, listen to some Enya, relax and don't let it get to you. Because....this will go on for the rest of your career.
lol..... this would have to be the best 'disguised ad' thread I've seen yet.
Now we all know where we should spend our money to get the ASIC...
the card beloved by pinheads
Me thinks this ASIC is a growing industry...
Lets play a game of 'Spot the posters that make money from ASICs'
Now we all know where we should spend our money to get the ASIC...
the card beloved by pinheads
Me thinks this ASIC is a growing industry...
Lets play a game of 'Spot the posters that make money from ASICs'
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'ultralight', spot on, 'sunfish',there's half the problem 'vista', it's a nightmare at times ! Windows 95 was one of the best & simplest DOS ever invented! Better doesn't always mean best!
CW
CW
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Biggles_in_Oz is spot on the money: after clicking through from the CASA website you do indeed end up at an Aviation ID Australia webite!
I wonder if A.I.A. has always been sub-contracted to process the CASA ASICs? One and a half years ago CASA issued my ASIC, but now I wonder who actually PROCESSED it!?
I wonder if A.I.A. has always been sub-contracted to process the CASA ASICs? One and a half years ago CASA issued my ASIC, but now I wonder who actually PROCESSED it!?
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Landed at Canberra in our police helicopter sometime ago - entered terminal via airside , wearing our police uniforms with guns (Glock) etc, - purchased lunch from inside the terminal, went to exit terminal to airside - Canberra airport security made us empty pockets so the contents (including lunch) could go through x-ray - walked through metal detector ..... beep beep beep .... had to inform airport security that it could have something to do with the Glocks 9mm that we were wearing ........
hmmmmmm
hmmmmmm
Had to have Mrs Flywather apply for an ASIC in her own right so I didn't have to escort her through the security fence to the toilet. She says she is old enough to go on her own. She figures that a mature Australian lady of her age should be able to hold one, as a part owner of an aircraft, (an also with an endurance less than that of our aircraft) as long as foreign appearing student pilots seem to be able to procure red toilet passes at will and their only investment in the industry is $50 for a student pilot licence. Please feel free to correct me if you wish, I have my hat and coat ready.