No Confidence. Vote here.

[Postmortem]

CASA at it yet again!!

Report: Garuda B733 at Malang on Jul 22nd 2011, hard landing

By Simon Hradecky, created Wednesday, Dec 14th 2011 11:32Z, last updated Wednesday, Dec 14th 2011 11:32Z (The Aviation Herald)
A Garuda Indonesia Boeing 737-300, registration PK-GGO performing flight GA-292 from Jakarta to Malang (Indonesia) with 108 passengers and 8 crew, performed a VOR approach to Malang's runway 35 visually circling to runway 17, however, the aircraft got too high on the approach and turned in too early on base to runway 17 struggling to acquire the extended runway and glidepath. The aircraft subsequently touched down hard prompting the tower controller to inquire the possibility of a hard landing with the crew. The aircraft was instructed to stop at the end of runway 17 and hold pending a runway inspection, which revealed some metal debris in the touch down zone of runway 17. The aircraft subsequently was cleared to backtrack the runway to taxi to the apron. No injuries occurred, the aircraft received substantial damage including wrinkles of the left wing, a fractured nose wheel hub and damage to the left engine inlet.

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) released their preliminary report reporting, that the training captain (46, ATPL, 14,197 hours total, 5,275 hours on type) was pilot monitoring, trainee first officer #2 (28, CPL, 457 hours total, 457 hours on type) was pilot flying, trainee first officer #1 (33, CPL, 206 hours total, 206 hours on type) was occupying the observer's seat.

Flight GA-292 was number 3 in the arrival sequence to Malang and therefore had been sent into a high level VOR holding for runway 35, active runway was 35.
After the two preceding arrivals had landed, the tower changed the runway to 17 because winds had changed to southerly at 10-15 knots. GA-292 was instructed to leave the VOR holding and commence a VOR let down to runway 35 circling visually to runway 17. After completing the let down the aircraft joined a right downwind for runway 17, turned onto base. When the first officer initiated the turn onto final, the captain assessed that the aircraft was too high for the approach and the turn was too early bringing the aircraft tracking right off the extended centre line, and took control of the aircraft. The captain increased rate of descent to acquire the glidepath while at the same time trying to align the aircraft with the extended center line.

The aircraft finally touched down in the touch down zone of runway 17 and rolled down to the runway end to do a 180 degrees turn to backtrack the runway to the apron.
While taxiing down the runway the controller inquired about the possibility of a hard landing, which the captain replied to in the positive. The controller therefore instructed the aircraft to hold before taxiing down runway 35 and had the runway inspected. The runway inspection found metal debris in the touch down zone of runway 17.

After about 10 minutes holding the aircraft was cleared to taxi down runway 35 and to the apron, where passengers disembarked normally.
A post flight inspection found wrinkles to the left hand wing, the nose wheel inner hub was fractured and the left engine inlet cowling was damaged

What is interesting is the following –


After the Jogjakarta crash in 2007 and the ensuing EU bans, Australian politicians also wanted to ban Garuda. However our Indonesian neighbours told the Australian government that if Australia adopted the same bans as the EU then Indonesia would not allow Australia to use their airspace any longer. Of course the Australian government panicked at the thought of losing all that airspace as the political fallout publicly and impact on operators, particularly Qantas, who would no longer have had the correct fleet type because they now would have to add an extra 4 to 6 hours flying time to flights that had to now circumnavigate Indonesian airspace.
So the ITSAP program was born, in which millions would be allocated by DIFTR to provide safety assistance to Indonesia in the way of aviation, maritime and Airservices. About $20 million over an initial 3 year program, 2008 to 2010, and it has since been extended into 2011/12 and now funded by AUSAID.
The Australian government decided that this was one method of allowing Indonesian carriers to continue flying into Australia under an improved level of safety, and it would keep the skies clear for Australia to continue using Indonesian airspace.
A typical government spinning way to save face and political votes, yet a somewhat workable solution in some ways.


The problem is this. DIFTR funded about $5 million to provide the aviation safety education. The money was allocated to CASA to control, and therefore provide the resources to conduct that side of the program package. That is where things turn pear shape, as usual. The program started out well, the right intent was there, however as bureacracies go, the bureaucrats unleashed a wrecking ball by way of CASA mismanagement. During the first 3 years most went well. A couple of Inspectors lead the programme by training the regulator and industry in Indonesia. Several thousand industry people as well over 200 regulators were trained in an array of safety systems, flight operations and airworthiness. However the Manager of the CASA program in Brisbane received endless bullying by the Assistant Directors, first Quinn and then Farquharson, as well as bullying by the notorious HR Manager who eventually became a liability and was shipped out the door recently, very quietly at that. In standard CASA fashion management hounded, vilified and pushed the Brisbane manager out the door for no greater reason than a simply dislike of his character, nothing more nothing less. McCormick was happy as he had never embraced the idea of CASA helping the Indonesians, and he smelt blood. The next move was for the same bullies to turn against the programs Inspectors, in due time they too resigned from CASA, one then the other. But prior to their quitting the Associate Director took over the program due to his supposedly diplomatic skills but particularly his bureaucratic ramblings, sadly he has no true aviation concepts and he turned the program into a bureaucratic pen pushing failure. The inspectors had their wings clipped and were parked in the office for almost 12 months while the Associate Director played a beauracratic game. He hired a new manager, a female associate from the DIFTR whom he had worked with prior (another beauracrat) and the program still sat on the ground. She didn’t have to have a job interview, just change departments and you have the gig. Approximately $300k was pissed away in 12 months as she sat on her hands as well with the Associate Directors blessing, and she is completely inept and totally not understanding of the programs requirements. She was not operational, never worked for an airline, and didn’t even know the phonetic alphabet! Her claim to fame was she is an ex journalists who dabbled with ICAO by way of the usual jutting around the world on jaunts sipping wine and eating cheese crackers. Sound familiar, perhaps like the Airservices college training program run by a bank manager? Stupid dumb ass political stupidity. The lady Manager at CASA also dresses like a two-bit hooker with thigh skirts which has not gone down well within Indonesia, not to mention her utter lack or understanding of anything to do with aviation. Her other claim to fame was getting involved in another international program PASO, in which she completely destroyed that program. Ask the people involved in that program what they think about her? Hilarious .Again, bureaucracy reign supreme and the inability of these incompetents


And today? The Indonesians hate the ITSAP management, have lost most of the skills they learned, and CASA has spent over $5 million of taxpayer funds to be in a position worse off than it was in 4 years ago. Nil work done, the Indonesians are slipping backwards into old habits and accidents and incidents have risen ever since as evidenced in this thread and others.


So once again, aviation in Australia is managed by a gang of incompetent out of touch taxpayer funded fools, with Albanese at the top of the ladder followed by the CASA executive minions and low level wannabe managers. Shame shame shame.

[Lucerne]

I have recently lost all faith in CASA. I have just been through a scenario where they would take no input from me, the FOI's concerned had NO idea about how my sector of the aviation industry works, and there was absolutely no avenue of sitting down and working the situation out. I hope all concerned have a really bad Christmas and end up jobless in the new year. Your "interpretation" of the regulations concerning most issues is clear evidence of your lack of understanding of the industry in which you have previously failed and taken a padded desk job to nurture your own self importance. Your pride in the "enforcement" of regulatory issues shows your characterless demeanor and your efforts to cover your own errors are laughable. I do hope you realise the ineffective nature of your actions apart from inconvenience that your the fruitless "enforcement" of safety has caused both myself and the company for which I work. I had previously had a good working relationship with the regulator, however, the various new personalities with which I have had to negotiate over recent months have proven to me that common sense has left the department all together. I am at a complete loss to describe the sheer ignorance you have displayed in relation to real world operations. Your office has the power to facilitate safety, you should not need to revert to "enforcement" action as a first reaction. Go out and become a highway patrolman if that is your tactic. There is no room for you in aviation. That is what your previous employers have indicated to you! There will not be an aviation industry left if you continue to "govern" in your current style. Perhaps that is your goal.........that would result in absolute aviation safety. Perhaps I should point out that this would defeat your purpose, or have you lost sight of what that is?

[Frank Arouet]

I must stress, CASA are not "out of control", they are "IN" control.

If Australian Federal Police were to prosecute a lot of these matters, (and given one's faith that they have yet to be corrupted), the charge of "perverting the course of justice" would make headlines. Especially against the regulator.

You simply can't have the regulator making the laws, and policing the laws, and prosecuting the laws.

The current incumbant government doesn't deserve commenting on except to say, I didn't vote for the clowns. You get the government the small majority of fragmented idiots deserve.

[rutan around]

Frank, are you suggesting we vote for Bob Katter and the greens plus a few independents? Blind Freddy can see the coalition would do nothing. That's what they did all through the Howard years. That's when many of the criminal acts by CASA occurred and when $200 million plus was spent on the Regulation rewrite for ZERO result.Both major parties are hopeless when it comes to dealing with the criminal elements in CASA. I'll just go back to heavy drinking and wait for the day CASA accidently pings Albanese for having his shirt untucked or committing some other similar serious crime.Only while he's picking the soap up in jail will he realise what it's like for everyone else who has to deal with CASA.

[Onedown]

I didn't vote for the clowns. You get the government the small majority of fragmented idiots deserve.

Neither did I Frank, the problem is that all that really changes is "the small majority". As much as I was a supporter of Johny's government, they did bugger all to resolve the CASA 'issues'.

After years of apparent endemic issues; 23 years of failed attempts by the lawyers to sort out the legislative issues, what real hope is there ... 'anarchy' ... do we have the balls for that? Why does any government allow CASA the level of autonomy they have and why does there appear to be no accountability to the government or is it simply all too hard and no one in government has the knowledge (read confidence) to take CASA on.

[Frank Arouet]

I can't argue with the last two posts. How can anybody?

As for "the Independants", therein lies the problem. Fragmented idiots who have been given a sort of legitimacy of purpose by those seeking solace from both major party's. Of the lot of them, The "mad hatter" loose in the CASA hen house would be worth watching though.

I think the voting public are a wake up to them and won't support any possibility of minority government again.

CASA are a corrupt organisation because they have had no oversight from a corrupted or weary government whose sole purpose is to remain in power.

[Onedown]

Maybe if a few more of our politicians had the balls of the 'mad hatter' we just might get somewhere.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

More accounts of bullying and harassment from CASA .

This angle could be picked up by the media or senators with present ADF and ASA legal action.

Too many cases show it could be a systemic problem or business strategy. Cheaper than retrenchment or early retirement.

[gobbledock]

Gravy train - Next stop = MORE MONEY!!

More mates rates, more bureaucrats, more people who don't know anything about aviation joining CASA's ranks, and as it would appear in postmortem's post more Insepctors leaving and more taxpayer funds squandered so as to support supposedly intellectual wordsmiths peddling their 'high level articulately worded wankery' world wide.
Fools

[Up-into-the-air]

casa - We are not Happy until you are not happy

Have you seen this:

CASA Integrity Poll

Happy New Year!! for 2012

[cficare]

i'm sure some turkeys will reply....

[Kharon]

One turkey etc.

One down, 29,991 to go. Every swimming pool etc.

Get involved. One hand clapping is just that;

H.N.Y all.

CASA Integrity Poll

[Kharon]

Support ??

Seems the media have got onto this debacle.

Someone, anyone; bring up life jackets.

Back in business boys??. See casa we're not happy until you are not happy.

What a lovely way to start a NEW year.

Thanks boys and girls.

[Dangly Bits]

CASA - We've upped our standards, so you, Up Yours!

Edited for Grammar

[aroa]

gobblegobblegobble....

this turkey did input to the CASA (has NO) Integrity Poll.

In my book the more approbium you can heap on the buggers, maybe more publicity and eventally?? something will be done about the whole sh*tshow.

For a country that calls itself a first world 'democracy', CASA has proved to the aviation world its is THE leading bureaucratic clusterfcuk of the nation.

There is NO other option. IT HAS TO GO.
We, the people have a right to see it off.

May 2012 be that year.

ava good un!

[gobbledock]

Oink oink $$$$

Aroa, it will indeed be a reat year for CASA executives, see below.
(I posted elsewhere but thought it would be worth placing here as well).

I thought I would put together a little package to highlight the earnings within the CASA executive group. It’s a nauseating breakdown of where your taxpayer money is going. The details below are ONLY for the executive group, not other staff such as inspectors, plebs, skirt riders and admin people have been included. I have also included the consultancy fees!! As you will see those piggies certainly have their robust snouts planted deeply within the trough.

2011 / 2010 Highlights

Suppliers Goods and services Consultancies and service contracts:
2011($’000) = 15,793 and 2010($’000) = 14,232. Yes indeed, millions and millions on spent on those sweet Consultants.

Director’s remuneration:
The number of non-executive directors of the Authority included in these figures are shown below in the relevant remuneration bands.
Less than $150,000 = 4 .Total number of non-executive directors of the Authority 4. Total remuneration received or due and receivable by directors 2011= $315,798, 2010 = $280,681

Senior Executive Remuneration Expense for the Reporting Period:
Total expense recognised in relation to senior executive employment 2011, 2010 and Short-term employee benefits: Salary (including annual leave taken):
2011 - $4,125,845
2010 - $3,501,683

Annual leave accrued
2011 – $415,990
2010 - $310,457

Performance bonus
2011- $643,516
2010 - $458,704

Allowances
2011 - $109,969
2010 - $187,539

Total short-term employee benefits
2011 - $ 5,295,320
2011 - $4,458,383

Post-employment benefits:
Superannuation
2011 - $544,390
2010 - $ 449,322

Total post-employment benefits
2011 - $544,390
2010 - $ 449,322

Other long-term benefits:
Long-service leave
2011- $186,414
2010 - $ 148,499

Termination benefits
$150,271

Total =
2011 = $ 6,026,124
2010 = $5,206,475

Average Annual Remuneration and Bonus Paid for Substantive Senior Management -
Total remuneration (including part-time arrangements) I have included 2011 only:

Salary range Execs Actual Salary Bonus


$150,000 - $179, 999 (6) $166, 044 $15, 928


$180, 209 - $209,999 (7) $199,740 $22,244


$210,000 - $239, 999 (1) $232,001 $36,000


$240,000 - $269,999 (5) $255,648 $42,338


$450, 000 - $479, 999 (1) $479, 404 - - - - - -

Of interest is the executive positions grew by 4 since 2010

Variable Elements: With the exception of performance bonuses, variable elements are not included in the ‘Fixed Elements and Bonus Paid’ table above.
The following variable elements are available as part of the senior executives’ remuneration:

(a) Performance bonuses: Bonuses were based on the performance rating of each individual. The maximum bonus that an individual could receive was 15 per cent of his/her total employment cost.

(b) On average senior executives are entitled to the following leave entitlements: Annual Leave (AL): entitled to 20 days (2010: 20 days) each full year worked (pro-rata for part-time SES) Personal Leave (PL): entitled to 18 days (2010: 18 days) or part-time equivalent; and Long Service Leave (LSL): in accordance with Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976.

(c) Senior executives are members of one of the following superannuation funds: Australian Government Employee Superannuation Trust (AGEST): this fund is for senior executives who were employed for a defined period. Employer contributions were set at 9 per cent (2010: 9 per cent); Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS): this scheme is closed to new members, and employer contributions were averaged 28.3 per cent (2010: 24 per cent); Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS): this scheme is closed to new members, with current employer contributions set at 15.4 per cent (2010: 15.4 per cent); Public Sector Accumulation Plan (PSSap): employer contributions were set at 15.4 per cent (2010: 15.4 per cent), and the fund has been in operation since July 2005; and Other: There were some senior executives who had their own superannuation arrangements (e.g. self-managed superannuation funds). Their superannuation employer contributions were set between 9 per cent to 15.4 per cent (2010: 9 per cent to 15.4 per cent).

(d) Variable allowances: Superannuation payments were provided to all senior executives: $489,675 (2010: $357,830); and Accommodation allowance up to $28,500 for the Director.

And this – During the reporting period, there were 31 employees whose salary plus performance bonus were $150,000 or more. In 2010 there were only 15. This was calculated by reference to the gross payments line of the group certificate. These employees did not have a role as senior executive and were therefore not disclosed as senior executives.

And do not forget that each other executive receives a daily away allowance commensurate with their salary. The average is around $300.00 - $450.00 PER DAY. And accommodation and sundries are already paid for. So if you go to say an ICAO function and they provide lunch and nibblies then your $450.00 allowance per day is a nice additional earner on top of those chunky salaries.

[Kharon]

A Logical Explanation.

(Patho?). Ah, method in the madness; now we see there is a good reason for the P. P. Performance. We are being protected from over spending on the bonus system. You can see it; if they turned in a stellar performance we simply could not afford to keep the little darlings. Yup, it all makes sense now.

Performance bonus.
2010 - $458,704.
2011- $643,516.

Source – Willyleaks;
CASA 2012 Bonus Points system.

Talk believable bollocks at the Senate - 200. (Conditions apply).
Develop a long delay tactic for regulatory reform. 199.
Develop a short delay tactic for regulatory reform. 198.
Defer ICAO downgrade - 197. (Conditions apply).
Delay FAA downgrade - 197. (Conditions apply).
Invent new money wasting project - 196. (Refer Spin rules)
Totally Wreck a business - 195. (Variable scale).
Partially destroy a business - 194.

N.B. Additional points for each Pilot of LAME crucifixion. Additional points may be awarded on a variable scale against the perceived qualities of your efforts against the industry. Spin must be supported by policy.

Pork crackling with bacon sambo's anyone ?.

CASA Integrity Poll

[Mainframe]

Gobbledock's figures seem to indicate its all about dollars,

safety, accountability and integrity are impediments that they must deal with.

If you haven't read or submitted the CASA Integrity poll, read it and submit it!

[gobbledock]

Piggy wiggy

Yes nice work:
(a) 4 Board Members on a salary $150,000 per year. This excludes perks, travel, accommodation and god knows what other “add-on’s” they receive. Here is a figure that blows out to probably close to 1 million dollars per year. For a handful of lawyers and bureaucrats. Pathetic.
(b) 31 employees on $150,000+ per year
(c) Approximately 15 million dollars for the same reporting period spent on Consultants.
(d) 6 executives who earned $150,000 - $179,000 p/a. Salary was $166,044 and bonus paid was $15,928.
(e) 7 executives who earned $180,209 - $209,999 p/a. Salary was $199,740 and bonus paid was $22,244.
(f) 1 executive who earned $210,000 - $239,999 p/a. Salary was $232, 001 and bonus paid was $36,000.
(g) 5 executives who earned $240,000 - $269,999 p/a. Salary was $255, 648 and bonus paid was $42, 338.
(h) 1 executive who earned $450,000 - $479,999 p/a. Salary was $479,404 plus $28,000 living away allowance.
This excludes travel/away allowances, business class flights, hotels, functions, conferences and the list goes on. This alone would be a huge cost.

Approx total = $24, 281. 000

And don’t forget all the other “sundries” you can add on. Laptops, mobile phones, government cars. I am not saying these are unnecessary tools, but this organisation is top heavy and the salaries are over the top, and so are the bonuses.
The bureaucrats will harp on about salaries being commensurate with industry, but let’s be honest we are talking todays airline industry where pilot and management salaries (unless you are a CEO) are total ****e. These CASA clowns would not have the experience, skill, energy or knowledge to walk out of CASA and into an aviation job paying $250,000. Remember most are pension age or could not cut it in the real aviation world hence there hiding under bog brother’s wing. In the real world they would be chewed up and spat out. You are trying to tell me that these lazy public servants who have been protected by Government and have not even been out in the present aviation scene at the coal face would be walk-in’s on top $$. Keep dreaming boys, spare me.

· As many have noted, a completely new authority is needed, modelled on one of the more effective international regulatory models.
· Salaries should be slashed into line with the real aviation environment.
· Management numbers slashed to reflect the current aviation industry model.
· Bonuses scrapped.
· All staff airfrares should be cattle class (like the rest of us have to endure) and at the cheapest fare of the day.
· Earned frequent flyer points which are presently retained for personal use by CASA employees should be removed from individuals and pooled back into the Government to be used effectively to reduce costs to taxpayers. This is a disgusting situation where the taxpayer pays for CASA airfares and the individual CASA employee keeps the points.
· Consultant services slashed to save money. Millions have been spent on consultants to provide work in areas that CASA already are staffed to handle. HF, SMS, Audits, why pay a consultant when for example Inspectors are already supposedly trained and skilled in these technical fields? WTF?
· Unnecessary legal actions are another waste of taxpayer money. Each case initiated should have a clear agenda and reason behind it. The carefree attitude of spending taxpayer funds on fruitless litigation just to ‘get back at’ an individual should be something they are held accountable for.

The continued misuse of funds totalling tens of millions by government departments needs to be stopped.

[Kharon]

Pay money

The "mad hatter" loose in the CASA hen house would be worth watching though.

To watch that show; Oh boy wouldn't I just. What was it Jack the ripper said ? - "such larks" ??.

Chook shed ? perhaps, hen house seems a bit 'Clintonish' methinks, but then, it's late.