Regulatory Reform? Not A Hope In Hell!
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Regulatory Reform? Not A Hope In Hell!
Two events caught my eye today.
1) "Our" Minister, Warren Truss, was outed by the media as spending approximately $21,000 to charter an aircraft so as to give a breakfast talk on "tightening belts" in the Government and welfare sectors, particularly exhorting pensioners to be more frugal.
Truss me, I?m a politician: MP spends $21k on flight | Gladstone Observer
2) CASA is allegedly holding a series of "town meetings" with the aviation community, to be attlended by Skidmore and senior CASA Executive Managers. To receive "feedback" from industry.
Could I be forgiven for thinking that the only possible good these Two events represent is the injection of $21,000 into the charter industry?
What possible motivation could Truss have for lifting a finger for the aviation industry given his demonstrated total hypocrisy?
What possible use is there in attempting to talk to Skidmore, particularly when he is attended by the authors of our misery - the executive management group?
1) "Our" Minister, Warren Truss, was outed by the media as spending approximately $21,000 to charter an aircraft so as to give a breakfast talk on "tightening belts" in the Government and welfare sectors, particularly exhorting pensioners to be more frugal.
Truss me, I?m a politician: MP spends $21k on flight | Gladstone Observer
2) CASA is allegedly holding a series of "town meetings" with the aviation community, to be attlended by Skidmore and senior CASA Executive Managers. To receive "feedback" from industry.
Could I be forgiven for thinking that the only possible good these Two events represent is the injection of $21,000 into the charter industry?
What possible motivation could Truss have for lifting a finger for the aviation industry given his demonstrated total hypocrisy?
What possible use is there in attempting to talk to Skidmore, particularly when he is attended by the authors of our misery - the executive management group?
Regulatory Reform?
I don't usually write on this forum and I do not have any evidence to support the thread above. What I do know is this.
Major regulatory reform has been going in this country for literally 20 years with an incredible expenditure applied. This expenditure represents the most obscene incompetence at taxpayers expense. Yet the Senate Estimates committee do not have any realistic approach as to how to deal with the situation that has been before us for so long. Agencies are routinely summoned to the Senate Estimates to detail their reports. Usually this is the particular Commissioner, CEO and at most his off-sider. Yet the last U-Tube I looked at showed CASA with 10-15 people present probably more sitting in the background, NONE OF WHOM WERE ABLE TO COMPETENTLY answer the questions asked by the Senators without waffling, "refer that to my colleagues for a response," or "we will have to take that on notice Senator because we do not have that information to hand!!!!!" Words fail me. These people are being paid in the region of $180,000 plus to "not know." They even have a group of lawyers permanently employed in the organisation who are paid even more to "not know!" The current Australian documentation is in quite a mess and has been for ages. The number of "Instruments," Notices of Rule-Making and Exemptions is positively ridiculous. Why are these items not in the main-stream documentation? The problem now is the younger generation coming up the line, through no fault of their own actually don't know any different, because the "mess" is all that they have ever seen, so they think it is normal. It isn't normal. We are laughed out of town by overseas aviation agencies. We cannot even get our documentation to be all the same size and Airservices Australia are totally incapable of getting the ERSA into manageable sizes so that we are not carrying several States we do not need in our flight bag on every flight. The ERSA from my military days used to be a thin document that slid comfortable in the leg of your flight suit for when you needed it. It certainly doesn't now! Regulatory reform? The only realistic way we are going to get on top of this is completely disband CASA and raise a new section in the Department of Transport under the direct control of a Minister with a totally brand new staff recruited from NZ/UK/Canada and the USA. I am about to hand in my wings anyway and give it all away. I have had so many near misses with ultra-lights flying contrary to the circuit direction at CTAFs it is only a matter of time before a large aircraft is brought down or even I am brought down probably with a "pilot error" tag stuck on my headstone afterwards. I hope the Senate Estimates are able to work through that properly when it happens.
Major regulatory reform has been going in this country for literally 20 years with an incredible expenditure applied. This expenditure represents the most obscene incompetence at taxpayers expense. Yet the Senate Estimates committee do not have any realistic approach as to how to deal with the situation that has been before us for so long. Agencies are routinely summoned to the Senate Estimates to detail their reports. Usually this is the particular Commissioner, CEO and at most his off-sider. Yet the last U-Tube I looked at showed CASA with 10-15 people present probably more sitting in the background, NONE OF WHOM WERE ABLE TO COMPETENTLY answer the questions asked by the Senators without waffling, "refer that to my colleagues for a response," or "we will have to take that on notice Senator because we do not have that information to hand!!!!!" Words fail me. These people are being paid in the region of $180,000 plus to "not know." They even have a group of lawyers permanently employed in the organisation who are paid even more to "not know!" The current Australian documentation is in quite a mess and has been for ages. The number of "Instruments," Notices of Rule-Making and Exemptions is positively ridiculous. Why are these items not in the main-stream documentation? The problem now is the younger generation coming up the line, through no fault of their own actually don't know any different, because the "mess" is all that they have ever seen, so they think it is normal. It isn't normal. We are laughed out of town by overseas aviation agencies. We cannot even get our documentation to be all the same size and Airservices Australia are totally incapable of getting the ERSA into manageable sizes so that we are not carrying several States we do not need in our flight bag on every flight. The ERSA from my military days used to be a thin document that slid comfortable in the leg of your flight suit for when you needed it. It certainly doesn't now! Regulatory reform? The only realistic way we are going to get on top of this is completely disband CASA and raise a new section in the Department of Transport under the direct control of a Minister with a totally brand new staff recruited from NZ/UK/Canada and the USA. I am about to hand in my wings anyway and give it all away. I have had so many near misses with ultra-lights flying contrary to the circuit direction at CTAFs it is only a matter of time before a large aircraft is brought down or even I am brought down probably with a "pilot error" tag stuck on my headstone afterwards. I hope the Senate Estimates are able to work through that properly when it happens.
Could I be forgiven for thinking that the only possible good these Two events represent is the injection of $21,000 into the charter industry?
All we are seeing is a dance between the industry, the parliament and the public service. No one wants the music to stop as it is keeping a lot of people in a job. The status quo is being well and truly maintained while the illusion of progress is made through various inquiries and public consultations. Any major reform of the system will be driven by images of a burnt out shell of a jet airliner with either a Qantas/Virgin/Jetstar/Tiger logo on the remnant of fin. It is only then that the claim of a superior aviation safety system will be shown to be smoke and mirrors.
Those with the power to change things have no interest in change and those with the interest to change things have no power. Tango anyone?
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Great post gcafinal, you're absolutely spot on. How it's come to this is beyond me. It's a National disgrace and embarrassment. Ministers from both sides, one DAS after another, all promising change, all promising to fix things and all delivering nothing but more of the same whilst allowing the situation to continue to deteriorate, throwing good money after bad. I truly despair for where the industry is heading, and more widely the country as a whole.
gcafinal,
Just one correction to your post, you have undershot the salary levels of the CASA persons who front the RRAT by a substantial margin.
Refer the CASA Annual Report, to get at least some idea of senior exec. remuneration.
Otherwise, I agree entirely.
Tootle pip!!
Just one correction to your post, you have undershot the salary levels of the CASA persons who front the RRAT by a substantial margin.
Refer the CASA Annual Report, to get at least some idea of senior exec. remuneration.
Otherwise, I agree entirely.
Tootle pip!!
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Major regulatory reform has been going in this country for literally 20 years with an incredible expenditure applied.
New Zealand and Canada both took five years to re-write and simplify their Civil Aviation Regulations.
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"New Zealand and Canada both took five years to re-write and simplify their Civil Aviation Regulations".
and aren't they paying for that now!!
I mean both countries actually have aviation Industries that are growing!!! absolutely outrageous!! cant have that!! Its even been suggested that aviation is the second biggest contributor to NZ GDP!! That would be tantamount to a National Disaster in Australia people would be on the streets demanding the Guvmint do something!!
and aren't they paying for that now!!
I mean both countries actually have aviation Industries that are growing!!! absolutely outrageous!! cant have that!! Its even been suggested that aviation is the second biggest contributor to NZ GDP!! That would be tantamount to a National Disaster in Australia people would be on the streets demanding the Guvmint do something!!
Regulatory Reform
LeadSled, You are absolutely right. I have spent half the day reading the CASA Annual Report 2013-14 and noted the salary ranges being paid to senior CASA management. I could hardly believe my eyes! Are they paid more than Australian politicians? Who in the Australian Government justifies such outrageous benefits for performance levels that have not in any respect, achieved the required aims in 27 years !! If that had happened in Woodside or BHP, they would have been fired years ago.
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New Zealand and Canada both took five years to re-write and simplify their Civil Aviation Regulations.
Simplification is really complicated.
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Bikkie,
"It's not that simple. Small r or big R regulator? FAA or EASA based? Bit of Canadian. No MOS needed. Need MOS'
Simplification is really complicated".
I don't believe "Simplification" is any more complicated than what we have already complicated into gobbledygook .
Its also obvious what we have is no more safe, in fact some would say less safe than what they have.
Its also Patently obvious that what we have is unsustainable, no industry could survive this sort of onslaught.
So the question should be, does the government want an aviation industry or not?
If the answer is no, then at least have the internal fortitude to say so, then everyone can stop wasting their time, effort and money and find something else to do.
"It's not that simple. Small r or big R regulator? FAA or EASA based? Bit of Canadian. No MOS needed. Need MOS'
Simplification is really complicated".
I don't believe "Simplification" is any more complicated than what we have already complicated into gobbledygook .
Its also obvious what we have is no more safe, in fact some would say less safe than what they have.
Its also Patently obvious that what we have is unsustainable, no industry could survive this sort of onslaught.
So the question should be, does the government want an aviation industry or not?
If the answer is no, then at least have the internal fortitude to say so, then everyone can stop wasting their time, effort and money and find something else to do.
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I've said this before...
I've written this before, but I'll run it up the flagpole one more time for old times sake...
Plenty of people are on here lamenting the state of the industry and the sh&tful regs that no one can understand and the oppressive regime that governs it. Is any one actually doing anything that can change it anything! Real, meaningful change? Just bashing the keyboard for a half hour for the sake of the other equally powerless readers of the forum won't get anything done?!
I got the email about the casa travelling roadshow/forum with head clown Skidmore. Why aren't an organised group signing up for every single one of these, with pointed, direct questions to ask, and keep asking over and over again at every stop he makes? It's not much, but it's something?!
Plenty of people are on here lamenting the state of the industry and the sh&tful regs that no one can understand and the oppressive regime that governs it. Is any one actually doing anything that can change it anything! Real, meaningful change? Just bashing the keyboard for a half hour for the sake of the other equally powerless readers of the forum won't get anything done?!
I got the email about the casa travelling roadshow/forum with head clown Skidmore. Why aren't an organised group signing up for every single one of these, with pointed, direct questions to ask, and keep asking over and over again at every stop he makes? It's not much, but it's something?!
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the casa travelling roadshow/forum with head clown Skidmore. Why aren't an organised group signing up for every single one of these, with pointed, direct questions to ask, and keep asking over and over again at every stop he makes? It's not much, but it's something?!
However, this was tried with the previous director. Pretty sure this was discussed in senate inquiry or estimates or ASRR or all 3. One senator reported on what he observed.
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Surely the same large vocal group at every stop asking exactly the same questions, maybe with a reporter in tow, if nothing else, will give us some value for money in watching them get increasingly uncomfortable and angry/embarrassed.
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http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...n-meeting.html
Take a look at this thread. Page 3 has the account of the angry meeting.
Take a look at this thread. Page 3 has the account of the angry meeting.
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The last cost figure I heard some time ago was around $350 million. I wonder how much that is per word? 
PNG civil aviation regulations were based on the old Australian ANR/CARs. I understand Australia provided the funding for the PNG Government to implement the New Zealand Regulations.
PNG civil aviation regulations were based on the old Australian ANR/CARs. I understand Australia provided the funding for the PNG Government to implement the New Zealand Regulations.
Absolutely correct wheelie, few tething problems with the new PNG regs but industry soon took the pineapple and moved on.
They pretty much cut and pasted the kiwi regs with a few exceptions and implemented them. I even think they keeped the kiwi reg titles and numbering in most cases.
It worked.
Problem in Oz is the government have opted for the strict liability policy, which in my opinion is totally wrong. How does this sync with just culture - it doesn't!
They pretty much cut and pasted the kiwi regs with a few exceptions and implemented them. I even think they keeped the kiwi reg titles and numbering in most cases.
It worked.
Problem in Oz is the government have opted for the strict liability policy, which in my opinion is totally wrong. How does this sync with just culture - it doesn't!
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Regulation?
Ah LeadSled, was it not you who was trying to get a job there a decade ago 
But yes, CASA are incapable of good regulation because they are a loose formation of personal interests, opinions and in a lot of cases vendettas.
I doubt Skidmore is going to be able to make any difference.
And their paylevels, WOW! In the top 1% of any public service body. They argue they are 'specialists'. How many grade ones do you know on $250K a year.
I once flew with a guy up where who told the local FOI
(Best wog accent) "I fly same f#%^g areoplanes over same f%#}^ country in same f+*^## airspace with same stupid f^%#^* airforce controllers in same f*^%#^^ weather for thirty five f%#^*^ years. Only f%%}}^ thing that changes all the time is your f%#}^% regulations. I don't f^%#}% read them and you can f%#^ off"
But yes, CASA are incapable of good regulation because they are a loose formation of personal interests, opinions and in a lot of cases vendettas.
I doubt Skidmore is going to be able to make any difference.
And their paylevels, WOW! In the top 1% of any public service body. They argue they are 'specialists'. How many grade ones do you know on $250K a year.
I once flew with a guy up where who told the local FOI
(Best wog accent) "I fly same f#%^g areoplanes over same f%#}^ country in same f+*^## airspace with same stupid f^%#^* airforce controllers in same f*^%#^^ weather for thirty five f%#^*^ years. Only f%%}}^ thing that changes all the time is your f%#}^% regulations. I don't f^%#}% read them and you can f%#^ off"
So the question should be, does the government want an aviation industry or not?
BTW don't feel so bad that you agree with me as the crazies who are the Mod Squad at the professional agronomists incompetence network have also agreed with me in the past. The head crazy has even plaigerised my posts!
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Leftie, my sincere apologies, as I understand it agronomists are expressly precluded from contributing by the Mod squad.
A question for you however. Are you suggesting because the establishment don't care, we should all give up, accept the inevitable under the regime as it exists and consign general aviation to the dustbin of history, ALA Europe?
What would you suggest the industry should do to ferment change? or is it your opinion that what we have is all okay and requires no change?
A question for you however. Are you suggesting because the establishment don't care, we should all give up, accept the inevitable under the regime as it exists and consign general aviation to the dustbin of history, ALA Europe?
What would you suggest the industry should do to ferment change? or is it your opinion that what we have is all okay and requires no change?