Capt Caspar - the "friendly ghost"? or more like "Sad Sack"?

quite likely not at all like Gareth - an "incorrigible optimist".


Cheer up, he said , things could be worse. So I cheered up - and sure enough they got worse.

Casper, I agree about the legislation. I was looking up the numerous instruments, orders, regulations, legislation and shiny brochures the other day and it would need a full time two week Air Law course for a new CPL with no legal training to deal with it.
Why ? Look at CASA's purpose - to protect CASA and nothing else.

Also, why no this or that ? That part is not CASA's fault, its because there is NO MONEY IN GA other than that made by the engineers and (some) turbine operators with short term contracts. And where does any GA-sourced money go ? Answer: to higher performing investments outside GA, thats where.

Reducing stuff ups in general ? That comes down to the operator as the second last line of defence in the system, and the individual pilot doing ongoing self education as the last line.

So if young Hop Harrigan wants (and really wants) to learn to fly , shows some aptitude , has voluntarily read up on the subject, both technically and historically, can afford the training and can commit to the discipline of potentially a lifetime's self-education, then fling wide the doors and welcome him in. But there is a proviso. No candidate should pass through those portals who has not been thoroughly and rigorously assessed as suitable. Said assessment panel should be elected by all in the industry (current or retired) who indicate that they would like a say.

Were I asked to nominate five people who might accept an invitation to be nominated to act in the suggested role, that would be a hard one. I do know personally three who would be eminently suitable, due to their long involvement in civil aviation in various roles, and who have consistently shown themselves to have little or no bias, but see the failings of the system clearly, at all levels of inefficiency and malpractice.The ones I have in mind could be described as intelligent , modest, self-effacing even, witty, disarmingly truthful always, and extremely thorough in all they undertake. Whats more, they have in common a vested interest and concern for what kind of a world and society their offspring will live in.

FAR good idea but there is enough in the Fair Work Act and Consumer legislation to render that idea unworkable.
Laws wots there to protect us, after all. In the end only CASA can save us.

Ooh! Wash your mouth out else CASA will be on to you.
By "Airmanship" you mean redefining NTS1.1, NTS 1.2, right through to the mysteries of NTS 2.1, NTS2.2 including Range of Variables and not forgetting the dreaded Underpinning Knowledge and Task Management. Why use one word when you can use dozens for the same meaning?

Shep, at least CASA is setting a standard of some sort there, which is commendable. If you want some psychedelic surrealism, check out the CASA Surveillance Manual. They're supposed to feel the vibe.