Did he eat the "roll"... was that what the sh-t was in..?

Australia has NEVER been a smart country. There was a period of time (a decade and a half or so) when the reform agenda looked promising. But there it stalled. Australians think that a law, rule or regulation will fix a problem. It's gone from that to a nanny state where people are unable to think for themselves without a rulebook telling them what to do.

There are quite a few smart, accomplished individuals here, invariably they move o/s, their product or IP gets recognised and snapped up.

Australia, a dumb as dog****, 3rd rate nation, masquerading as a '1st world country'

Porter,

Have you ever lived outside Australia? You may pick on Australias faults but until you live somewhere else you will get the feel for how advanced we are in many ways.

I agree we are drowning in regulation and Nanny Statism but its nowhere near as bad as some places I have lived.

Climb150. It would be a fallacious argument to compare Australian aviation regulation to "some places you may have lived". I too have lived in countries where the civil aviation legislation is outdated, draconian and corrupt.

Australia is a first world democracy. I feel justified in expecting better than third world legislation. Thirty one years and well in excess of half a Billion Dollars for the atrocious half finished mess that is Australia's Civil Aviation Regulations is appalling. I've watched DCA/CAA/CASA destroy our Australian aviation manufacturing industry and our General Aviation industry. The systematic destruction of our aviation training industry has resulted in millions of dollars in lost export income for Australia.

And the latest example - the media are asking why Australia does not buy it's own large firefighting aircraft? I know why - can you imagine the cost and frustration for an Australian operator to convert and operate ex airline fire fighting aircraft in Australia, on Australian aircraft registration? Only an extreme masochist would even think of trying.

Australia deserves and expects a far more professional aviation regulator than what we have.

Oh so we are talking about world standards in aviation regulations? That wasnt what porter said. He was just running of about us not being a smart country.

Now that everyone has finished running me down continue with CASA bashing. That I totally agree with.

G'day Climb, yes I have. And I'm about to leave again for a 3 year stint. (I'm not running you down by the way!) Australia exists on luck, lucky that the ground is full of ore, gold, bauxite etc. If you compare Australia to any country that has natural resources you will mostly find sovereign wealth funds, what does Australia do? Pisses it up against the wall on useless, out of date infrastructure. Like a rich kid with a trust fund.

I have broadband internet at my hangar, a couple of nights ago I was getting 1.5 megabits per second.

I drive to Point Cook to do a bit of work, I reckon the population out that way would have to be what? 70, 80k? The road I take in is 2 lane to the roundabout, then narrows to one lane in and out. FFS, people living there working in the city spend 40 mins getting out of the suburb, then 20 to the city.

I've been doing some work at a large regional airport, well, a lot of work actually, but that organisation is about to shut down due to a few factors, too many to go into here, but due mainly to the Australian way of doing things. If you work in aviation in this country, GA in particular, you'll see death by a thousand cuts. The other sectors I'm not in a position to comment. RAAus is thriving, mainly due to the ease of 'doing things.' Any pilot who works in both sectors knows exactly why. But an RPC won't get a job at any airline. Great pathway in but then.........

The country I'm moving to verified my licence in days, at a cost of $0. CASA charged me $25 for a licence re-print and $50 for the verification letter. Ring 131 757 any day of the week and ask to speak to an FOI, good luck with that! It is virtually impossible to speak, even briefly, to one. Good luck in your Part 61 interpretations, but get one of those interpretations wrong........Then read the FAA Part 61.

An Australian Prime Minister boasted about her first term, 1200 new pieces of legislation in her first 12 months, personally I find that a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. I would be looking at a PM repealing legislation in this country as a success. (The number quoted is not exact but whereabouts).

It goes on mate, on and on. I'm not stupid enough to think any country is utopia, but for the resources this country has, both human and natural wealth, it's an embarrassment. $120k on FEE-HELP to get a CPL & IR, spare me please. Why any kid is paying $30k upwards for a degree?? Why anyone is walking around with a mouthful of rotten teeth because dental is 'cosmetic'??

Pretty average I reckon.

You are witnessing the final throes of a dying industry
 

The fact it can't even get around without the flag of another country on ours or can't bring itself to display the confidence to have it's own head of state also is an indicator of how insular and self-congratulatory we are...

To respond to Duck Pilot, Mark Skidmore told me that he was leaving CASA because he was sick of "banging his head against a brick wall".
In his case that would have be the Department, acting on behalf of the Minister, because he otherwise controlled the CASA agenda.
Regardless of press releases, the Department is mortified about change, they need the status quo so that the Minister can never be blamed if something goes wrong.
When something does go wrong, as with Angel Flight, then the response must be more regulation, regardless of whether it actually addresses the problem. the Minister is then seen to have acted and all is now well again.
Well done Minister!

It is satisfying to have Aunty Pru re-quote me in her blog however she claims that I failed to mention the "Standard response – but our correspondent fails to mention the vehemence with which a ‘complainant’ will be dealt with. CASA have and still do pursue ‘personal grudges’ and the CASA line to a point which can, seriously damage reputation, earning ability and even a career."
I did that because it would have moved the focus from Glenn to myself, my issues are not the problem and never will be in my posts. Having said that I agree with Aunties summation of the CASA view about "messengers" - "will be shot on sight" - to quote an old table of corporate culture. Personalities, cliques, favourites, in-crowds, old boys clubs, they are allowed to operate unchecked, to become part of one is the average employees dream. Therein lies a long career, plenty of overseas junkets, lots of time to contemplate life and eventually a rich retirement. The Aviation Industry - outside of Defence, the major airlines, and essential vote winners such as the RFDS, is just a nuisance.
To quote my executive manager when I first joined CASA - "I want to know about something if it affects a politician, will get in the media, or concerns Sydney Airport" deal with everything else yourselves!

On Page 5 of todays Australian perhaps an illustration of a possible solution to the turbidness of our political process and a lesson for our industry on how to give the political class and via them the bureaucrats that torment us a very bloody nose.

The headline:

"Irrigator taps into torrent of anger on water theft"

The story centres around a Guy called Chris Brooks, a farmer a tad pissed off with the way the bureaucrats screwed up water management. Just a simple irrigation farmer who tapped into the powerful emotions around water, or lack of it, gripping rural communities in the region and in less than twelve months went from simple farmer to the most influential political activist outside the capital cities. With less than 1800 followers he has managed to put the fear of god into the political class and the bureaucrats by Organised rallies, simple messages, and the threat, that mess with us and direct action will follow, which has been very successful in recent NSW elections, along with class actions in the courts if necessary.

General aviation is small, and growing smaller everyday, thanks to the corrupt self serving bureaucrats, the irrigation farmers are equally small but together are showing the way.

Chris Brooks is a beacon of light into our dark world and shows us what can be achieved, if we can put our ego's away and unite with one voice. If we don't we are condemned to never ending purgatory of CAsA's regulatory miasma.

Some interesting thoughts, I don't believe the priorities in Australia are not conducive for the betterment or sustained growth of any industry unfortunately. Most Australian's seem to still be drinking the Kool-aid and hold the property market as the pinnacle of smart investing above all else. I mean it is fair enough, it's made some pretty average people multi millionaires for doing nothing more than just being right place right time. There is no real incentive to push the boundaries in other areas when you can sit back and watch the investment grow whilst also claiming tax incentives.

Would a pro-longed recession and the collapse of the status quo be what is needed for a fresh take on the countries future?

"Chris Brooks is a beacon of light into our dark world and shows us what can be achieved" - does that include finding some more water from somewhere/anywhere?

IIRC he is complaining because the agreement he gets his water under isn't delivering - and that's what was likely as he was paying less than those who get a guaranteed supply...........

I think you missed my point Asturias, I know very little about the politics of water
except to add a little to a single malt.

What I was hoping to highlight was how successful Chris has been at galvanising a
relatively small group into a cohesive force that has impacted on the bureaucrats and
the pollies.

This thread is about Glen and the unconscionable behaviour of CASA towards him. Glens dilemma
is a David and Goliath confrontation, but if the industry stopped focusing on their own
narrow self interests and truely organised into political activism then the branding by CASA
of anyone who objects to their self interest as "nutters" not worthy of paying lip service to
might just go away.

Update- letter to CASA Board Chair. Sent today
 

Dear Mr Mathews,



I am writing to you in your role as the Chairperson of the CASA Board.



I have included other recipients in this email, including a number not disclosed by way of bcc.



The purpose of this correspondence is to initiate a process of measurable and demonstrable improvements to aviation safety throughout the General Aviation (GA) sector in Australia. The GA sector includes all operations in Australia with the exception of airline flying.



As these are matters of aviation safety, it is essential that change is effected promptly, and I will commence this important process within 72 hours.



I will do this initially by way of an industry wide petition, with myself as the lead signatory. That will be submitted to Parliament, and I will call on the support of the Office of Ms Catherine King, the Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development. The petition will only be submitted on the attainment of 50,000 signatures. My objective will be to achieve that in 50 days from activation. I anticipate on being able to draw on significant industry support.



Drawing on 25 years in the General Aviation sector, as a small business owner, and as a CASA approved Head of Operations and CEO, I consider myself a subject matter expert (SME) on aviation safety matters within the General Aviation Sector.



I am fully satisfied that the organisational culture within CASA is not “fit for purpose”, and in fact:



Compromises aviation safety

Costs jobs, and particularly in rural areas.

Acts as a disincentive for Australian owned businesses.



In initiating this process, it is important that I do not damage the reputation of the majority of well intentioned and professional personnel within CASA, and I will address this comprehensively in my wider release.



In order to initiate significant safety improvements within that organisation it does not require an expensive program of change. It requires the replacement of a small number of CASA personnel. Due to the wider circulation of this email, I will not name them here, although they are referred to as the “iron ring” by the wider GA Industry. The change required is a cultural change only.



Whilst I have no doubt that you are a person of exceptional qualities, I must be very clear.



As the Chair of the Board of CASA, you are the accountable person for “ensuring that CASA performs its functions in a proper, efficient, and effective manner”.



From my own personal experience, and on behalf of the wider GA industry. CASA clearly does not perform its functions in a Proper, or Efficient, or Effective manner.



The Australian public has an increasing expectation of Board governance, and rightfully so.



It is also a reasonable expectation that the Board of a Government department operating under the Australian Coat of Arms, should demonstrate exceptional qualities, above what could be expected in the corporate sector. There has been a significant failure, and I make that statement drawing on my own personal experience.



Respectfully, Glen Buckley 0418772013.



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