Just been perusing the Dick Smith Flyer site - http://www.dicksmithflyer.com.au/. He sure cops a lot of flack for standing up for his beliefs. Right or wrong at least he is having a go...
the dark side has a few posts. http://www.the dark side.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=c97e2a1539582aec706a7486a25c0af4&forumid=90. Even people who stand up for some of dicks ideas get flack.
Can anyone tell I am trying to stir up trouble here? Come on, let me have it!
Airspace - Safe or unsafe skies?
- helothere
- Sensei
- Posts: 1089
- Joined: Sep 2005
- gadget
- Gold Wings
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Mar 2006
the crusade
Dick is obviously a very sharp bloke, he has many good character traits; he's certainly no dummy, very business savvy & he is vehemently patriotic.
Perhaps one of his short comings is his passion is often misinterpreted, he seems to continuously get (some certain areas of) professional/commercial pilots noses out of joint, but I haven't followed the history of it all closely enough to comment on why.
Having read the most recent article about him, it is probably due to many of the changes that he had instigated only being half implimented & therefore of no benefit to the industry, or not implimented at all or backed out.
Again I am no expert on the subject so cannot make too adamant a stance.
I think the guys heart is in the right place, & whilst his ideas are often & continuously argued from both sides of the fence, it is hard for him to get the message across without some visible support from those areas of the industry that do support some/most/all of his ideas, rather than it just seeming to be 'Dicks Airspace' (the term I heard it called).
Is there a organised group or coallition of groups that can act as a representative to CASA in representation of all professional pilots to push forward or oppose any planned changes that are viewed as detrimental to the industry & not seemingly to purely to benefit the governing bodies .
HAA comes to mind for us, what about the planks & so on, (not forgetting) the rec flyers...?
There are plenty of fliers & operators with gripes about CASA, there are always articles in several publications, some of which, absolutely vilify some of CASA's current regs, processes, or charges. But beyond being able to send a whinge-mail either snail-mail or e-mail...what other avenues do we as a entity have.
As the article stated, because of his profile & his former association with CASA, he is often the first port of call for media when there is an aviation incident & is often only partially quoted or misquoted which just leads to more personal attacks.
I'd still buy the bloke a beer.
Perhaps one of his short comings is his passion is often misinterpreted, he seems to continuously get (some certain areas of) professional/commercial pilots noses out of joint, but I haven't followed the history of it all closely enough to comment on why.
Having read the most recent article about him, it is probably due to many of the changes that he had instigated only being half implimented & therefore of no benefit to the industry, or not implimented at all or backed out.
Again I am no expert on the subject so cannot make too adamant a stance.
I think the guys heart is in the right place, & whilst his ideas are often & continuously argued from both sides of the fence, it is hard for him to get the message across without some visible support from those areas of the industry that do support some/most/all of his ideas, rather than it just seeming to be 'Dicks Airspace' (the term I heard it called).
Is there a organised group or coallition of groups that can act as a representative to CASA in representation of all professional pilots to push forward or oppose any planned changes that are viewed as detrimental to the industry & not seemingly to purely to benefit the governing bodies .
HAA comes to mind for us, what about the planks & so on, (not forgetting) the rec flyers...?
There are plenty of fliers & operators with gripes about CASA, there are always articles in several publications, some of which, absolutely vilify some of CASA's current regs, processes, or charges. But beyond being able to send a whinge-mail either snail-mail or e-mail...what other avenues do we as a entity have.
As the article stated, because of his profile & his former association with CASA, he is often the first port of call for media when there is an aviation incident & is often only partially quoted or misquoted which just leads to more personal attacks.
I'd still buy the bloke a beer.
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- Silver Wings
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mar 2006
- chopperman
- Silver Wings
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mar 2006
- gadget
- Gold Wings
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Mar 2006
no idea
commercial company yes - he is a multi-millionaire (must be a complete putz)
aviation - lets not forget his well known 'round the world trips (pretty sure he can add too)
commercial aviation - probably not, but then would not owning/running a commercial aviation operation have been a conflict of interest for him whilst he chaired the authority?
but are you inferring his commercial expertise & his aviation experience are not compatible & that anyone who has run a successful business but not run an aviation operation could not invest into then run an operation & with suitable operational people (CP, Ops Mgr.) etc successfully?
if I had his money I'd certainly buy & self fly the machine of my chosing.
as I understand it he has had several & has settled with the ones of his preference & bugger the commercial work, just fly when where & if I wanted.
The guy has earned is money through successful business, he now runs a less successful business, because he ensures the resources & profits remain in our borders, giving a little bit more (than most) back to the country that has helped him succeed. He persists in doing more than is asked him & giving something back, a trait you see less & less of these days.
I'm pretty certain his primary concern is for the safety of all aviators, professional & not. He is obviously very close to aviation otherwise he wouldn't care, & I'm sure the last thing on his mind is the detriment of any operators within the industry.
He has made several statements as to the exorbitant operating costs withing Australia, perhaps another reason why he doesn't ahve his own commercial operation, he didn't get rich by throwing money away
how's the saying go?
"the best way to make a million $ in aviation is start with 5"
he obviously has raised some issues that many other are in agreement with, can we not focus on the positive & look at the items of contention & disect them rationally in a deliberated manner, rather than simply attacking the guy personally.
much more can be achieved through collateral action, than when 1 man stands up alone, particularly when he is a tall poppy in this case, whilst cold & timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat, sit at the sidelines & openly chastise him for even trying, but are too meek to also make their voice heard when they actually concur to any point he has made.
there are obviously issues with the current CASA & National Airspace system, but rather than pissing & moaning about it, has anyone else picked up the gauntlet?
unite & fight, or sit on your hands - your choice
aviation - lets not forget his well known 'round the world trips (pretty sure he can add too)
commercial aviation - probably not, but then would not owning/running a commercial aviation operation have been a conflict of interest for him whilst he chaired the authority?
but are you inferring his commercial expertise & his aviation experience are not compatible & that anyone who has run a successful business but not run an aviation operation could not invest into then run an operation & with suitable operational people (CP, Ops Mgr.) etc successfully?
if I had his money I'd certainly buy & self fly the machine of my chosing.
as I understand it he has had several & has settled with the ones of his preference & bugger the commercial work, just fly when where & if I wanted.
The guy has earned is money through successful business, he now runs a less successful business, because he ensures the resources & profits remain in our borders, giving a little bit more (than most) back to the country that has helped him succeed. He persists in doing more than is asked him & giving something back, a trait you see less & less of these days.
I'm pretty certain his primary concern is for the safety of all aviators, professional & not. He is obviously very close to aviation otherwise he wouldn't care, & I'm sure the last thing on his mind is the detriment of any operators within the industry.
He has made several statements as to the exorbitant operating costs withing Australia, perhaps another reason why he doesn't ahve his own commercial operation, he didn't get rich by throwing money away
how's the saying go?
"the best way to make a million $ in aviation is start with 5"
he obviously has raised some issues that many other are in agreement with, can we not focus on the positive & look at the items of contention & disect them rationally in a deliberated manner, rather than simply attacking the guy personally.
much more can be achieved through collateral action, than when 1 man stands up alone, particularly when he is a tall poppy in this case, whilst cold & timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat, sit at the sidelines & openly chastise him for even trying, but are too meek to also make their voice heard when they actually concur to any point he has made.
there are obviously issues with the current CASA & National Airspace system, but rather than pissing & moaning about it, has anyone else picked up the gauntlet?
unite & fight, or sit on your hands - your choice
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- Silver Wings
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mar 2006
For starters my last post was a question not a statement.
To chopperman the difference i suggest is that this would have a lot to do with the way he is percieved in the comercial aviation comunity ie where he cops most of his critisism from. Add this too his business success in other areas and he becomes the classic tall poppy.
And Gadget Just because someone is a brilliant basketballer it doesn't mean they can play base ball. re Michael Jordan. Fair enough your comment on conflict of interest but i wouldn't have voted for him as boss of casa if he hadn't dealt with them as a commercial entity. Just so he would have a better understanding of some of the direct problems the industry faces.
Full kudo's to him for keeping his company 'Australian' when he obviously could be making bucket loads with off shore investors. For that i take my hat off to him. And good luck to him for having his own machine, isn't that every pilots dream.
I do however find it interesting that he hasn't got his own Aviation based company, given his obvious passion for all things aviation. Can anyone confirm this?
Cheers ID
To chopperman the difference i suggest is that this would have a lot to do with the way he is percieved in the comercial aviation comunity ie where he cops most of his critisism from. Add this too his business success in other areas and he becomes the classic tall poppy.
And Gadget Just because someone is a brilliant basketballer it doesn't mean they can play base ball. re Michael Jordan. Fair enough your comment on conflict of interest but i wouldn't have voted for him as boss of casa if he hadn't dealt with them as a commercial entity. Just so he would have a better understanding of some of the direct problems the industry faces.
Full kudo's to him for keeping his company 'Australian' when he obviously could be making bucket loads with off shore investors. For that i take my hat off to him. And good luck to him for having his own machine, isn't that every pilots dream.
I do however find it interesting that he hasn't got his own Aviation based company, given his obvious passion for all things aviation. Can anyone confirm this?
Cheers ID
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