Terry,
Very well said.
There is little else that needs saying here, other than there seems to be a
certain degree of paranoia apparent in the comments you have gathered together
and so nicely laid out below. I had intended to totally ignore them when they
first appeared, but let me now make comment. The trace from the glider logger
is not "missing". Let me spell it out: To the best of anyone's knowledge,
THERE WAS NO TRACE! and as to WHO downloaded the flarm, I can say it was not
Aladdin, and neither was it the "fairies at the bottom of the garden".
Tim Shirley in an earlier post seemed to think that having the trace would not
have contributed much to the investigation, and I agree. For the record, the
log from the tug (it too was fitted with a flarm), IS available, and has been
downloaded. I have not seen this trace, but I gather Tim's comment applies -
apparently it does not contribute much.
Regards,
Gary
----- Original Message -----
From: Terry Neumann
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 6:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] GFA Site/accident
I have had concerns with the GFA being involved in investigations, it
being both a regulator/standard setter and a quasi fraternal association.
Conflict of interest? Position to protect? That is why I asked.
For myself I would hope that the tenor of any involvement by the GFA
would be covered by the media euphemism ".........police are being assisted in
their enquiries" and no higher.
The reason the ATSB investigates aviation accidents is that it was felt
that CASA or its predecessor couldn't impartially investigate as their own
procedures and rules may have been a factor..
For this reason GFA shouldn't be investigating or "helping police with
their enquiries".
Now about that missing trace - *who* exactly tried retrieving it?
See the problem?
With the greatest of respect I do not share these concerns - at least in the
volunteer sector. Your experiences may be different of course, and I respect
that. Yes, one might suggest that there could be a conflict of interest in
any club or GFA report or investigation of an accident, but either possibility
rests very uncomfortably with my experience of gliding over nearly 46 years,
and my perceptions regarding of the integrity of people who find their way to
positions of experience and trust which could involve them dealing with the
factual investigation and reporting of tragedies involving injury or death of
their friends and fellow enthusiasts.
Having been a GFA animal in an earlier lifetime, and in a role which intruded
into this area, I saw nothing at any time which suggested that 'conflict of
interest' was ever a consideration or factor in the analysis and discussion of
those mishaps which sadly, we sometimes had to deal with. I have no reason to
believe that it would be otherwise today.
For mine, I would far sooner have people who know and understand gliding in
particular and aviation in general investigating and reporting upon an
accident, than have to wait for a police report which will almost certainly
never be published, or a coroner's inquest some years later conducted by people
for whom this may have been their first contact with the sport. Some of us
already know from past experience the problems that this can cause.
Finally I must say that I appreciate how difficult it is for Gary and others
in his club in this situation. It is the most dreadful experience to suddenly
be confronted with the reality that the sport we love so much and derive so
much pleasure from can also dump us in the unthinkable tragedy we are now
working through. Thank you Gary for what you have shared so far. I'm sure
that everyone has enormous sympathy and empathy with you and your club members.
A tragedy like this touches and moves us all.
regards,
Terry N
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Aus-soaring mailing list
[email protected]
To check or change subscription details, visit:
http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring_______________________________________________
Aus-soaring mailing list
[email protected]
To check or change subscription details, visit:
http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
