Love'em or Hate'em

[rsandor]

Well, seeing as how I want to continue to fly in the future, I won't be making any suggestions on how to shake down TC...

But if getting a lawyer is futile, then we have some serious problems...

[gonfly'n]

hedley

no disrespect, Maybe I am being naive. transport canada actually does that sort of thing?

[Cat Driver]

Hedley:

Avcanada is not the place to look for logical thinking when it comes to the question of whether or not there is moral corruption in TCCA's upper management.

Most here are kids just starting out in the industry and they can not be expected to question something as all powerful as the regulator.

Even though widow may not have posed the best questions just look at the sheep who are blind to the reality of just how the regulator works..

...fu.k nevermind the kids starting out how about this comment from someone claiming to be a TCCA Inspector.

" (Please understand, I am not being sarcastic here)... when you figure that out, please let me know.

It is really not black and white. "

Many of us here can produce irrefutiable evidence in the form of documentation in legal cases against the regulator where it is evident beyond doubt that wrongdoing and dishonesty is supported and condoned as a policy by TC management up to and including Merlin Preuss.

It is really not black and white?????????????????

WTF ?????????? is it only black and white if one of us in industry are found guilty of wrongdoing....but a blurred neutral color when it involves TC officials???

The whole system makes me ashamed to have been involved in it.

Cat

[Hedley]

transport canada actually does that sort of thing?

You don't have to believe me. As I have repeatedly stated, phone up 4900 Yonge St and tell them you are organizing an airshow in Dildo, Ontario, and you heard about these guys:

http://www.pittspecials.com

who are experienced and qualified airshow pilots, whom you understand fly airshows in the USA, the Caribbean, and Central America, and you'd like them to fly at your airshow in Canada.

Let me know what answer you get

Transport has "banned for life" my airshow team, from ever performing at another airshow in Canada, as a result of their "considerable anger towards me", according to a Transport employee, because of my many expensive years in court battles with them, during which I enjoyed some measure of success.

I don't mind Transport trying to ruin my life - that's just what Transport does. What I do mind is when they try to attack my family members, to try to take a chunk out of me.

What unapologetic scum they are.

[Brewguy]

Interesting, so a snap shot of this poll right now says:

Love TC = 8% (5 of 58 votes)
Hate TC = 20% (12 of 58 votes)
Don't care = 41% (24 of 58 votes)
Shut up = 29% (17 of 58 votes)

So, 58 people took the time to vote, but didn't care enough about the topic to express an opinion beyond that. Only 12% "Hate TC"!
...Based on the number of TC bashing threads on this forum, it sounds like a rather vocal minority to me.

In my previous life, as Ops Manager at an FTU, a small 702/703 operator, and also running an airshow - I have to say I've never had anything but a very positive working relationship with TC. Apart from the occasional (and always relatively minor) difference of opinion with an inspector - usually spiraling out of a vaguely worded section of CARs - I've usually enjoyed my interactions with these people. My inspectors were all people that I actually liked! Every difference of opinion I had with them was easily settled by sitting and talking with them.

As has already been said by many people here - TC is a large organization like any other, and I'm sure there are a few 'bad apples' out there; but I personally haven't found them. I'm sure that the opportunity for the occasional abuse of power exists ... but the same goes for any government agency.

Overall, I think things could be better; however they could be much, much worse too. As a logistics professional, I've yet to encounter a "perfect" organization (with no room for improvement). If anyone knows of such an organization, please do tell us how they do it.

Edit:
Hedley & Cat, my above comments are not specific to your cases.

Cat, I'm aware of your story and do believe that you were screwed ... I lump that under the "opportunity for the occasional abuse of power" category. If you feel it's more systemic than that, well you are of course fully entitled to that opinion. You may very well be right, but as I have not experienced what you have (and hope I never do) I just don't know. I guess you can say the 'jury is still out' for me. My hope is that, while it has not been officially nor publicly stated, maybe something has changed internally at TC to prevent a recurrence of exactly what happened to you. Time will tell if that opinion changes, but for now you'll have to call me an optimist (or an idiot - your choice)!

Hedley, I'm not familiar with your story, and so can't comment. Again, you may very well be right - I don't know.

[Hedley]

Neil - make the call to Lindsay. Get back to us on what he says about us performing at your airshow.

[Say Altitude]

Hedley:

Avcanada is not the place to look for logical thinking when it comes to the question of whether or not there is moral corruption in TCCA's upper management.

Most here are kids just starting out in the industry and they can not be expected to question something as all powerful as the regulator.

Even though widow may not have posed the best questions just look at the sheep who are blind to the reality of just how the regulator works..

...fu.k nevermind the kids starting out how about this comment from someone claiming to be a TCCA Inspector.

" (Please understand, I am not being sarcastic here)... when you figure that out, please let me know.

It is really not black and white. "

Many of us here can produce irrefutiable evidence in the form of documentation in legal cases against the regulator where it is evident beyond doubt that wrongdoing and dishonesty is supported and condoned as a policy by TC management up to and including Merlin Preuss.

It is really not black and white?????????????????

WTF ?????????? is it only black and white if one of us in industry are found guilty of wrongdoing....but a blurred neutral color when it involves TC officials???

The whole system makes me ashamed to have been involved in it.

Cat

Cat,

Well if you have all this "irrefutible" proof of corruption, incompetence, and general mis-managment, why don't you get Widow to hook you up with her contacts at Global TV and get them to do an expose?? If it's as bad as you always say it is, then they will run with it and really show the general public what you're talking about......

[Brewguy]

Neil - make the call to Lindsay. Get back to us on what he says about us performing at your airshow.

Perhaps I will ...
On the other hand, I maintain my good working relationship by not 'rocking the boat'. I'll leave it to my air boss to decide if its a good idea to bring up the subject. If I do, I'll certainly let you know what is said.

[CD]

And even if you win in court, and the matter is "referred" back to the Minister for "re-consideration", good luck - I've beat Transport in court and Transport just ignored the "re-consideration".

I think that I asked this before but were these the cases you mentioned?

CAT File No. O-2418-71
CAT File No. O-2468-02

The reason I ask is that the last entry in the file, in December 2004, seems to indicate that another appeal may be underway - I just can't figure out who is appealing... (well, other than the young lady in the photo from desksgo )

I love this little tidbit:

This application for judicial review involves the interpretation and application of the Canadian Aviation Regulations, SOR/196-433 ("CARS"), a regulation that at times makes the Income Tax Regulations, C.R.C., c. 945 appear to be elegant prose.

[Brewguy]

...why don't you get Widow to hook you up with her contacts at Global TV and get them to do an expose?? If it's as bad as you always say it is, then they will run with it and really show the general public what you're talking about...

Didn't we have some form of a reporter / journalist on here about a year ago ... looking for the 'inside scoop' into the industry & regulations, etc. Does anyone else remember that? Anyone know if (s)he got anywhere with it?

Edit: I think THIS is the thread I was thinking of... not sure.

[Cat Driver]

" Cat,

Well if you have all this "irrefutible" proof of corruption, incompetence, and general mis-managment, why don't you get Widow to hook you up with her contacts at Global TV and get them to do an expose?? If it's as bad as you always say it is, then they will run with it and really show the general public what you're talking about...... "

Say Altitude.

Widow and I are in very close contact in these matters.

What you have to understand is our problems with the regulator are very different.

My problems with the regulator were on the administrative side and involved an application for a FTU OC, it became a problem when a TC Inspector acted in a manner that was unacceptable and when I asked his superior to intervene and solve it he refused and things went downhill from that point.

Two and a half years later TC's own internal investigations ( plural ) found that all my allegations were in fact true.

The findings were that several top TC management people had denied me due process....in otherwords instead of abiding by the law and protecting my rights under law they broke the law.

To make this simple here is the bottom line.

Dave Nowzek the RDCA Pacific Region was found to have acted in a manner inappropriate and dishonest in covering for his underlings and denying me my legal rights under law.

Merlin Preuss sent me a letter that point blank said he not only condones dishonesty, he supports it....

Even after TC's own investigation upheld my complaints and ruled against TCCA, Merlin Preuss has yet to change his stand.

So there you go, the DGCA sees nothing wrong with a Regional Director Civil Aviation abusing the power of his office and being dishonest.

If you do not believe this then please explain to me why Merlin Preuss will not respond to these allegations?

He knows where to find me.

. .

[TopperHarley]

I hated TC when they sent me letters threatening to violate me for low-flying complaints (at the time I was working as an aerial photography pilot). But then I loved them when they decided not to violate me

[Widow]

Didn't we have some form of a reporter / journalist on here about a year ago ... looking for the 'inside scoop' into the industry & regulations, etc. Does anyone else remember that? Anyone know if (s)he got anywhere with it?

She was part Collision Course, a seven-month probe by The Hamilton Spectator, Toronto Star and The Record of Waterloo Region. Near misses. Harrowing emergencies. Hundreds of mistakes by the people who are supposed to keep us safe. A look inside Canada's airline industry. What you don't know about air safety will amaze you.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp ... 9242525369

[mayfleur]

Harrowing emergencies. Hundreds of mistakes by the people who are supposed to keep us safe. A look inside Canada's airline industry. What you don't know about air safety will amaze you.
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp ... 9242525369

"8. Icing [in Canada]: On wing or other part of plane. [happens on average] Once every 3 weeks"

Uh huh.

I drove to the airport today. Saw an s.u.v almost take out a car because he didn't shoulder check. Stopped at a red light. The truck beside me tried to but went all the way through because it was to icy and he couldn't stop. Was late because the driver in front of me was talking on his cell and not concentrating on driving. Slowed everyone down.
3 close calls on a 5 minute drive to the airport.
Because flying is more glamourous (at least I think so!) it gets a bad rap... How about writing about how many hours people spend studying the machines, practicing emergency procedures, etc. How about mentioning that the pilot - doesn't matter how many hours he/she has - gets a currency check knowing that if they don't pass that could end there job. This stuff is stressful but no credit is given.

Sorry about the rant but that article really bugged me!

[The Dark Side]

Widow,

Just thinking if you want to try something for validation of your poll try comparing apples to apples (albeit Granny Smith to Macintosh - definate difference but same idea).

I would be interested to see how people rate police officers, especially traffic cops and the front liners who have to give tickets and enforce the rules daily, and how this compares to the TC poll? Given that both lines of work are the enforcement of the rules and the conduct of people within guidelines it would be interesting to see if there are any similarities.

TDS

[Vickers vanguard]

And guys like TC Guy have been pretty helpful to some of us on the forum.

....I second that !

[Widow]

Widow,

Just thinking if you want to try something for validation of your poll try comparing apples to apples (albeit Granny Smith to Macintosh - definate difference but same idea).

I would be interested to see how people rate police officers, especially traffic cops and the front liners who have to give tickets and enforce the rules daily, and how this compares to the TC poll? Given that both lines of work are the enforcement of the rules and the conduct of people within guidelines it would be interesting to see if there are any similarities.

TDS

Yes, we do see lots of corruption and abuse of power in the police force.

[86583]

to quote Cat, contempt is my phrase of choice, to many stories and to many situations to bore people with here.....as best I can see the legal bill to take them on now is pushing the 500K mark with no chance of sucess...thanks to the CARS....lots of places for the slime to hide..what baffles me is why the media doesn't take them to task, god knows they've had enough input and they don't understand a friggin thing about aviation which is usually the media cue to do a story, i.e. the less you know the more garbage you write......Cat do you think TCAA refers to the term "postal" in their manuals for inspectors and do they adequetly explain it's true meaning to them....

[Cat Driver]

" Cat do you think TCAA refers to the term "postal" in their manuals for inspectors and do they adequetly explain it's true meaning to them...."

86583, from my experience with them they don't understand how to wave by by, let alone CAR's. I was stunned at the level of ignorance they displayed when I was in meetings with them with my lawyer, the lawyer told me point blank to go it on my own because he could not really do anything for me, he got tired of quoting the law to them to back up our position....they just don't care about law because they think they are above it.

.....but you already know that, I often wish we could go back to the start and do it different....be lawless like them.

Best way to go postal with one is kick e'm in the nuts.

I bet you are discouraged at the ignorance of the aviation community about how things are done in the back rooms of TC.

Cat

[Say Altitude]

Cat,

If the Global thing doesn't work out, why not try the Liberal or NDP (or both) Transportation Critic? Or Sheila Fraser! Even better....

[Cat Driver]

Say Altitude:

I have been through most channels, including the media.

For the media to get interested it has to be news worthy, common dishonesty and brutalizing a small operator such as me does not meet the level of news, its just expected of them.

The country has lost its compass, people are so busy just trying to survive no one has the time or energy left to do anything.

However the internet is starting a ground swell of revulsion against these corrupt civil servants and slowly we are making headway.

Here on Avcanada we have several beavering away trying to expose the underbelly of the beast.....the latest is 86583, and I am not suprised.

So don't lose hope, I may prevail yet with my documentation and get Preuss examined in the house of commons.

The RCMP had their day at it, now for TCCA.

[mcrit]

Cat / Hedley / Widow:
For the sake of argument I will agree that you have legitimate grievances with TC. If you really want to win find another avenue of attack. Go to the media. The scent of government corruption is bound to tweak some reporters nose sooner or later. In fact, I'll give you a hand with this. I've got a friend who is a PR professional (He sometimes reads this forum so I hope he won't get offended by me saying this). He is out in your neck of the woods there Cat, so if you are interested I'll see if he'd be willing to give you some advice about a co-ordinated action to bring these egregious actions to the public eye. That is, if you are interested in winning and changing the system. If on the other hand, all you want to do is vent, carry on as you were. It might make you feel better, but in the end, its just noise.

[Cat Driver]

mcrit, I would give both my nuts to clean out the cess pool in Tower C.

So far I have put all my savings and most of my emotional energy into this.

The problem is so big and the consequences for the regulator is mindboggling if a true examination can be forced. When the Director General came to my home we really had at it and I sensed a subliminal level of fear in the prick when he saw what I really had on them.....but they can stonewall forever with our money.

There are many like me but most can not afford to go public because of the fact if they lose they lose everything.

Anyhow we are slowly getting a group together out here that just may slay the dragon.

When I lost all my savings several years ago I had to leave Canada to get enough money just to survive, but now I am finished with overseas work and am recharging my batteries to maybe find a way to clean up the cess pool that is Tower C.

PS:

86583 can maybe confirm that I will not lie down and quit, and he also knows my background.

Cat

[86583]

should be back from south america in march..when ever your ready .

[Cat Driver]

Do I have to sacrifice my nuts 86583.

Are you going to stay at the Hotel Carrara in Santiago?

If you see any of my kids tell e'm Dad said hi.