ASIC: Plane silly
THE Federal Government’s compulsory Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) system for commercial and private pilots flying into security-controlled airports is creating ongoing headaches for the aviation industry.
Thousands of pilots are scrambling to apply for the cards while pilots who have already applied are still waiting to receive their identification.
Whether they have received their ASIC cards or not, pilots remain confused as to why they need the cards, especially as many airports regarded by the government as ‘security-controlled’ are small, unfenced airstrips in remote regions.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) president Ron Bertram is furious about the Department of Regional Department of Transport and Regional Services’ (DOTARS) new security measures and condemns the government’s bad planning.
“The government deserves to be crucified for these new laws which only make security weaker,” Mr Bertram said.
“It’s a gross misuse of taxpayer’s money for a fear that isn’t there.
“Even the United States government which experienced 9/11 has classed the aviation industry as a low-risk to security.”Mr Bertram said DOTARS did not consult with industry about the new laws and did not put any plan in place about the ASIC cards until October last year.
“The result was mass confusion and a set of rules that are ludicrous,” he said.
Philip Owens operates an air charter service from Longreach and is one pilot waiting in anxious frustration to receive the ASIC card he applied for two months ago.
“As a commercial charter pilot, I really need an ASIC card,” he said.
“I’d like to know what is going on with it but when I try to get information I don’t get anywhere.”
Despite the protests from AOPA and pilots alike, the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss remains firm in his conviction that in ‘the war on terror’, ASIC cards are best for aviation security.
Spokesperson for Mr Truss, Kylie Butler said there were good reasons for the delay in processing ASIC applications.
“The department received a huge glut of 10,000 applications late last year,” Ms Butler said.
“The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) have a lot of other security checks to do at this time, such as those for the Commonwealth Games.”
Yet in a frightening move highly reminiscent of a revolution’s spy-on-your-neighbour tactics, DOTARS is prepared to place heavy fines on pilots who do not report back to the department if they see a fellow pilot flying without an ASIC card.
“We want pilots to know that we take aviation security very seriously,” Ms Butler said.
“Pilots need to realise they are duty-bound to investigate what they knowingly believe is wrong and not to turn a blind eye.”
Ms Butler said security officers as well as police would conduct regular inspections of even the Central West’s smallest airports to ensure all pilots carried their ASIC cards.
“The airports themselves also have the responsibility to maintain security,” she said.
Local commercial pilot Rowley Deane said the ASIC cards were a joke.
“I can cop a security check for landing at major airports, but it’s just a joke to put security checks in place for an airport like Longreach where they don’t even scan your luggage or at Blackall where there is not a soul around,” Mr Deane said.
After imposing a January 1 2006 deadline on all ASIC applications late last year, DOTAR has now extended the deadline for the pilot ID card until March 31.
Thousands of pilots are scrambling to apply for the cards while pilots who have already applied are still waiting to receive their identification.
Whether they have received their ASIC cards or not, pilots remain confused as to why they need the cards, especially as many airports regarded by the government as ‘security-controlled’ are small, unfenced airstrips in remote regions.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) president Ron Bertram is furious about the Department of Regional Department of Transport and Regional Services’ (DOTARS) new security measures and condemns the government’s bad planning.
“The government deserves to be crucified for these new laws which only make security weaker,” Mr Bertram said.
“It’s a gross misuse of taxpayer’s money for a fear that isn’t there.
“Even the United States government which experienced 9/11 has classed the aviation industry as a low-risk to security.”Mr Bertram said DOTARS did not consult with industry about the new laws and did not put any plan in place about the ASIC cards until October last year.
“The result was mass confusion and a set of rules that are ludicrous,” he said.
Philip Owens operates an air charter service from Longreach and is one pilot waiting in anxious frustration to receive the ASIC card he applied for two months ago.
“As a commercial charter pilot, I really need an ASIC card,” he said.
“I’d like to know what is going on with it but when I try to get information I don’t get anywhere.”
Despite the protests from AOPA and pilots alike, the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Warren Truss remains firm in his conviction that in ‘the war on terror’, ASIC cards are best for aviation security.
Spokesperson for Mr Truss, Kylie Butler said there were good reasons for the delay in processing ASIC applications.
“The department received a huge glut of 10,000 applications late last year,” Ms Butler said.
“The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) have a lot of other security checks to do at this time, such as those for the Commonwealth Games.”
Yet in a frightening move highly reminiscent of a revolution’s spy-on-your-neighbour tactics, DOTARS is prepared to place heavy fines on pilots who do not report back to the department if they see a fellow pilot flying without an ASIC card.
“We want pilots to know that we take aviation security very seriously,” Ms Butler said.
“Pilots need to realise they are duty-bound to investigate what they knowingly believe is wrong and not to turn a blind eye.”
Ms Butler said security officers as well as police would conduct regular inspections of even the Central West’s smallest airports to ensure all pilots carried their ASIC cards.
“The airports themselves also have the responsibility to maintain security,” she said.
Local commercial pilot Rowley Deane said the ASIC cards were a joke.
“I can cop a security check for landing at major airports, but it’s just a joke to put security checks in place for an airport like Longreach where they don’t even scan your luggage or at Blackall where there is not a soul around,” Mr Deane said.
After imposing a January 1 2006 deadline on all ASIC applications late last year, DOTAR has now extended the deadline for the pilot ID card until March 31.
posted by dr mcgillicudy's cudsong at 10:19 AM
1 Comments:
Is there still no process of good identifications for pilots? Pilots have been waiting for the this. If they cant process it quickly should stop new submission and stop upcoming applicants to a part of that queue.
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