September 2020

Page 8

AIRLINES MIKE GOUGH

TREADING WATER We just need to keep treading water until the forecast pilot shortage becomes a reality.

Life has an uncanny ability to remind one exactly who is calling the shots in the bigger scheme of things. Although 2019 was a little rough around the edges, I don’t think anyone in the aviation industry saw the massive fallout of 2020 coming.

T

HE fragility of the commercial aviation industry has been resoundingly demonstrated – with, of course a huge amount of hype, misand disinformation, along with a healthy dose of downright opportunism on several fronts. I am obliged to express my dismay at the pandemic and sympathise with those who are afflicted or bereaved from this virus. Having said that, one’s sympathy capacity would be exhausted daily should we have to commiserate with every source of human mortality that has global statistics on daily lives lost. The reach of social media made it

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FlightCom Magazine

through to my home office during the initial lockdown period, where I became a regular observer and occasional contributor on various platforms. What this exposure amply demonstrated to me is the level of herd stupidity that exists out there.

indefensible. As for the conspiracies…. The end of March saw me preparing my hangar at Lanseria for an anticipated 21-day period of inactivity. Aircraft were neatly parked, batteries disconnected, and pitot covers in place. I elected to remove

It most certainly is the emptiest drums that make the most noise It most certainly is the emptiest drums that make the most noise, whether it be the pandemic, local politics, American politics or the bizarre indignation of rights groups attempting to defend the absolute

most computer equipment from a theft perspective and ensured CCTV cameras were operative. Lanseria has a reputation for air-side pilfering, of which, in twelve years, I have not encountered first hand.


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