Saturday, December 12, 2009

Planes, Trains and Automobiles


Seems Indonesia is intent on continuing it's reign as a champion of incompetence and an international laughing stock in the field of public transportation and public safety.

"AN Indonesian court has overturned a pilot's criminal negligence conviction for crashing at Yogyakarta airport in March 2007, killing 21 people, including five Australians.
Komar said at his trial that faulty wing flaps were to blame for the jet's excessive airspeed as it came in to land."

"A report by an Indonesian safety committee, however, found that Komar had ignored 15 automatic warnings telling him he was coming in too fast".

That’s right not one, not two but 15 warnings. Anyone who has heard the alleged cockpit recordings and the voice of his co-pilot would be simply be stunned at the that fact this man has ever been allowed to see the light of day again, let alone had his verdict overturned.

In a mindboggling statement at the time of the first verdict, a Stephanus Gerrardus, chief of the Garuda Pilots' Association, said Komar's trial was "a mess" and it had set a dangerous precedent of criminalising pilots.

"Our main concern is this decision could actually disturb aviation safety," he said. (Idiot, The plane crashed after the pilot ignored 15 warning signals and people died, what does it take to disturb this complacency towards a professional’s responsibility to others?)

"Imagine how hard it would be for a pilot to perform his duty when he's burdened with something like this. (Something like what, actually getting the passengers safely to their destination?)

"It makes pilots doubtful, and could lead to mistakes. (After ignoring 15 WARNING SIGNALS and killing 21 people, one wonders how many more mistakes a pilot could fit into one flight?)

Not that anyone should really be surprised, the public safety and well being of others is not a issue in Indonesia and the lives of the great unwashed have no value. Despite a litany of ferry disasters, any regular traveler will tell you that these floating (sinking) accidents waiting to happen continue to sail with inadequate or more often non-existent safety equipment, over loaded and crews with little or no training.

The joke that is the public rail service suffers almost weekly derailments, level crossing deaths and major equipment failures and it is not unreasonable to suggest that in 60 years of independence that only thing Indonesia has done is to run an effective rail system built by the Dutch into a traveling death trap (interesting and sad to note there is now 50% less rail service than under Dutch rule).

Whilst within the inner city, the smog belching, rusted out, multi patched, filthy pieces boxes on wheels that are Indonesia’s excuse for a bus service are a daily reminder that those who can pay never have to worry about roadworthy or public safety inspections. It’s sometime ironic watching these death traps carry signs or protesters to anti-corruption rallies when the transportation industry is a living, belching example of money over public safety.

AND YET THE PROVEN IN THE BLOOD OF OTHERS, INEPT POWERS THAT BE STILL WANT TO BUILD A NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN INDONESIA...Where running a bus or ferry service is beyond the compentence of public officials to ensure the most basic safety standards are enforced. Insanity does not cover the concept well enough.

VISIT INDONESIA WHERE EVEN THE PEOPLE GLOW IN THE DARK (But hey, a couple of us got rich)

9 comments:

anong said...

Your report is exaggerated pub talk. Why not back up your statements with data? At least once. As for the pilot, are pilots in other countries subject to criminal law? who investiages such matters in OZ for example; the police? and is evidence decided by an everyday judge and jury?

I think the Jogya accident was a lamentable event; but the problem you raise is one of how best to deal with the consequences? Presumably there is a better way than exists currently in Indonesia.

oigal said...

Really anong.."pub talk" ignoring the silly slur. Which part? The direct quote from the Indonesian Report on the 15 warnings? In oz the civil aviation authority and if criminal charges are warranted it is handed to police and yep and everyday judge and jury. Your calling it, which part is false or incorrect. I am happy to retract or correct on anything I print that is incorrect best you ante up now..or..

Better way than suggesting this bloke can go back to flying..yea can think of a couple

oigal said...

Why not back up your statements with data? At least once.

I gather you are infering that I make stuff up?? Well best you come up with some "facts" on your own to prove me wrong in fact and I will fix and retract if on the other hand you just don't perspective of the facts then thats just plain too bad..perhaps time the nationalist rose glasses came off anyway.

Rob Baiton said...

Now, now boys be civil :D

It is kind of strange that they let the fella go by overturning the decision.

On a basic level I would have thought one's duty of care when you have the lives of others under your care is much higher. To ignore 15 warnings seems to be a breach of that basic duty of care.

The arguments to and fro on the criminalizing of pilots is moot in many ways, if one considers the duty of care that pilots have. There was a clear breach of that trust...so, the idea that administrative sanctions would have been appropriate for the killing of 21 innocents does not seem to fit the bill, does it?

anong said...

1. champion of incompetence and an international laughing stock in the field of public transportation and public safety - there are worse and more than one I suggest

2. the public safety and well being of others is not a issue in Indonesia (not true and you know it) and the lives of the great unwashed have no value (the great unwashed rarely take to the air).

Despite a litany of ferry disasters (yes there have been a few), any regular traveler will tell you that these floating (sinking) accidents waiting to happen continue to sail with inadequate or more often non-existent safety equipment, over loaded and crews with little or no training (perhaps but I wouldnt know how to prove all of this - its hard to put the accidents into a global perspective - what about finding figures on deaths per nautical mile per year?)

weakly derailments - ok but its been a while since a major prang - Also, id say there's been a lot of rail ripped up in oz in the last 60 years too - and pls dont counter with the gaudy industrial lines in WA and NT

the local buses are ok; its the idiot drivers - corn fed bataks...

etc etc

what are we going to do without the Insiders??

I think I heard that Singapore had 1400 road deaths last year??

I was really trying to emphasise what I still think is a fair point - how to best ascertain liablity in such events. I might compare it to ascertaining liablity for the deaths in the recent Victorian bushfires.

julia said...

I take it you don't like living on the edge!

oigal said...

Fair Go Anong, you are confusing facts with opinion. Because I draw a different opinion or perception from any group of facts than you does not make those facts themselves invalid or false. Your inference was the base data was false and that is a common occurance on this blog. A notion I reject with prejudice.

In this instance the information was drawn from a number of sources, it would therefore seem unlikely to be in error. When challenged to deliver any corrections, all you have done is come up with a different perception (which is as valid as mine as it is only an opinion)not anything that would indicate an error in fact.

Your perception is worth a comment though.

"champion of incompetence and an international laughing stock in the field of public transportation and public safety - there are worse and more than one I suggest"

No doubt about it, never the less a worthy contender for the crown. The fact

2. "the public safety and well being of others is not a issue in Indonesia (not true and you know it)" Where would you like to start..any number of (and true not all) building sites in Jakarta? How about drivers tests for SIM including those who drive public transport vehicles? Public Walkways/footpaths? or should we move onto the big stuff like food and medicines? What action has 'really" occured about the public health issues with the MUD FLOW?

"lives of the great unwashed have no value (the great unwashed rarely take to the air)." Sorry I just don;t see a lot of concern, I see lots of shiny cars and buildings for public officials I see very few new schools or increased teachers training and payments despite regulations.

"I think I heard that Singapore had 1400 road deaths last year??" I very very much doubt it and is of no relevance anyway.

"I was really trying to emphasise what I still think is a fair point - how to best ascertain liablity in such events. I might compare it to ascertaining liablity for the deaths in the recent Victorian bushfires."
This is just a very strange statement! According to all reports I have read (happy to be corrected) the pilot ignored 15 seperate warnings and the screams of his co-pilot. How on earth that equates to the a multi causation issue like Victorian bush fires is beyond me.

Rob said it best "
On a basic level I would have thought one's duty of care when you have the lives of others under your care is much higher. To ignore 15 warnings seems to be a breach of that basic duty of care."

As for "any regular traveler will tell you that these floating (sinking) accidents waiting to happen continue to sail with inadequate or more often non-existent safety equipment, over loaded and crews with little or no training"

I am a regular passenger and it would seem you are making my point nothing serious is being done to rectify the situation, despite the deaths, the same over loading, poor maintenance etc contnues. Global perspective is again not relevant.. wow we didn't kill as many as ..China...big deal..



Julia..

Actually live here long time just because something is so doesn't mean it should be so. We are not talking about nationalism or culture bashing here as some seem to infer but rather that very basic "duty of care" that a government any government should provide to its people.

Rob...ah ever the vioce of reason

anong said...

Thanks Stump. But it's not a bad place to live really. Just dont think "best practice" too much.

I was nearly run over by a motor bike (or 100) on the sudirman footpath today, and at 6pm by twin metro buses going (racing) the wrong way down Jl Mas mansyur, a major divided road... red lights, they're often out, but people adapt - in oz it would be a bloody big pile up and massive tempers flying.

But I know what you mean. It just doesnt gel with me when I know your view on global warming!! sorry touchy subject. I mean vindictive people in oz are happy to see Rudd go down at the Kope; just because he's Labor...

oigal said...

Anong, I obviously like living in Indonesia but that doesn't mean you have to be silent. There is lots to like but other people do the "beautiful Indonesia" blog better than I and all power to them.

"in oz it would be a bloody big pile up and massive tempers flying." I do grant you that..its amazing to see how accepted it is here without the punchups.

Not sure how my view on global warming is connected to crazy pilots but hey..

It was never going to be anything but a big anti-western give us money gabfest. Rudd is fraud of the highest order. oh for the days of a fair dinkum Labor leader like Keating..

That does not mean that I am anti-environment just have to question how to sepnd the money and where.

Still stand by and I will do another Global Warming psot to make your blood boil. BTW if the last hot summer in oz was a direct result of gloabl warming as KRUDD stated then the current situation by default must be a result of global cooling right?

Perhaps you could help us understand why there has been no warming for over ten years now?

Why the sea level off Tasmania was half meter higher in the seventies than it is now (you can see the high water marks on the docks).