Aero-News: Quote of the Day

ANN's Quote of the Day usually derives from current news, though we reserve the right to pick quotes out of history that have a bearing on the day's events and issues.

Sometimes, you'll find them timely and in keeping with the content of the day's news... and sometimes, they'll just be thought-provoking.

Reader suggestions and comments are welcome... and if particularly intriguing, timely, or poignant, may themselves become future Quotes of the Day.

Let us hear from you, folks!

Aero-News Quote of the Day

"The ATSB has been instructed and even threatened by the government to keep aviation safety out of the news and it has done that very effectively. The [fatality] announcements are always done before Christmas in the silly season when Parliament is not in session."

Source: Former Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority Dick Smith, on the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's questioning of figures Smith maintains he pulled from the ATSB website to support his claim Australia's skies have become more dangerous now to commercial flyers than in any time since the 1990s. ATSB officials maintain the skies are safer, and have the figures to back it up. The agency also questioned where Smith got his numbers, and why he chose to publicize his information so close to the holiday travel season. Smith, in turn, said it's in the ATSB's best interests politically to attempt to discredit his findings.

FMI: www.atsb.gov.au