Because of the recent apology placed on PPRuNe by CASA Regulatory Impact Analyst, Caroline Tulip (see below) I am hoping that PPRuNe will be cleaned up. Pilots are already phoning me and saying they are planning to post again on PPRuNe – many had given up.
I believe PPRuNe is an excellent website and it needs to be encouraged in every way. However there is no need for personal vilification - especially when the poster hides behind anonymity.
I have recently received the following email which covers the issues admirably.
Hi Dick,
I was heartened to read the apology to you on prune from Caroline Tulip. I used to frequent prune a fair bit a while ago when NAS was first being introduced. I tried to put across my opinion on NAS and other issues including CASA, from a GA operator and pilot of 25 years experience. I was continually howled down as somebody who had no idea and the abuse was more than I could put up with so I stopped visiting the prune site. At the time most on prune were giving you a very hard time and the last issue I remember reading on prune was about maintenance and special CASA requirements. I admire your perseverance and sheer tenacity for sticking with it, I could not and found other sites to visit that share my passion for Aviation and all things flying.
Nobody would criticise you if you just settled back and enjoyed life instead of trying to help Aviation and GA. This note is a bit rambling but was originally to say you have support and don’t let the 1%er’s get you down.
Keep on flying,
Regards
“This is the apology that was published on PPRuNe that is referred to in the message above.”
My name is Caroline Tulip. I am Regulatory Impact Analyst with CASA
Using the pseudonym TACAN400 over a 12 month period I made a number of untrue and ill-considered postings on PPRuNe about Dick Smith. I now regret making them and apologise for having done so. He has graciously accepted my apology without demanding any financial compensation for the damage I caused him and the hurt I caused his family.
I was egged-on into falsely believing that CASA’s shocking disintegration and the vicious redundancies of many of my colleagues was somehow connected to Dick Smith. In fact, I believe I became paranoid and conspiratorial and repeated and amplified ill-informed opinions expressed on PPRuNe.
My views on airspace matters are poorly informed as I am neither a pilot nor aviation professional. I found myself influenced by gossip and innuendo and could not tell between truth and untruth.
My greatest mistake was making my postings anonymously.
Dick spent over $39,000 in legal fees to uncover my real identity. He would not have had to do that had I made these postings over my own name.
I have therefore agreed to repay him a substantial amount towards these legal fees.
The lesson is clear - if you think that a posting on PPRuNe is anonymous you are mistaken, and it can be an expensive mistake.
I also apologise to Danny Fyne for bringing into disrepute the Professional Pilots Rumour Network.
