Re: SER1 Fwd: [lro] Maintenance, Planning

[prev] [thread] [next] [Date index for 2005/04/12]

Hi Guys

What you thought one wouldn't rise to the challenge.  What's very spooky is
that I mentioned exactly this situation to Nick Condon a couple of days ago.

Now let me get my disaster management hat on.  "Before I talk about the
emergency services response, I must express my sincere condolences to the
relatives and loved ones of these two unfortunate individuals.  However what
I must say now is that the xxxx are working very xxxx to bring resolution to
this xxxxx as quickly as possible".  (Does that sound like the comments from
sincere Police/Emergency/Medical spokespersons you have heard on TV?  That's
because that is what they train us to do!)

According to Police interviewed after forensic investigation of the scene,
the vehicle was over 30 years old and wasn't roadworthy, although I hope
that the first premise wasn't the justification for the second.  On this
list there some 55 years plus vehicles that are extremelly roadworthy and
possibly more so than very much younger vehicles.  The last line of Bob's
post says it all, "after setting out without enough petrol and water".

It seems these idiots broke so many of the cardinal rules of outback travel
they planned to fail by failing to plan.
* Who did they tell where they were going? And what was the ETA for return
contact?  (It is usual to lodge a trip plan with the Police for very remote
travel a bit like a flight plan aircraft must lodge.)
* Where was their reserve of fuel?
* Where was their reserve of water?
* Where were their emergency rations?
* Where was their map?
* Where was their compass?
* Where was their communications devices? HF Flying Doctor radio, Satellite
phone or even SSB CB Radio.
* Where were their other other navigational aids?  GPS etc.
* Where was their reliable vehicle and spares?

It seems these pair had none of the above just a lot of ego and stupidity.
Had they had any of the above we wouldn't be talking about it now.

What it does remind us is how different the use of our Landy's is between
this big island Australia and that little island England.  There is no AA
call boxes at the side of the road to summon help and people die trying to
walk out.

Regards
Diana



To change subscription see www.landrover.net/series1/mail