[thorn bird]

K, it's the strangest thing.

When things make no sense to me, my mind always moves to the why? What possible motive could CAsA have for shutting down an obviously essential FREE service, a true charity, run by volunteers, no very highly paid directors, no very lucrative commercial government contracts. My Father used to say "If you need a WHY look for the money"

Mulling the Angel Flight imbroglio, I just couldn't see where there would be a quid in it.
The people who avail themselves of their services most certainly could never pay what those services would be worth on a commercial basis.

There is definitely a need as Angel flight itself has proved. So who's going to pay?

I cannot imagine the private owners and pilots, who so generously provide their aircraft and time are going to continue doing so if its going to cost them tens of thousands of dollars to comply with CAsA's "Commercial Lite" requirements.
Without those aircraft and pilots Angel Flight is finished.

Ah but there are always wheels within wheels.

There is no doubt politically, the inept minister or his successor is going to cop considerable stick for CAsA's actions.
No doubt as the groundswell of public outrage increases, considerable pressure will be placed on the minister to do something.
As you allude K whispering in the ministers ear will be the “The Blood will be on your hands minister.” brigade.

On the other will be the awful images of sick patients missing their various appointments or god forbid dying on the roads.

But will there be another voice in the ministers ear?

"All this could go away minister, just a paltry few million, chicken feed really, in the big scheme of things nothing really, and imagine what a hero you would become, Ah I can see the headlines now.

"MINISTER SAVES THE DAY> AGREES TO FUND VITAL MEDICAL AIR TRANSPORT COSTS".

I guess all we can do is Watch this space.