[thorn bird]

'The irony is that had the shit aviation regulatory suite and the Act been overhauled 30 years ago the aeromedical group would, on a combined basis, be millions and millions of dollars per year better off!!! How funny is that!

How true Gobbles, waiving Air Nav charges for charities, on the surface, has got to be a good thing. One has to remember though that these organisations already receive significant relief by way of taxation exemptions, and government financial donations. They operate as commercial enterprises, in that they bid for commercial contracts
with a huge cost advantage over their for profit competitors.

True reform of the regulations is the only way to level the playing field somewhat. I have to wonder why it is so hard to grasp that concept. If Safety is the imperative, would commercial operators relieved from the burden of red tape not have funds available for training, upgrades, fleet modernisation etc. things that actually contribute to safety.
Why is it so difficult for Australia to grasp the notion that other countries achieve better safety outcomes with regulations that substantially reduce the cost burden on their industries.
If New Zealand could do it, why is it impossible, as some would have it, that Australia cannot?
What is the point of Australian regulations if they actually prevent what they are attempting to regulate?
From energy policy to aviation policy Australia just seems to continually shoot itself in the foot.