[Sandy Reith]

Actually G in my view it wasn't that good in the good old days. It was however just workable. Example, suddenly a C402 problem (Australian specific problem, Steve Swift of CASA explained that his figures reckoned spars would fail between 8200hrs and, from memory, 34,000 hrs) all C402s in excess of 8200 hrs needed new lower spar caps and spar fittings, 2 months grace to refurbish the whole plus 8200 hr fleet. Yes no joke and of course an impossible task in the Australian environment. Find alternate aircraft, find a workshop capable with the time and personnel available, source the parts from the USA, impossible in the time frame. My C402 with over 9000 hours, solution? Hours and hours of research, prove a lower mid weight over years of operation. Book in a new wing strap fix designed by Hawkers in Sydney. All done in the following year including new spar fittings. Later tax dept audit says can't claim as maintenance because it's a modification, oops pay back several thousand to tax dept. plus penalty, clawed back some because the new fittings were claimable.
Another one...one Saturday after lunch, C172 charter Phillip Island to Colac about 90 nm. Phone in plan, can't be done says Flight Service. Why? says I, done this plenty of times. You don't have HF, new interpretation...ok then change plan to private..ok says FS no prob. Then thought better be legal, fit HF several thousand $s. Sell that 172, take it out and install in another, and another. Used it three times total. I could go on and on, suffice to say a small aviation business was still possible. Who would start one now? Very few and good luck, but as I say the good old days weren't that good.