I think it pretty funny that the RFDS is making such a big deal about this jet and carrying on as if they haven't had a jet at their disposal ever. A quick google search of VH-RIO will show a Hawker 800, thats been operated on behalf of the RFDS by a private company for the best part of a decade, mainly doing runs throughout WA and even interstate transfers. By good authority, the PC-24 wont have the same coverage. The Hawker seems to be a better machine other than the loading, but the pilots do the majority of the grunt work in most cases.
So time will see how the new machine stacks up .... As for the Christmas and Cocos run ... FORGET IT!
So quickly the RFDS seem to forget what they have had and think this new machine will be the answer to their prayers, time will see .... The RFDS isn't the well oiled machine that it makes itself out to be.