The report notes that Angel Flight pay the pilot’s expenses, including fuel, and that on the day that the crash occurred there were commercial flights available which would have cost Angel Flight less had they simply booked seats on the commercial flights. Would that not have saved a few lives here?
Seriously?
Firstly, Angel Flights primarily exist because Australia has run down our regional health system to the point that most people with serious chronic disease must travel to capital cities. If we had a health system that treated the regions better, Angel flight would not exist.
Secondly, Angel flight does not pay any pilot expenses. Angel flight pays an amount for fuel which may or may not cover the entire cost (depending on aircraft). The airports waive landing fees and AsA waives airnav charges. The pilot bears the operating cost of the aircraft his / her time and any incidental expenses. In my case, this sometimes includes staying somewhere the night before at my expense to be ready for an early flight.
Thirdly, Angel Flight helps people by providing transport:
a) when they cant afford it (remember some people travel monthly or occasionally more often to medical review)
b) Angel flight provides transport not only for the person with the medical condition, but also support people. For kids this is typically 2 other people - the equivalent airline cost starts to climb!
c) Angel flight provides transport for people (eg young kids) who require more baggage than is welcome on RPT. This can include prams, car seats, & multiple bags, crutches, wheel chairs etc. Typically GA flights allow the ground transport to get very close to the aircraft minimising walking distance,
d) For patients who are immuno suppressed (eg Chemotherapy) travelling in crowded RPT aircraft cabins can be a significant risk of infection. For these people, a GA aircraft on their own is a much lower risk of infection.
What would have saved lives here was an instrument rated pilot ( why is Australia's rate of instrument pilots so low? Why does CASA make it so difficult / expensive?) or a VFR pilot with better weather judgement.
The VH-YTM accident investigation should be treated as just that and not a persecution of Angel Flight. The accident is no more or less tragic with Angel Flight passengers than if it was friends of the pilot. It can just be whipped into a more emotional event by those wanting to politically point-score.
Lets look at what is going wrong that these types of accidents are still occurring after 50 years or more of "education" by CASA and its predecessors.