Glenn, the issue regarding people in CASA approving things and then reversing their decisions at any given stage is nothing new. The idiots often have one ‘team’ who have oversight of an AOC/COA operator. They work with them so to speak, do approvals, sign off (so to speak) on company manuals and processes, and then - a different CASA ‘team’ will do the annual audit on that operator and pick their manuals/processes to pieces, issue non-conformances etc. if you say ‘hey, those dickheads in Brisbane signed off on this and gave approval’ the Sydney audit team will say; ‘oh well, stiff ****, our opinion is that you are non-conforming, so here is a NCN, or worse!!
Had it happen many many times. No consistency, no standards, just some assholes personal opinion and ‘interpretation’ of the rules. You can’t win.