So with the new regs, basically as long as there is no reward or remuneration it is not an air transport operation therefore not a commercial operation. Where does being able to conduct an air transport operation link in to the privileges of a commercial pilot licence, and where does it say you can't conduct an air transport op on a PPL?
So I could fly a individuals plane on:
1) a regular timetable from fixed ports and;
2) carrying not only employees of the company but also contractors, sub-contractors and even other company's employees
And provided there is no reward or remuneration for their carriage (ie they are only paid for the job they do on the ground), it's a private operation?
What if the individual who owns the plane includes the an aircraft cost in response to a government tender, which is then paid out when they win the tender? The owner has quoted $500 per hour to get to the job site, and they are paid that on award of the tender or completion of the job. Is this still a private operation, because the owner is just covering the costs of running the plane, not the actual carriage of passengers or cargo? i.e. does the old rule of "in a private op you can carry employees and their tools around" still apply?