They were loaded onto one Aircraft at Tullamarine, then off loaded again as it was U/S, they were told an engine problem. Then loaded onto a second Aircraft which went U/S before departure, this time they were told it was an hydraulic problem. Finally Aircraft number 3 managed to stay serviceable long enough to do MEL to OOL.
I think the system worked for your father in law LAME, if they went U/S. I think I know what you mean though...shouldn't have done so in the first place.
The problem I see now from a pilot's point of view is that the buck increasingly stops with the Tech Crew, as it appears happened in the abovementioned cases, because preventative maintenance appears to be cut back as we move to "reactive" type maintenance, ie "write it up when it breaks".
More pressure on pilots.........