Maybe if I worked for the CAA I wouldn't have to get up so early, but I don't work for them*, and don't think that everything that they do is reasonable and beyond criticism. The approach to public transport and aerial work indicated in their published Summary does, however, seem to me to be a sensible one, capable of being readily understood.
IO, I agree that the costs, in real terms, of flying for an hour include maintenance, and any group or renter prices each hour to reflect this, but "direct costs" for ANO purposes has the specific meaning to which you have alluded, and this excludes maintenance. I'm not sure that the present definition is a particularly good one, but we are stuck with it for the time being.
(*as a lawyer in private practice working to the cab rank rule, I have, over the years, done cases both for and against the CAA, but I am neither retained nor employed by them)
Last edited by FNG; 28th April 2004 at 06:56.