I agree with you there. Obviously there is a requirment to have an amount of fleet diversity. The idea would be to keep the caravans in the air as much as possible, easy during the dry, but rather dificult during the wet. so one would have to search around and try and pick up some freight or some other contracts elsewhere during that time. Surly it would be possible to run the aircraft compeditivly against the oposition.
As for chaging $1000/hr, thats fine if you get bums on seats. fill the caravan up and your making money at $115 per hour per seat, in aircrnditioned comfort, with more room, and in something that isnt 30 years old. I think the pax would be atracted to a larger aircraft, and greater comfort.