HA. .The operation I have worked for don't get any money from the Government, just as any other "non-funded entity" wouldn't. However, they have recieved from the governing councils capital injections to purchase aircraft/hangars etc. Is it such a bad thing that the Aboriginal councils have the money to invest which in return gives the owners (coucil members) an airservice which otehrwise would very lilkely be an unviable operation due to the distances and populations involved. Yes it may be maddening to some that it is, through the various channels tax-payer funded, but don't think that that is allways the case...some of the cash for a late edition was borrowed from a bank! And as far as operations go, not one red cent is given for the day to day operations eg engine changes/fuel/mx etc.
Scud. .Perhaps you don't work up there, but the current NA crowd do operate a S/E turbine on RPT. But as far as hangars and facilities, you are right there, they would need a bit of an upgrade.