Angry Aussies

[CYHeli]

The operators are afraid to charge realistic prices for services because the next guy will just under cut them. The end-user/customer doesn't use helicopters often enough to know the differences between good and bad service or quality of aircraft to see which company is really better. 'The job got done, and that’s all that matters.' All they care about is the bottom line, $$.
Simply put, the operators can’t afford to pay more than a ‘fly for food’ wage because it’s too cut throat. HAA and AFAP can’t tell an operator to abide by the law and actually pay real money to pilots. The pilot’s won’t dob in a non-paying company because then they lose their job and the next pilot comes along to take what flying they can, again for free.
One operator I spoke to said, ‘I’m trying to run a business, not a charity.’ And yet he wanted volunteer staff.