LAB, you're right about that, and I'm not really too happy about flying SEIFR in general (IMC in crap weather that is) so I can understand that it's taking some time for Europe to agree on anything.
Are you saying the light charter market will die because new airframes are too expensive? I mean, there must be a limit to how long you want to keep these 20+ yr old planes in the air for commercial operations. Most PA31s and C401/402 types must be 30 yrs old by now.
Does anyone have a typical operating cost for a PA31 versus say a King air? Or better yet, the F406.
/deice