Would be interesting what the FAA's IASA makes of some of these relationships.
It's not IASA but EASA. What you call relationships might be only exemptions granted according to certain conditions, just like the FAA or EASA can grant. Unless you know exactly if the company benefits of an individual favor all what you say is pure emptyness. Who would be fool enough (and have the autorithy) to compromise himself by committing the whole GCAA administration? The individual responsability of an individual doing a favor would be huge when you consider the safety issues which may arise. Having an official exemption doesn't mean you have a favor from Sheik Mo.