ampk said
Fact: the Emb120 sim in Tullamarine is available (I'm happy to be stand corrected... is it U/S?) for ballpark (I'm aware of the pricing) $750 per hour; JQ DRW-MEL return $400? And a night at the 'Not so Quality Inn' $90 (....all facts)...
Pilot Wages several days $ ????
Flights XXXLD or more Pilots employed $ ????
Flight Duty Times $ ????
Allowances $ ????
There are more costs than some people care to think about - But no person ever wants to hear of a fatal crash..
OK, so factor in the DOC's of the aircraft versus the total costs of a simulator session, bearing in mind that two crew licences are renewed simultaneously.
Multiply the cost of sim hours by 2 (I'm guessing 2 hours are enough for two renewals, and I don't recall my GA renewals ever taking anything like an hour!) and do the sums. Probably close to $3,000 for two renewals over two hours including associated costs, but FAR more would be achieved in a sim than the aircraft. If the aircraft cost is within $500 per licence renewal (under) then it would have to still be worth it. I think the aircraft cost would probably be higher