Dont see why RFDS wont drop their mins now that they are operating 208s. Does not require a 3000hr pilot with huge amounts of night and IF experience to fly a 208 by day on the clinic runs.
Because the level of safety is greater from an experienced pilot (in this case, greater than 3,000hrs), than a lesser experienced pilot. RFDS values their crews safety. Why do you think they moved away from charter?
Another reason, they don't want young 1,500hr pilots to stay 12 months, get a few hours, then piss off to the airlines.
Wonder how long it will take before the RFDS bean counters realise that they dont have to pay 95k a year for a caravan driver and start recruiting lower time guys to do the clinic runs.
While it's not impossible they will have drivers on lower pay doing only these clinic runs, even if that were to happen, it would still be the same requirements. Unlikely though.
hugh_jorgan,
It will be an awful long time before there is a real "pilot shortage" in Australia. Therefore, your hopes and dreams of getting into RFDS to fly their caravans so you can accelerate your career, aren't going to happen,
.
morno