Word is that the Nt Government have extended the decision date by a further 3 months
The NT government (actually DHF, Department of Health and Families) have written to all the bidders, advising them that there will be a further three month delay.
The NTG is clearly giving them a trial run
Extremely unlikely. So if they don't like them, do they install someone else and give them a three month trial as well?
The far more likely explanation for the delay would have to be along the lines proposed by
The Voice. That is, that everybody's bids are way more than what the NTG had earmarked.
Can the NTG afford 4-5 new King Airs (or PC-12s)? No way. Given the (tiny) size of the NT economy, about 1 new turboprop would be all they could afford!
To me, it seems highly plausible that the reason for the delay up to now, (and this extension to the delay) is because the NTG is waiting for an answer from the federal government on funding assistance.
The federal government has just "changed", as we all know, and now there is an election in the wings. How else do you explain that the NTG somehow knows that this decision will take a further three months?
soo what are the Pearl Airmed Pilots up to they gone across?
Some have gone across (about 3-4, I believe). The majority haven't.