bushy
In some areas you are almost correct. Remember it costs a lot of money to fly your patients around in decent equipment, although even the RFDS still fly airframes that are 30 years old. Its about time the governments were held accountable and provide a minimum standard for aeromedical operators as the Australian public would expect a higher standard than that provided by the RFDS and certainly would consider most other operators and their equipment totally unacceptable were properly informed.
The RFDS is far from perfect but it is by far the best on offer to patients and employees alike and that wont change as any competition is totally driven by profits and bragging rights rather than service and pride.
SN