Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest.
Discussed in depth at the Barroom Barristers convention (pub last night), CASA got the primary sympathy vote (4-2), industry the preference vote.
This sort of stuff leaves the regulator with little choice it's 'iron fist' (or Bar if you prefer) time, it's not on, and both suffer. It's a sad thing for all involved.
It is a very easy thing for an operator to intimidate, bully or fire one pilot for refusing to fly an aircraft which is not up to snuff. If everyone said – 'No way Horse' then it becomes a difficult matter.
A Chief Pilot has some heavy duty backup available if the operator won't play nice; CASA supervised operations for a month or so would very quickly get the message across
Could this all have been prevented ?, it certainly appears so.
Just my AUD 00.20, no steam.