Quote:
80% power in the vans was the catalyst
That may be part of it..... but that doesn't explain C207 issues. Nor does it explain the issues with the twins that have led to them not flying for months.
The problems are far more deeply rooted than 80% power on TC Airvans.
Yeah we all know there were more systemic issues with the place, but there was cash flow to plug the holes in the dam wall when needed.
Once the vans started going u/s they stopped making money with engine issues. During the peak of last season sometimes there was not a single Airvan servicable.
As a result money got poured into the vans, the rest of the fleet got pencil whipped and run down. Engines were not replaced , aircraft parked against the fence etc and over the wet the money was not in the kitty to get ready for the dry. They were teetering on the brink at one stage to even pay the staff.
At that stage the CASA wolves were also circling causing problems for cash flow and as I said back then, keep away this season to the new fellas as this would happen no doubt at peak season.
If RK had of listened (listen, I'm telling you this now) and ran the airvans as per the POH, or even better, stuck to IO-540s, the aircraft would have performed as per every other season and he'd have the money in the bank to weather the storm and operate to whatever standard CASA made him.
I doubt he will survive this. If he does, he will have to listen to people for a change instead of thinking he knows best.