Mutt
It is not UNSAFE it is illegal! AOC ops have a far worse accident rate with small jets than do corporate private jets! FACT!
However, data supplied by [IBAC] revealed that there is a large variation for different types of business jet operation. Corporate operations achieved a fatal accident rate of 0.2 (per million hours flown) for the period 2003 to 2007, which is comparable to large western built aeroplanes, whereas air taxi operations, as a whole, had a far higher rate of 3.5 (per million hours flown).
From the CAAs own report
So the UNSAFE claim is a load of B+ls
If the cost difference is so huge as to attract people to as you put it grey operations then you have to ask why?
Maybe it is needless over regulation, needless interference in AOC ops and an industry weighed down by excessive and needless cost ?
Get rid of your percieved enemy everything in the garden will then be rosy and everyone will flock to pay over bloated prices to AOC ops is far from the truth and not the problem.
No I do not support illegal operations for one second but think you are attacking the wrong enemy in getting a healthy business environment for AOC ops!
Lastly your clue lies in the title to this thread "Grey Markets" In every corner of society grey areas are legally exploited from a trip to the accountant to minimise your tax bills to items you buy on offers in supermarkets.
What is or is not illegal should not be so Grey and if it is dont blame people for exploiting those areas it is not the fault of them but the law!
Pace