Just got around to reading the verdict by Justice Murphy in the CASA vs Caper Pty Ltd (Direct Air) Appeal, handed down on 2 November 2012.
As I understand it:
Travel agent takes money from Joe Public, and charters an aircraft to fly Joe Public from Point A to Point B, have a look at some stuff, and return to Point A. Travel Agent wants to attract punters and so publishes a schedule as understandably Joe Public wants to know what he's getting before he parts with his hard-earned coin.
The aircraft operator then gets caned (and canned) for operating a Regular Passenger Transport service without being suitably certified, which departs from set locations according to a published schedule,
even though the aircraft operator didn't set the schedule or advertise the service, and is only receiving payment for the flight from one entity, the travel agent.
Am I missing something? Isn't that a closed charter?
I heard recently that any guvvie department would kill to have the powers that CASA have. I didn't actually believe it until I read this judgement.
Or, does this judgement mean we are all screwed, royally?
