Hi Bob,
This is an international forum, with sub-forums for different areas. If there was a more specific sub than Australia, I'd use it, but there's not.
I took them to court.
I do bear a grudge, and so do plenty of RFT's ex-students, and I'm sure you would too if you were in our shoes.
CASA should have done something because RFT was in clear breach of civil air law, and quite possible criminal law.
'Access Airshare' was a membership that you bought, that entitled you to training and aircraft hire at a reduced rate. You paid $8,800 for a three year membership, and in return you paid about $77 less per hour. It made sense to do if a) if you're not financially savvy and don't know what discounting is, and b)If you plan to do a lot of hours of flying in three years, say, to get your commercial licence.
Bad for the student if for some reason they don't want to train with RFT any more (maybe because the CFI is a
), or there aren't any aircraft available, or RFT suddenly goes out of business.
RFT were saying that they could do GA and get people their commercial license, and selling the membership as a good way to reduce the long run costs. However, all they could offer was RA. No training in anything heavier than 600kg, no twins, etc.
It was all good if you just wanted to do RA, but for someone wanting to get their anywhere near a commercial licence, it was a con.
It's worth ex-students taking him to court, because they can win back a chunk of the money they paid, and then use it learning to fly with someone reputable/still in business/actually able to offer what hey advertise.
Does that make more sense?