Aeromat is correct
CASR - Part 135.383 Minimum Flight Crew
(a) No air carrier may operate an aircraft in any air transportation service operated under this part, with fewer than two pilots, where the aircraft:
(1) is an aeroplane with a certified seating configuration of 10 or more passenger seats;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Air Transportation Service” - The operation for remuneration, including positioning flights, of any aircraft which is listed on the air carrier’s Air operating certificate.
The Cessna Caravan under the FAA approval is only 9 Passengers but under the EASA approval can take 12 passengers. Many operators here in Indonesia operate under the EASA approval.
As far as the training bonds are concerned.. They are just that, a Training Bond. An amount that the new pilot pays and providing they stay for the agreed period as per their contract they get back their bond after 12 months as PIC.
This was started after a number of new pilots went through the expensive training and disappeared only a few months later. The bond is their to recoup at least a small part of the training cost incurred by the company. If the pilot does the right thing by the company, as they agreed to, then they get it all back.
Don't be fooled trying to compare a Type Rating to the Training Bond. In Australia you are lucky to get a C208B type rating for less than $5000.
Now add the cost of the 5 + day ground school, 3-5 hours of flight time in the aircraft. Government imposed mandatory training, accommodation, meals, work visas and the list goes on and on. The Bond does not come close to covering even 50% of the expenses the company outlays just to get the pilot from starting to line checked.
The channel 4 show is a good representation of how things are in Papua. I know most of the guys that were shown and they are all amazing pilots. Well done guys.
Andy