Apparently that Bob Fulton bloke knows a bit about aviation?
Nah, not much. No real talent. Must have had a bit of good luck?
Sunday 31 May 1986, late afternoon call to the home number of the CAA Regional Director OL:
BF: "All the boxes are ticked, will our AOC be issued by tomorrow morning?"
OL: (In an offended tone) "CAA requires 90 days notice of the issue of an AOC. You only made application two weeks ago!"
BF: "But we must operate tomorrow (Monday), we've done everything CAA asked. We have passengers booked and a commitment to the Queensland Government."
OL: "Well, that won't happen until the AOC is approved and issued."
BF: "We've made a commitment and must operate, so we will operate regardless."
OL: "You can't operate without an AOC!!"
BF: "We will operate private category until the AOC is issued. Refund all passenger fares at the gate. And we'll carry journos on every flight tomorrow, media coverage will be great and the people will know we are committed to providing them with an air service........"
OL: "We'll see about that!" *Click*
Two hours later *Ring Ring*
BF: "Hello?"
OL: "Your AOC will be delivered to Ansett Gate 49 in the morning!" *Click*
That was hilarious, the funniest thing that ever occurred in a 30 plus year aviation career!!
Sadly, OL passed away a year or two ago. He wasn't such a bad guy, certainly a cut above most of today's CASA managers!!
The CAA Examiners ML and BF turned out to be great guys and gave every help and assistance to Flight West in those early days.
East West Airlines looks like their next documentary.
Completed long ago I believe. Isn't the DVD for sale on their web site? The producer told me the Flight West story would probably be his last.