Every genuine attempt to substantially improve rostering over the years has been stonewalled. They could crew the system with less fatigue,
And so very conveniently CASA obliged citing regulatory capture, unions acquiesced so all the pre text for a CAO re write halted. In Europe most operators have far more robust fatigue and risk management processes, Australia remains the white trash of Asia. 'Early' starts and 'long day' changes kicked down the road and CAO 48.1 consigned to another review. 'Commercial' implications on airlines were 'excessive' and therefore could not be afforded.
Rest periods of minimum duration actually in a hotel and not still on board an aircraft or waiting for transport, too costly for a company to absorb.
They made the limits targets and were rewarded for it. Mean reversion comes to mind
But please mr/mrs SH pilot. Work 92 hours a month over Christmas for us to fill in for cancelled flying whilst we simultaneously threaten you at EA time with Jetconnect.
It's like the boy who cried wolf. Globally companies have tried this over and over as pay and conditions have reduced.
But trust has reduced too, along with goodwill. Like fuel it can run out with dire consequences.
As alluded to elsewhere I asked Did Winne the Poo go the the hunny(sic) pot one too many times...?
Kudos to the Cobham contract pilots for their industrial campaign, withdrawing co-operation has big impact when the whole thing relies on good will. Management spent that, laughing all the way to their personal bank...Helping out, is like drugs; just say NO!