Scheduled/Closed Charter, One and the same?

[aviation_enthus]

Just looking for some info in the CASA regs on the subject anyone have any reference or currently working for a company that conducts these charters?

[bushy]

This seems to be part of the"rubbery rules" system.
Mail runs used to be mail runs which carried mail, freight, and an occasional pax. Then it was decided that this had to be RPT. (there was no change in the rules, just their interpretation) to be charter they had to carry only mail.
Then the system changed yet again, and the mail runs became "closed charter", because the service was only available to people who lived and worked where the aircraft service went, or had a need to go there. ?????? Surely this is the case with ANY air service?
It appears to me that our so called "safety" authority is dabbling in commercial regulation of the industry.
Why is there a difference between scheduled and unscheduled services? A flight that has been arranged for the following day is legally said to be a scheduled flight, even if it only operates once.
Our system dupes the public. Non airline services in light aircraft (below 5700kg) should be called "licensed light aircraft services" and allowed to operate scheduled or unscheduled. It is safer to operate repetitive services than unscheduled ones. And the finances can be better when you sell seats. And the public would know what they are getting. The term "general aviation" really means just what it says-anything that flies.
Australia is a big country, and the major airlines only properly service the east coast.
Smaller air services are essential for the developement of the interior, and the north, and it appears to me that the industry is hobbled by our rules (or the interpretation of them) and our "safety" regulator is dabbling in de facto commercial regulation.

[Muffinman]

a_e

CAR 206 (1) (b) might be a good starting point if that is of any help. I think the 'closed' term is more a euphemism that crept into our industry speak, whilst our regs already dealt with the nature of this 'type' or 'style' of charter - you'll find it near impossible (if at all) to find any reference to the term 'closed'.

What used to be a bit of a bun fight between operators and the authority was 'charter substitution', hence an amendment to CAO82.0 way back in september 2005 - a bit of a thread drift.

Why not give the boys and girls on page 64 of the latest Flight Safety mag a bell, esp an old colleague, who is the really good looking one standing on the far left -he'll have an answer for you!! :ok:

[aviation_enthus]

thanks for the responses! was aware of the attempt by casa to make mail runs RPT, one of the big things against running 'RPT' up here would be the work that would have to be undertaken to upgrade most strips to meet the standards (security fence anyone?).

[Torres]

Oh, yeah!! :ok:

Here we go again..........

Where's Creampuff when you need him??? :} :}