AOC or not?
 

Just my opinion (having been in your position years ago): Neither option really fits the criteria of a 'cost sharing' flight but unless you bend the aircraft in a high profile manner I doubt anyone is going to notice or care.
The later case you mention with the other contractor could get tricky of you have an accident and that contractor goes after compensation from someone as the someone will probably be yourself.

Legitamicy aside, I've completed such flights as a PPL years ago and I personally wouldnt worry about CASA, as you have already found they cant even give you an answer themselves. Just consider your own liability if there was to be an accident.

Your own staff is fine. The other contractor's staff is a charter as such. Unless he employ's you as their own personal company pilot. Doesn't matter how much he pays you as long as you have a contract and pay tax on your other income.

AWB

You'll probably find insurance companies will be the deciding factor. I have had a few hirers that were doing work like this, but had to stop because there was no compo cover for being "other than a fare paying passenger". Yes, the compo people would prefer that you drive your staff there through croc infested waters...it's nuts.

Would it be easier/practical to operate under the AOC of an established Charter company?

You might talk to these folk for advice, they even own and operate a couple of Metros to support their bush work. Pilots work the tools as well when on site. Unless you're competitors. :eek:

Jetstream Electrical Darwin Electrician

As others have said, the issue will be insurance. You need to think of the "what ifs". Hypothetically and simplistically, you cross hire the aircraft, the engine fails and during the subsequent inevitable landing the aircraft crashes, you are killed and so is one of your passengers. It is unsure whether or not the fatalities have occurred because you messed up the landing or because the engine failed and you had nowhere to land except where there was a tree.

Does the passenger's family sue your dependents who have just lost their husband / father for your poor piloting? Do your dependents sue the owner of the aircraft and his maintenance organisation for poor maintenance? Who conducts the maintenance? The lawyers could take years to sort out the settlements. There are to many many combinations of liability to go through one by one.

If you survived but your one of your passengers didn't then the passenger's dependents could sue you. You could lose everything because your main business is not as an operator of as you have no AOC. Then another passenger says that they were all coerced into flying with you and around you go again. I don't know what type of license you have. I don't know if your workforce are contractors or staff. I don't know who your customer is but if its landing at a mine site or private airstrip, the customer may require insurance, evidence of your qualifications etc. How will you manage fatigue?

I don't know enough details of your individual case but I get paid to provide aviation advice to companies, including insurance companies. My honest (if unpalatable) advice to you would be don't even think about this as being a sensible option.

Sunny is right , of course...thats why GA is in such a schemozzle today.

All the advice, maybe well and good...BUT the complexity of the 'regs' and obscurity of some that can be dug out to kill off the operator boggle the mind..
The OP may well go for an AOC...and by the time he/she has played jump the hoops and survived the paperwork blizzard, paid out mega bucks..and the AOC approval finally turns up after 13 months...then the business opportunity is probably long gone, aircraft hire no longer available ...so its all for nought.
How the hell dopey Governments and its agencies can sqwark.about 'jobs and growth' when the system prevents anyone taking rapid advantage of a business opportunity.
Been there, been 'done' over that years ago. Had an Ops inspection for an AOC variation.adding .CHTR. All OK ..Final statement from the CAsA person departing..'Approval to operate be with you in 48 hrs'. Finally came thru SEVEN MONTHS later after some (expletives deleted) phone calls. But all was lost...business that was to hand initially and cross-hired a/c loong gone!
Over the years I have come across many companies carrying their own employees, or passengers for other than a charter..ie the cost of the week-end on a remote island made no mention of how they got there, being flown in by a PPL. But carry a camera only !!!! Kaboom !!
Its a minefield.!
Just be careful, grassy that you dont blow yourself up...financially and mentally.

Folks,
"Industry Insider" nails it. I have been around quite a while, including for many matters concerning CAR 206, and possible insurance/employment law ramifications are the biggest threat. Without that coverage, with the precisely detailed operation being accepted for coverage, including "workers compo", you are betting your personal and business assets.
CASA is the lesser of your problems.
Tootle pip!!

I would suggest that there is an agreement between the casino and their high rollers about who covers what and under what circumstances. Private corporations carrying their clients and prospective clients as a courtesy or as hospitality is very common.

Toiled for many a year as a full time salaried pilot for a private operator who was engaged in the energy business. CASA were trying to make them subject to an AOC, but the company managed to fend them off, don't know the state of play today. We carried all sorts of people, company employees of course, contractors to the company, who I believe paid for the ride through some accounting system associated with the contract, politicians, town councillors, you name it.