You are on to it Jim. Why go and reinvent the wheel?
Look over the ditch yep they are doing things not too far wrong. I have to confess that I have had a very good look at their systems, *maintenance *operations *administration. Why not go have a chat with our NZ brothers and sisters and glean what they are doing, will save a lot of grief.
While you are there ask:- *can this be done better? *would you do this again? *are you completely happy with this?
My honest view over here, the egos are in the way and they so terrified some jobs might go. i.e. CASA & RAAus.
Have Part149 and Part103 should be implemented simultaneously and with that situation aviation in Australia will be in a dawning of new era.
Best thing in the world learn from someone else's successes, achievements and mistakes, quite simple.
KP