busmonkey

USA3000 Airlines COO Angus J. Kinnear is retiring as of Aug24th 2008 (thank the gods) and a new COO has been appointed:-
Mr Steven Harfst currently at Indigo Airlines of India.

Anyone worked with this guy or anyone know how he runs his ship? Let's just say that under Kinnear if you aren't a F/A then you don't count. We are hoping the field will be a little less biased with this new guy.

DunkinDonut

Dear BUSMONKEY,

If Angus has finally decided to retire then it is indeed a very sad day for Aviation.

Before you 'bash' someone with a fine record in the Aviation Industry, well respected on both sides of the Atlantic you should note that Angus is well known for being hands on,running a very tight ship and not suffering fools likely be they Office Staff, Pilots or indeed the Cabin Crew.

Many people (including myself) were fortunate to work with Angus and learned much whilst serving with him. Personally I always found Angus to be very fair but I can understand that if you are a Pilot you may not have experienced 'his better side.'

Many people in CUN also remember Angus and how he masterminded the relief effort to fly in water, medical supplies etc during the devastating hurricane a couple of years ago.

In my opinion, we shouldn't 'Thank the Gods' - The Airline business needs more people like Angus during these troubled times... sadly, I note few who come anywhere near his stature.

I trust that others will join me in wishing Angus well in his retirement.

DUNKINDONUT.

punkalouver

Wasn't it Angus who decided that Canada 3000 should merge with Canjet and Royal Airlines and perhaps got the wool pulled over his eyes by Royal on their financial state. At the same time doing what seems to always fail in Canada, changing from a charter airline to a scheduled airline?

Fly380

I remember Angus Kinnear from Donaldson Intational Airways 1972/3/4. He finished up as Ops Manager. Donaldson went broke. I don't remember him as being very popular when I worked there. I didn't like him.

411A

I know one of the guys that originally interviewed for the position, and was told at the time that he was by far the best qualified, but then found out the position went to the announced Harfst...word on the street is that 'ole Angus cherry picked his own successor, so don't look for many changes.

merlinxx

I also remember this bloke (or should I say near bloke) from 'Doubtful If At all' days, and before. Never worked with him, but had to block his motor to get some hangar bills paid, then we welded the hangar doors together, well they were ours! Very acid and unpleasant person. He did not have a good reputation at LGW.

busmonkey

DunkinDonut, you must have worked very close to Angus! perhaps you work for us in CUN? apparently you were never in the bar in PHL to hear his very vocal and public negative comments about pilots, while he glorified the FA's.
That being said, he was always available and open to discussion.

But the point of my thread was not to "bash" or eulogize Angus, but to gather info on the inbound FNG.

411A

Talk to the folks at North American, where Steve was the former COO.

ELAC

Well, if it's going to be a debate about Angus ...

I worked for Angus for 10 years. There's no doubt that he's a unique individual and also no doubt that employee/pilot relations were never his strongest suit. Having said that, there are few other COO's in the business who have been able to guide airlines into market positions where they were well received by consumers, well respected within the industry and profession, and profitable, all at the same time. Angus did that with Canada 3000 and I believe has experienced similar success with USA 3000. Is he the easiest guy to work for? Hardly. But having borne witness to the far more inept attempts at managment that I've seen in other carriers I'd happily work for him again.

busmonkey: Before trashing Angus too much, consider how many other carriers in your market niche have pulled the plug and left their employees high and dry in the past 9 months. That your carrier is still a going concern is at least in part due to the abilities of your managment. Perhaps you should give 'Gus a bit of credit there?

punkalouver: Somewhat the reverse. The deal with Leblanc to purchase Royal was not Angus' doing. He just ended up having to deal with the disasterous results of Lecky having bought a pig in a poke.

ELAC

Bus Junkie

DunkinDonut:
Many people in CUN also remember Angus and how he masterminded the relief effort to fly in water, medical supplies etc during the devastating hurricane a couple of years ago.

Yes he did well in CUN, but the same hurricane wreaked havoc in FLL and we did not get a word of thanks: no electricity for almost two weeks (cold showers aren't wonderful), had to boil water for two weeks (thank goodness for the gas bbq), over $38k in damage including the loss of part of my roof.

Not one word of thanks for not missing or being late to a trip. Not even the slightest recognition of the hurricane from anyone in management.

ELAC:
busmonkey: Before trashing Angus too much, consider how many other carriers in your market niche have pulled the plug and left their employees high and dry in the past 9 months. That your carrier is still a going concern is at least in part due to the abilities of your managment. Perhaps you should give 'Gus a bit of credit there?

We don't really have a niche. We are only keeping our one domestic destination open to keep our 121 domestic active. Our only customer has always been Apple Vacations (which is owned by our owner). They have a niche. We just move a very few of their customers. We are mainly here as a bargaining chip to keep the charter company's costs low.

dada

i worked with angus (mccoatup) at air 2bob and thort he was a grand chap. fair, not liked by all but a good egg in my opinion

PBY

I have worked for Angus in C3 as an F/A and so far it was the best company I have ever worked for.