Biz Jets, Ag Flying, GA etc.The place for discussion of issues related to corporate, Ag and GA aviation. If you're a professional pilot and don't fly for the airlines then try here.
I heard they shut German office because of weak management team down there and economic slowdown, + they buying some operator in Central Europe and they dont need extra AOC.
I read something about insolvency above there - this have nothing to do with shutting a company down GEXRS - this means a bunsh of open invoices nobody can pay!
Can anyone comment on Ocean Sky's situation in the UK - eg are their bills being paid or not?
Is their situation in Europe a prediction of the same thing about to happen in the UK? I believe that several debts have gone to County Court Judgements against them in the UK.
Just to set the record straight. Midwest Executive Aviation Ltd, opted not to renew a new lease at Birmingham after our first three year lease expired to concentrate on our core business of smaller regional airports. I don't see how you deduced that closing one of three offices constitues going "bankrupt".. The company constitutes two further FBO locations at Durham Tees Valley Airport and Newquay Cornwall Airport with new dedicated facilities opening at both in early 2009 and two possible new airport openings.
I am not a big fan of PPRuNe for this very reason and rarely contribute (unless to correct a completely incorrect statement such as this). If any aviation company that has over the past six months, reduced the size of their operation, made redundancies, closed offices or returned aircraft are "going bankrupt" then I think we are all doomed!
Wild, speculative rumours, without any substance such as this for any carrier, FBO or airport are extremely damaging. Suppliers and customers reading these posts, take them as gospel and either suspend lines of credit or stop chartering their aircraft. If you say that an operator is looking fragile, dont you think then that brokers will be reluctant to use them. If you state that an FBO is going bust do you think that fuel companies and airports may hesitate over awarding credit? Reckless unfounded rumours will only make the whole current economic climate in 2009 more difficult for everyone.
Personally I admire the likes of Ocean Sky for what they have achieved to date. There isn't many organisations that could have achieved such a significant rate of growth in such a short space of time. I am sure that they will have to, like everyone else, cut back and close down areas of business that aren't performing. Anyone who is carrying any surplus fat in 2009 is going to struggle.
I appreciate that the concept of PPRuNe is "rumours" but there are positive rumours, such as who has a new aircraft, new FBO facilities, whos recruiting and offering jobs, which airports are expanding and there are negative rumours, like who is going bust who isn't, operators that have made people redundant who aren't. Why isn't PPRuNe used to help develop businesses and share useful information like other industry "blogs" that actively help business owners and employees develop alike.
Like I said, I dont use PPRuNe as a rule, but I thought it worth using this comment by "aviationga" to say my piece and to take this opportunity to wish all colleagues, customers, suppliers and everyone in our industry the very best of luck for 2009 and if we pull together as an industry, it won't be so bad!
Best wishes to all,
Nick Weston.
Managing Director
Midwest Executive Aviation Limited.
Yes of course I remember you! How are you. Thank you to you and "DC-9-32" for agreeing. I for one would like to ask the Moderators to monitor comments that could affect a companys future. I am happy to put my name to my thoughts and comments and stand by them as you have too Gerry and so does my good friend Phil Brockwell on a regular basis. If everyone had to do this maybe it would be more constructive?
We have some good organisations here in the UK and Europe to enable us to work closely together and support each other, such as BBGA, EBAA and BACA and PPRuNe should be part of this. I think we all know what 2009 is going to be like so lets all pull together and all make a New Years resolution to keep our industry alive. For those of us that like Gerry and I been in this industry a long time (23 years now for me) knows that this climate will pass and we have had a recession before and we will all be here next New Year if we do what we have to do and be sensible.
Moderators, how about a seperate forum where everyone has to use their own name to constructively network in a positive way? I know that Lawyers for one have their own blogs where they can ask colleagues and counterparts advice on any issue. Does anyone else feel that this is a good idea?
See, I told you I didnt use PPRuNe much and now you have me replying!!
Hey Gerry,
Is that really you??????????
I remember you from the old days when I flew for Thurston Aviation at Stansted and regularly came into Manch in KingAirs and an old 125..... Good for you old mate, you were ALWAYS excellent and gave us great service
Nick,
Good wishes for you also, I use your company whenever we visit one of your bases and always get great service, forget the bull that sometimes appears here, what matters is the quality of your company and your staff, both of which are superb. Keep it up please, we appreciate you
As can be read by subsequent posts to Midwest Executive's excellent post #88, irresponsible rumour mongering is extremely damaging, unprofessional and cowardly when using the anonymity of PPRuNe to spread scurrilous misinformation.
Maybe the moderators should consider using the message of that post at the beginning of each forum to remind Ppruners of their responsibilities when maligning others, particularly as ANYONE can read this website.
Good luck to us all in the New Year!
You will have noticed that I have deleted my post regarding Ocean Sky in the spirit of the Season. Please remember this post was written about Ocean Sky and not Mid-west and the only mention of yourself was, I quote from my post "Since Mid-west went bankrupt" which turns out not to be as factual as I was led to believe.
Maybe "Bankrupt" was the wrong word to use and maybe "facing financial difficulties" comparing you to Marks and Spencers rather than Wooolworths would have been far more appropiate. I for sure was not aware of your other bases and admit to not knowing enough about your organisation to pass judgement. In fact the only things I do know for fact is that you were a one man operation and that before venturing into Birmingham you were based at Coventry until the airport refused to renew your lease there! (just so you are aware your own website is still advertising Coventry and I believe Blue City have been the agents there for over a year now) Searching this site I also note you are at Dundee and Edinburgh Airports.
Please also remember that this is a RUMOUR network and not the Aviation version of the BBC News. My post about Ocean Sky setting up at Birmingham through the back door came from very reliable sources and everything I put was the latest rumours and word on the street or should i say in the air. That is what this site is here for I believe.
There is in fact a disclaimer on each page to verify that not everything is 100% accurate-
As these are anonymous forums the origins of the contributions may be opposite to what may be apparent.
Maybe now you have closed an office or two and have time on your hands you and your friends could set up a Professional Pilots Actual News Network based on confirmed facts only!
I wish you luck in your new stations, now let this thread revert back to Ocean Sky
Sorry for posting a rumour I still believe to be true on a rumour network? I don't think so! I do however regret my choice in words in a very small part of my post, nothing damaging intended ..
Yes this is a rumour network but right now we're all in very difficult and challenging times so rumours which may damage a company's reputation and viability are not on! Your post was callous at the very least. I hope I speak for most here, the kind of rumour you were spreading is not wanted here! What purpose does it serve? None and may do a lot of damage.
Now if you were a real man, you'd apologise and get on with your life!
I find it difficult to contemplate how I have caused such outrage with my post about OC and for one moment do not understand how you can call it Callous by saying that they are possibly opening up a new base???!!. The source was very reliable and there is no smoke without fire. I realise I used one word in a brief mention of a second company which was not as accurate as I had heard it was by industry colleages and therefore I removed my post as a goodwill gesture. Reading various threads on here in the past it seems that everyone who posts a message gets their head bitten off and is ultimately the bad guy. We are all professionals and would not in the slightest wish any damage on any company. Happy new year to you all, I for one hope this new year brings a better outlook for the industry in general.
Let's stop knocking people without good cause can we? This is a difficult enough environment to trade in. I've heard nothing untoward about OS, for my part.
Ocean Sky keeps growing despite downturn By Kate Sarsfield
From Flight International 23 Jan 2009
Quote:
UK business aviation services provider Ocean Sky is expanding rapidly and aggressively despite the economic crisis pummelling sectors of its business.
Within the next couple of weeks the London-based company will open a new operation in the Swedish capital Stockholm and a third fixed-base operation in the UK at a leading airport. Ocean Sky is also planning to unwrap another European FBO by the end of the third quarter.
"We have always been ambitious in our growth plans and the economic downturn has not changed that," says Ocean Sky chief executive Kurosh Tehranchian. "We could sit back and worry or just get on and prepare the business for when the economy starts to grow again," Tehranchian says. "The business aviation market is solid and we are in it for the long term," he says.
Ocean Sky operates a fleet of 12 mainly large-cabin and long-range business jets - six owned and six under management - has seen charter demand from its core oil rich markets of Russia and the Middle East fall dramatically since late last year. "We were largely unaffected in the early stages of the downturn, which hit the banking and financial sectors," Tehranchian says.
"From early November it began to hit other sectors savagely including energy-based economies and very wealthy individuals [including Ocean Sky customers] saw the value of their assets plunge, forcing them to pair back their spending," he adds.
Tehranchian expects the charter market will remain in the doldrums for the remainder of 2009, but begin to recover in 2010, stimulated by the need and desire of so many individuals and companies to "experience the convenience of business aircraft travel again". He says: "This will be a bad year in terms of charter, but we are making sure we build the rest of the business and have enough resources to support us through the downturn."
Ocean Sky Sweden will open its doors in February, offering maintenance repair and overhaul, aircraft management, charter and FBO services. "We should get our Swedish aircraft operator's certificate in May," Tehranchian says. Ocean Sky will add only Gulfstream types to the AOC. "We are starting with two managed aircraft and by the end of the year we hope to have six Gulfstreams in the fleet," he adds. The company, which also has FBOs in Prestwick, Scotland and in Manchester - where it recently acquired aircraft interiors business - is planning to expand to the Middle East within a year.
Ocean Sky / Mid West
Ocean Sky keeps growing despite downturn By Kate Sarsfield
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