PPRuNe FUND APPEAL - A LITTLE SUPPORT FROM ALL WILL DO IT!

[InFinRetirement]

THE PPRuNe Fund was an idea that Danny had in June of last year and 'persuaded' me, in his usual style of smiles and smiles, that I should - well the rest is history and the fund is now under way.

PPRuNe's fund, is designed to assist the Wannabes who inhabit the pages of PPRuNe. It also includes those who aspire towards a career in aviation, whether it be flying from PPL to ATPL, ATC, engineering, ground ops, cabin staff or any other branch. It also includes anyone who has already stepped on the first rung of their particular ladder, or who are even half way up, but who need some financial help to reach their final goal.

Well, we will soon start selecting those whose motivation, ability and dedication warrant them being candidates for our mentoring scheme. There will be no room for time wasters or those without the nous to succeed. This scheme will bring them into contact with the very best mentors here present on PPRuNe who will be able to help and encourage them. If they are then recommended, we will do what we can to help them financially.

What we need is money! Your money. We are doing everything we can to raise funds, with things like rare pictures or prints of the TSR2 given to us by the amazing generosity of Nearly Man, and Bill Beck, the printer - who is also giving us some aviation memorabilia to sell. Bill is printing 1000 copies for free! 350 of the run will be signed by its original Test Pilot in the mid-sixties, W/Cdr ‘Bee’ Beamont. They will on sale soon for £45 each. The unsigned ones will be £15. We also have some superb large pictures of Harriers which were given to us by Harrier Test Pilot, John Farley, a regular of PPRuNe, and will be put up for auction on PPRuNe’s pages by the beginning of April. These will produce a large sum of money, but we will still need a lot more.

I will be writing to all the UK airlines very shortly asking them to donate to the fund or even to donate and/or offer sponsorships to wannabes who are suitable. I will also be writing to Flying Clubs to see if they can offer assistance and I will be making contact with other aviation organisations too. As a matter of fact we have already been offered 5 ATPL groundschool course places by one of the best schools in the country – another fine gesture.

We are actively pursuing charity status for the fund but this takes time but one of the factors which will help us achieve that, is a regular flow of money into the fund.

PPRuNe sends out more than 10 million pages every month to avid PPRuNers and we have more than 145,000 people reading those pages. There are now over 26,000 registered members, a figure that keeps on growing simply because between 50-100 new readers register every – single - day. A truly remarkable success story is PPRuNe! See for yourself the stats connected to the success of PPRuNe by clicking HERE (http://www.pprune.org/usage_stats)

Now what I would like to ask is this. Can you, every one of you who read PPRuNe and enjoy PPRuNe, give say £5 or £10 to the fund as a one-off or, perhaps, as a monthly donation? If your career is set why not put something back by adding to the fund, which now stands at around £2000.

We have already had some wonderful gestures of financial support but we need a flow of funds, and if you can help us help our wannabes they will forever be grateful.

So, under our slogan of “LET’S PUT SOMETHING BACK” perhaps you might consider it worthwhile to help our worthy fund – our own PPRuNe Fund.

The bank details for transfers are: Royal Bank of Scotland, Sutton Branch, 216-220 High Street, Sutton Surrey SM1 1NU

Account Name: The PPRuNe Fund – Account number: 10064739 – Sort Code: 16-32-45 or SWIFT CODE: RBOSGB2LA

Thank you

IFR




[This message has been edited by PPRuNe Towers (edited 18 February 2001).]

[The Nr Fairy]

IFR :

Did you not at some point in the past find a SWIFT code for people abroad who wanted to electronically transfer money ? Or was that rejected in favour of posting hard cash because of the large fees charged ?

[InFinRetirement]

I did indeed and I have now put that with the rest of the bank details. Thanks for pointing that out.

[InFinRetirement]

I am very pleased to say that I have had four indications today that money has, or is being transfered to the Fund today and to-morrow.

Thank you gentlemen. U know who you are.

IFR

[Code Blue]

Sometime in the next 36hrs my contribution will arrive :) honest!!

I have posted elsewhere on this but look for comments from the contributors: in view of the tragic demise of Captain S Clapson, how would people feel about naming one of the awards in his memory?


------------------
-.-- --.- -..-
[email protected]

[InFinRetirement]

Yes I saw that CB and it is noted. At this stage it is impossible to think of any award until we have a money pot that is sufficently well stocked. However, I am certain that will happen in the fullness of time, and as we get the fund raising activity well under way. Then we may be able to consider naming the awards we give. Indeed, if one of our main contributors were to be BA we might suggest to them that his name should be remembered!

The major award, whatever that turns out to be, will surely be given prominence by having PPRuNe well and truly attached to it though!

[VeeoneCUT]

As a BALPA member i would be happy for them to give you blokes a contribution, your boards are a lot more use than the bloody union i pay for.

Get them to dig in their pockets

[InFinRetirement]

Thank you very much V1C for your contribution.

An excellent idea! Be assured that when my letters go out to the wider UK aviation world I WILL include BALPA. And why the hell not - we will be putting potential members their way!!

[BAcrew]

I have decided to edit my post after doing some research and realising I have been the biggest jack-ass of all times. My sincerest and utmost apologies: I will no longer contribute to pprune as I feel I have done a serious diservice to you personally, IFR. I probably won't see you, but I DO owe you a drink. Sorry. I mean it.

[This message has been edited by BAcrew (edited 02 March 2001).]

[InFinRetirement]

BA Crew! I can hardly believe what I have just read! Your remarks are outrageous. I had to look at them a few times before I realised that you meant every word.

IF you ARE BA crew I suspect people will know who you are and dis-own you. If you are not I will leave it to the people who respect what is being done for them. I think you will find some outrage there too.

Oh, and btw, do take time to look at the Wannabes forum in regard to our forthcoming Seminars and see how many believe in what we do. And while you are at it look at my FIRST post - it really is quite revealing - but it won't tell you the amount of hours I and some of my colleagues in PPRuNe put in.




[This message has been edited by InFinRetirement (edited 21 February 2001).]

[PPRuNe Towers]

Hmmmm,

Happy to stand by our record BA Crew.

There's no shortage of wannabees who not only have met the team here at PPRuNe but are now in gainful employment.

I think their views on whether they've got good and helpful advice over the years is actually more important than anything we write.

Why not let those who've recently got jobs or are still working through the system let you know whether any of us has anything personal to gain by assistance given.

Regards from the Towers
Rob Lloyd
[email protected]

[CrashDive]

BACrew, imho you sir / madam are a disgrace to your name sake, and how dare you write such utter tosh !

I too have been in this business a long time, and still love every god-damn minute of it. I went through hell and high-water to get my break in to aviation, much like Danny (Capt PPRuNe), Robin (PPRuNe_Towers), and many of the numerous others involved with this site.

We personally know the genuine pain, angst, and hardship that getting a break in aviation can be and all of us thought that it would be a great idea to try and use the success of PPRuNe to 'put something back' - i.e. a way of paying our dues for our good-fortune at being involved with it. It is to this end that we have started the PPRuNe fund; and yes it's in it's early days but we all genuinely hope that it will provide a medium for many others, should they feel the need, to also feel that they have been able to assist some aspiring wannabe with their dream…. and 'put something back' !

As Robin said above, we can stand by our record for what we have done (and brought) to our aviation brethren and especially the numbers that are now in employment as a direct result of information / contacts / et al received via this site.

Just because you can't understand why some of us are more generous with our time and experiences, than perhaps you are willing to be, please have the good grace to accept that in this world there do exist some people who are willing to help others by way of 'something for nothing' - even if it costs us to do so -and accordingly we can do without snide slurs against our character thanks mate !

Ps. W.r.t whether or not we're are some sort of 'scam' operation, we're constantly asked if we make anything from our involvement with PPRuNe and to be brutally honest the running costs are only just met by the 'token' fees we charge for banner advertising - e.g. do you have you any idea just how much server / internet bandwidth we require to provide this service and just what this costs ?!


------------------
CrashDive

Administrator to The Professional Pilots RUmour NEtwork

May you live in interesting times !

[DeeTee]

Excellent post BAcrew!! I was so gobsmacked when I read it that I am setting up a Direct debit into the account as soon as I get off this machine. It has to be a wind up to provoke a response.

There is a huge history for this whole prospect. When I first started looking into aviation a number of years ago I lurked around on this board and it was mentioned then. When I first registered and posted during my initial training the concept was being fleshed out, and it has only been brought into reality due to the long hard work of people like RD(and his sim-days at Biggin), IFR, Towers, WWW etc.

As a legitimate user, ex-wannabe and RHS jet pilot I am delighted to add my voice to those supporting this activity. For the cost of one beer in a nightstop in Stockholm you can contribute to a fund which I wish had been in existence when I was an 'umble stude with mega money probs.....although as an 'umble F/O with mega money probs am I too late?

:)

[InFinRetirement]

Thanks Dee Tee

;) :) :)

[Sensible]

BAcrew,

When I first read your post, I was unusually lost for words. I can assure you that there are some warm kind humans who are prepared to help others without seeking any sort of financial reward, that is not to say that they do not receive a reward in the form of self satisfaction if that's the best word. You really should come along to a "bash" and meet some of the people involved in "the scam" and you will find many very interesting people many of whom either hold or have held high and respectable positions in the airline business, and others who are now Captains and F/Os who remember only too well the difficulties of realising their flying ambitions. Be assured, the path to the right hand seat is a long, lonely and financially painful one. The people who have offered their services to wannabees are generous dedicated people who have offered their services for absolutely nothing to help others.

I am sure that you would not have made your posting had you been fully informed and aware of the Stirling service IFR and many others actually provide - yes, for free!!

May I suggest that you attend the next "bash" and take the opportunity to meet some of the "conspirators" Be prepared to be ripped off for the price of a pint, I think you owe IFR one!

[swashplate]

Just read BAcrew's post - outrageous!!!

Don't think we'll see him/her at a bash, though....................

[airbourne]

BA crew,

I would like to be able to relay the language used by both PPrune Towers and Crashdive with regard to your comments but I dont think I can. Can I condem you in the way that others have? No!

Firstly to make a comment about IFR like that is threatening libel, so all I can say is that you are slimey little bollocks who deserves to be taken into a darkened galley and pounded severely by a spoon and then feed to a pack of hungry journos! You ignorant ****! Who do you think you are? I have known InFinRetirement for quite some time and have found him to be one of the nost upstanding individuals I have ever had the pleasure to deal with. You on the other hand I dont know, neither do I want to know!

I suggest you quickly retract your statement and apologise to IFR for your remarks.

TO ALL OTHER PPRUNERS: Many of you know me, so I apologise in advance for the bad language used, but the comments made by BAcrew were undeserved.

Airbourne

[This message has been edited by PPRuNe Pop (edited 22 February 2001).]

[pied piper]

So,

How do I make a contribution? Specificaly a one-off payment using on-line banking?

How do I get confirmation it has gone to the rightfull receipient?

I am a little past being a wannabe but this forum has given me hours of ?? (something), so I would like to make a small donation.

Keep up the good work

[InFinRetirement]

Thank you pied piper. If you go to the beginning of this thread all the details you need are there.

Thanks again,

IFR

[Flypuppy]

BA Crew, your comments are totally unjustified and without any foundation whatsoever.

If you had been snooping around this site for just the last 2-3 months you would surely be aware of what is going on. The people behind PPRuNe have been dedicating a lot of time and effort to assist people who may not otherwise get a shot at becoming pilots, engineers or cabin crew. Before you go making slanderous remarks don't you think you should do a bit more investigation?

[Superfly]

Ba Crew, I'm not gonna lose my time arguying that you're WRONG but gonna put a fiver in the pot !!!!! :) :) :) :)

Happy landings,

Superfly

[jet jones]

BA Crew where art thou??? Surely you must have some sort of reply to all of these....You have made a cautious and sensible statement without backing it up now what does that say about the statement? Well.......Surely the only scam is you matey...These people are well know by others on this board through the bashes so it cant possibly be a scam can it?

------------------
live to fly

[InFinRetirement]

I felt very annoyed with BAcrew for very obvious reasons. But now having done a search on PPRuNe I find that he is not BA at all, may have a PPL, was once a "Lieutenant in the Signals Regiment", had several rejects at interviews(including BA) and then suddenly boasts to another that he may have flown his father on a fleet he would not name!!

He is in fact a wannabe with around 40 posts on their forum from May last year.

I hate to say it but I feel a little sorry for him. He clearly has a king-size complex of one kind or another and appears to have a need to be heard.

Oh well, that's what happens when people can't seemingly make their way in the world.

However, if he accuses me again I will see him banned - at the very least!

[Devils Advocate]

Oh IFR please don't be too hard on him, I believe that they call it 'scare in the community', thus perhaps pity is more in order !?

[airbourne]

Personally, I still think you should duff him up for slander and libel!

[InFinRetirement]

Now where were we before we were rudely interuppted?

Ah yes funds! Well, I am very happy to tell you that I have received notice this morning from the bank, that the PPRuNe Fund is £100 better off due to the generosity of Dr H who lives in Newfoundland, Canada.(a silly mistake I made about California!) I do have his full name but I shall avoid stating it unless he wishes me to.

However sir, thank you very much indeed. It will be put to good use.

You should also be aware that other people have been putting in their £5 and £10 contributions - for which we at PPRuNe thank you very much.

IFR

[This message has been edited by InFinRetirement (edited 24 February 2001).]

[InFinRetirement]

And another £50 was put into the fund to-day by one our PPRuNers. Thank you very much ** it was most kind of you.

IFR

[This message has been edited by InFinRetirement (edited 26 February 2001).]

[BAcrew]

I have to clear this message too, as I am wrong. I too have an interest in the future pilots in the UK: I may not make it myself (I admit: I have been rejected by a few airlines, who hasn't?) but I have spent much of my free time since leaving the Army teaching Fieldcraft and Signals to Air Training Corps Cadets. I feel my stupid and thoughtless posting, which was one of my most pathetic acts was a diservice to myself, the Army, my airline and to the cadets I teach. May they never find out who I am. Sorry once again. I shall not make any postings after this one. I am being totally sincere. (I didn't tell my father: I am far too embarrassed...what if my wife finds out?!) Kindest regards, at least I have united you all into knowing what a tosser I am.

[This message has been edited by BAcrew (edited 02 March 2001).]

[PPRuNe Pop]

_____________________________________________
>>IFR: I am finding it difficult to believe that you're not running some kind of scam.>>
_____________________________________________

BAcrew, these were the first words of your post. They are not only insulting, they are libelous. If you don't know that ask your father - who you say "is a lawyer". We have enough lawyers on PPRuNe who would confirm that - unless you can substantiate your claim. A fact that would actually be totally impossible!

The purpose of The PPRuNe Fund, which seems to have escaped your attention on these pages, is to support wannabes in their quest to achieve the most important thing to them - getting a lift into aviation.

Your insults are, therefore, vindictive, and against them. Your attempt to defend your remarks is rather pathetic and will, no doubt, be treated with the contempt they deserve. Your vitriolic utterings in your last sentence on the other hand, are an indication of your power of common sense.

A glance at your previous posts since May of last year are quite revealing. So much so that you should have a look at them yourself before you make any further judgements against ANYONE on any PPRuNe page.

You have, as you should realise by now, made a very serious allegation against IFR and, therefore, against PPRuNe itself. You will NOT be allowed to do it again. You should, therefore, in future, please conduct yourself in the manner we expect from all members who use PPRuNe.

If that needs clarification please feel free to ask.