Evening,
Sorry to read redundancy notices were issued to-day to the remaining staff.
At the meeting last Thursday evening I was dismayed when the Administrators stated they would only be looking at the Club repords for the past three years. I feel they should go back atleast ten years as that was when the decline started with various committee members doing their own thing with the Clubs funds, it is always easy to spend some one elses money when you are not accountable - just like a local authority!
The case in question started when Littlewings used to do the maintenance and supply the Avgas but ran out of funds and could only buy limited supplies of fuel, thats is when the owner could be found and money provided, Air BP would only supply Avgas for cash only.
The situation got so bad, that Air BP finally stepped in and supplied Samson with a Bowser and sell Avgas on their behalf.
This worked well for the Club as they got the fuel at a discounted rate compared with the PAP (Posted Airfield Price) and got a good service from Samson. As time progressed certain arrangements were made with Samson by the then new GM (General Manager) for the Club to have the aircraft refulled at certain times of the day to avoid calling out Samson every time an aircraft needed fuel.
This worked very well, too well for the CFI and the loud mouthed Chairman which the club had at the time and it was decided the club had to have their own fuel supply, being a vendetta against the then owner of Samson. Various fuel companies were contacted which included Air BP and the last thing that Air BP wanted was another fuel supplier on the Airport. Reluctantly Air BP gave into the Club Chairman but refused to supply a Bowser.
The Club had to find a Bowser of their own, this was soon found as Gill Engineers had just retired their Bowser and was parked up awaiting the scrap man. It was bought by the Club (you could hear the laughing from the Gill hangar!) for more than Gill originally paid for it - Members Money - it was towed around to the Littlewings hangar and given an Aurthur Daley "Make Over" - nice little runner and will make a fortune - WRONG. With Gill it had been used as a Jet A1 Pressure Bowser and had to be converted to Avgas use - thats right, tank to be cleaned out, new filters, new pump and plumming, new Meter and the whole lot to be calibrated and finally the Bowser to be given a MOT by the Airport Authority so that it could be used on the apron.
A very expensive exercise, still that didn't matter, its only members money - Air BP finally agreed they could commission the Bowser and fuel would be provided at a contract rate to the Club which they would also sell on to the Club members who owned their own aircraft also at a reduced rate.
As it turned out this contact rate was slightly more that the now reduced PAP which Air BP introduced also they offered the new "Sterling Card" to private owners on the Airport which also gave them a reduced rate over the PAP. The local owners all got their "Sterling Cards" and enjoyed reduced rate Avgas which the Aero Club were unable to provide. Air BP - ONE Aero Club - NIL
still it was only Members Money which had been used on this disgusting exercise and the Chairman went on to grander things with his own aviation operation.
The above is only a very basic outline of what happened, as mentioned above, Littlewings maintained the club aircraft after a fashion, things got so bad it was decided to try out Samson for the 50 hour and 100 hour checks. Again this worked very well plus the aircraft were also bought up to a presentable standard. After a period of time Littlewings approached Samson with a view to buying them out, a valuation was carried out of Littlewings and it was found that their spares holding only valued about £3,000.00 and most items of the shelf we time expired and what little other equipment they had was of no commercial value and only fit for scrap, plus their was NO good will in the business, so Bill Adams (owner of Littlewings) was sent on his way.
While this was going on the Chief Engineer at Samson agreed a rolling type maintenance schedule for the Aero Club aircraft with the CAA which would avoid an aircraft suddenly going out of hours on a Thursday or Friday for the coming weekend. This schedule would cost the club in a region of £44,000.00 per year.
Those in charge of the Club at the time never mentioned to Samson at the time that they had already bought Littlewings for a reported £60.000.00 - it was only the Members Money -
Littlewings/Bill Adams - ONE Aero Club - NIL
the rest you know.
During the last 8 years the club has had two Stewards in the Club house - both disasters and left owning money which has never been recovered.
Club Stewards - TWO Aero Club - NIL
Two EXPENSIVE court Cases - TWO Aero Club - NIL
Others you know about, the last TEN years has been a catalogue of mismanagement and those responsible should be made to be accountable for their destructive actions.
