Press Announcement - The Journal
The following article appears in today's Newcastle Journal. Sounds quite postive, although Northumbria Helicopter's involvement is not explicitly mentioned.
Aero club mayday brings millionaire Feb 18 2005
By Paul James, The Journal
A North flying school that plunged into administration last year with estimated debts of £200,000 has been rescued by one of the region's top businessmen.
Samson Aviation, owned by Morpeth millionaire Martin Ballinger, last night announced it had bought the assets of Newcastle Aero Club, the oldest flying school in the country.
The company has paid an undisclosed sum to buy six of the club's seven planes and the equipment in its flying school, restaurant and bar. Rumours of the takeover have been circulating among the 400-plus flying-club members for months, but until last night the future of the club's training remained uncertain.
Airport bosses, who had impounded the club's planes last November over unpaid landing fees, said they hoped to see it develop into a major centre for aviation training.
Samson has given some of the previous club employees their jobs back and also intends to revamp the 1930s terminal building as a social club for all airport employees.
Mr Ballinger, an accountant, set up the Samson Jet Centre 10 years ago at Newcastle on the back of an award-winning career in public transport.
He turned Go-Ahead from a small bus company in Gateshead into a flourishing and listed plc, valued by the market at more than £650m.
He confirmed last night that Samson had completed the deal.
The company is planning to rent out the aircraft and flying school to keep aviation training at Newcastle.
The club's oldest member, Ken Doyle, of Davenport Drive, Gosforth, last night said: "It is absolutely marvellous news and will raise spirits no end.
"We had known he had bought the assets but we were uncertain of what would happen to the flying side of the club.
"One of the big plus points is that he's a man who has been running a successful business there already for some time."
Graeme Mason, the airport's planning, development and facilities manager, said: "Newcastle International is delighted with the outcome of the Aeroclub Administration Order.
"It has enabled the future of flight training at Newcastle to be put on a sound financial footing.
"We see that facility, together with the existing Newcastle Aviation Academy, becoming an important centre for aviation staff training in the North of England. And of course we all look forward to the airport staff membership of the old terminal restaurant and bar."
Club administrator Mike Pott, partner of Newcastle accountants RMT, said "We are absolutely delighted that the administration has allowed a flying training facility to remain at Newcastle."
The club was launched on November 25, 1925, and has trained dozens of pilots who have gone on to fly professionally, including former England rugby player and RAF officer Tony Underwood.
As financial problems mounted last year, Newcastle General Hospital neurosurgeon and club member Nick Todd looked into offering it a financial lifeline, but said the sums did not add up.
Then after the administration order, Australian tycoon Elia Golfin correct planned to take on the club to expand his US flight-training firm.
But the 31-year-old former commercial pilot withdrew, saying he had been offered only a three-year lease rather the 10 he had hoped for.