LROPS - the Belgian CAA have made it clear that Freddy van Gaever is regarded by them as "a cowboy" (quote from
De Morgen)- which doesn't bode well for any future airline!
The fact is that in order to get an Operating Licence (the piece of paper that says that your CAA says you're financially fit to operate) you have to submit a business plan, which has to include detailed financial projections. This is then used to determine capital adequacy - three months worth of expenses assuming nil income plus all start-up costs.
van Gaever is on the record as saying that "business plans are for people who not know their market and who are not sure about, believe and conviced in their own goals and targets. Setting up a businessplan costs millions of francs; wasted money."
As an amusing footnote, he bought collapsed airline CityBird's business plan from a farmer that had purchased a filing cabinet full of documents from the liquidators. How he thinks that will work - especially given that CTB didn't operate A330s and in any case went bankrupt, obviously proving that their business plan was fatally flawed - I don't know! <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
So, what about VG using DAT or VEX?
Allegedly, van Gaever is a major investor in VEX. However, I can't see VEX being too happy at having to put in place the infrastructure to support an additional aircraft type (the A330) as well as the ETOPS certification and management. In any event, VEX's AOC does not cover long haul operations; nor do they have the necessary route authorities nor the DOT402 issued by the US Department of Transportation that gives foreign carriers clearance to operate into the United States. Even if VEX were willing, none of this could realistically be accomplished in under six months.
Piggy-backing on VEX is, therefore, a non-starter.
That leaves DAT. DAT was given Sabena's route authorities and other designations, though as a completely seperate legal identity DAT has the same AOC and ETOPS problem that VEX would have. Also the DOT402 is not transferrable so that would have to be applied for.
DAT's problems are more serious insofar that if it doesn't get its funding in place Tuesday it doesn't have much of a future.
Nevertheless, as well as recruiting staff van Gaever has paid his deposits on the three A330s from ILFC, and is saying to all and sundry that he will start operating on the 1st March. As the Belgian CAA says, though, he seems to think that the rules don't apply to him.
He's going to be in for a nasty shock!