Life at RAK
Ok, here's the latest.
As some of the other posts have mentioned, JF left. Another way to say it might be that he wasn't left with much choice.
The new guy is doing a great job,universally liked and almost immediately turned it back in the right direction to getting the AOC.
Some postholder info. VP Gnd ops post was vacant so they moved the occ manager in to this role as we was more than qualifed so no problem there. Several applicants for VP security but so far nothing solid. VP maintenance and VP flt ops both great guys, experienced and genuinely determined to get this thing off the ground.
The aircraft...
No 737. It has been sold back to the company from where it came. Another will not be coming.
The 757 is in AUH, painted and prepped, however, a few people didn't like the colour and want it repainted, remains to be seen the outcome.No problems with getting it on the A6 register.
The AOC, this has been a big issue from the beginning. As was previously mentioned the company was started on the back of an existing one called Hamra Air, operating a HS125. It was being run by a bunch of pakistanians who ran it badly, quelle suprise, and hid all the nasty truths from the then new management. GCAA audit findings went unrecitifed and no actions were taken so the AOC was suspended. In the meantime, the op manuals were in dire shape too so these have been re-written with some outside help.
You are just getting the abbreviated version here but there was alot more in between, latest status is that there will be a GCAA audit this week and then the decision will be made.
As for the late salaries. Yes it's true, there is one signatory for the whole company and whenever he is unavailable things don't get signed, including salaries.
Board meeting was held on dec 28 but outcome unknown as only ceo and finance director there.
What I do know is that he has run over budget and fired a bunch of people with no warning. The present pool of 737 guys were hard at work with getting the manuals right and were promised a TR on the 757 but they now fear the worst and when they return here after their xmas break they feel the deal will be taken back and they will get sacked too.
More will be known as to the direction things will take in the next week or so.
Hope this helps.
SJ
T