Court Action at Blackpool
I hope this information is useful, or at least interesting. I also hope a discussion can be had without reference to Mr Bateson or Murgy. The following affects all aircraft owners and the results could be devastating.
Blackpool Airport, as you probably are aware, landed themselves with a huge debt of their own making. They allowed Comed Aviation credit facilities for around £700,000 and when Comed failed they then impounded aircraft under Section 88 of the CAA Act 1982. This act says they can impound any aircraft “Operated” by the person “in default”. In our case, the chipmunk which has now been grounded for 14 months, had been “used” by Comed and had £568.75 of landing fees allocated to it. I must stress that if they win court action the aircraft will be sold and then ALL the money used against ALL the debts. It is not just a matter of paying £568.75 for the chipmunk to be released.
We have been served court documents including the following sheet.
Please notice the debts owed on the three aircraft detained and taken to court and the one aircraft engine being taken to court compared to the debts owed on those aircraft not detained.
Analysis of Comed Debt by Aircraft ( Sorry for the bad layout)
Registration - Charge - Detained - Court Action Taken
GBMKK £853.13 Yes - Yes
GAYRG £853.13 Yes
GSFHR £5,875.56 Yes - Yes (only for value of 1 Engine)
GBDWY £3,255.1 0 Yes
GBRPL £2,852.50 Yes
GBBEV £2,196.25 Yes
GBJXA £568.75 Yes - Yes
GBXIA £568.75 Yes - Yes
GBDGM £853.13 Yes
Total £17,876.30
PHFVA £19,012.36 No
GONEW £16,325.60 No
GBBEY £12,757.03 No
GBBEF £583.55 No
PHFVC £45,612.59 No
GBGYT £5,699.10 No
GFLTY £2,390.05 No
GOBPL £98,623.48 No
GODUB £87,252.25 No
GTABS £2,264.91 No
GBSSE £2,958.21 No
GBULH £4,217.82 No
EIBPD £2,132.80 No
EICPR £630.00 No
GBFWE £2,593.67 No
GPLAJ £1,015.00 No
GPLAH £692.50 No
GBBGB £15.00 No
GBMBC £1,972.59 No
GJAJK £3,010.09 No
GRVRD £10.00 No
SEKGV £525.00 No
GCITY £1,331.30 No
GBTHA £30.00 No
GTVIP £70.00 No
GILTS £15.32 No
GREAT £50.02 No
Total £329,666.54
Allocation -£4,652.88
Total £325,013.66
Landing Fees £84,194.52
Pay Load £198,800.20
Out of Hours £42,018.94
Money Received -- £85,000 from released aircraft? (But how much has this cost in legal fees to recover?)
BALANCE = £250,013.66
Fuel £251,998.31
Vat £94,725.90
BALANCE = £596,737.87 YES almost £600,000!
Do you consider it negligent of the airport management to allow these debts to accrue in the first place?
Should the airport be able to use third party assets to cover credit they authorised without the knowledge of the third party?
Your comments please!