Just came back from long service leave and encounter the sad news and assorted comments on TAAE.
However I received the true guts from a close friend who heard it from his next door neighbor’s uncle - who just happened to be familiar with the goings on at National Jet where his old man worked - who in turn was told by a reliable source – the hangar cleaner – that the truth was revealed by a taxi driver with strange eyes – probably from the drugs supplied by his mate’s sister who is now in jail – which is a ****** because she sold them and herself pretty cheaply – that TAAE will be purchased by Aeroflot.
Last night it took me three reads to get the story worked out. And some of the opinions are good. Then – it all looks that way after a full bottle of red.
Today I phoned another source of information - sometimes reliable – sometimes way off beam.
He confirms various aspects reported on PPRUNE.
It seems that d-concord’s comments that TAAE didn’t go titsup because of CASA – but despite them - are correct. And this is now becoming more obvious – and stated well by Aviator-in-the-know – “the company had been bled dry by the owners”.
However d-concord’s reporting reflects some considerable anger for the ex-CASA ex-Ansett now Chief Pilot at TAAE. It would be interesting to know more about what seem to be personal issues between d-concord and the CP.
The blanket statement by d-concord that “The management of this company is atrocious” may be coloured by whatever it is that upsets him with the CP.
Now Wingnuts comments about “CASA compliance” as an explanation for TAAE going titsup also appears to be incorrect.
The “last two C Checks” overrunning budget is off the mark.
TAAE have been in existence for something like 12 months and their contract with AaE has been in place for about 9 months.
Under TAAE – there has been only one major check – and that was on VH-VLF (previously registered as VH-AUP) and involved a complete heavy check – up to a 10C. This check did not involve CASA requiring every component without a known history to be changed. The aircraft has been operating in Australia as a freighter for five or six years.
However one aircraft – being VH-TXH did undergo extensive maintenance in September 2002. But not under TAAE – as it did not exist then. This aircraft apparently come from the USA as a **** bucket and CASA required significant component replacement. This was not unexpected by the more astute observers at Aero Marine (the company that TAAE eventually took over). This aircraft was not inspected prior to its arrival and delivery was arranged by Trans World Leasing – the Company that eventually spawned TAAE.
The more recent aircraft – being VH-VLH and VH-VLI – were sourced from Europe and had numerous components changed prior to their arrival in Oz. But it is unclear whether these costs were borne by TAAE.
These aircraft have yet to undergo heavy maintenance by TAAE – and this may now not happen - with the demise of this Company.
Aviator-in-the-know – any chance of publishing the Report to Creditors on PPRUNE??
Sore-foot