Chaps, if the airline could afford new planes they would. Frivolous snag entries, I am sure management could see through it. I fail to see how reporting faults to the extent you outline would alter the decision at a cash strapped airline?

Ibhayi, I assure you that there was nothing frivolous about the snag entries. As pilot in command it is your duty to enter any defect into the techlog. Failing to do so is negligent and unlawful. What did u expect us to do? Not report it to 'help' management? The planes were broken and got snagged, end of story. Not because we wanted new ones, not cuz we wanted to be funny, but because we didn't want engines falling off at 100' AGL and ruining our whole day. The money was there, but it never got to the maintenance dept cuz VB was too stingy. Therefore the blame lies squarely at his feet-as evanb and shrike so aptly put it in their last 2 posts. Spot on chaps, well said :D

When I flew at CE, one of the countless snags was a pressurisation controller that let the cabin climb at 2000fpm everytime you closed the thrust levers at TOD. We snagged it and it was "ground tested and found servicable," eventualy after two flights I threw toys with the engineers and was told "we don't have enough money for a spare" - at the same time a Porsche mechanic was flown by VB to SA to sort out his racing car!!! I made a plan and left CE soon after. When a lap time at the racing track is more important than safety in the air, one gets rather nervous. :eek:

VB is no loss to SA aviation, I just pity the crew that have been bitten by his actions. :yuk:

When travelling in SA in 2002, I took one sector (JNB~CPT) with CE. A relative who had then been working as a pilot for eight years suggested that I should not fly CE due to their having very poor maintenance procedures, led by the very poor attitude of VB. I did not travel with them again and warned my friends not to do so either.

He was right and all the stories I have heard point to VB being the very worst kind of proprietor. It appears that the SA CAA did act too much and too late, but it is fortunate that the airline closed without loss of life.

Lastly, very nasty for the crews and staff of CE but when I was in SA a year ago, it was obvious that there was vast over capacity and that the next crisis would resolve it. The fuel crisis still has more victims to come in SA and and around the world.

VB treated many people like sh#t and done people in..so the wheel turned..except even in his undoiing he still managed to drag other people down with him..he didn`t even have the decency to warn the crew that it was about to happen..he loaded his Porche and ducked..what a d**s..:suspect:

The worst Ozzie brew i have tasted was victoria bitter.VB:}:}

Ibhayi wrote :
How much maintenance can one custom Porsche racing car buy? and lets not assume VB,s nett (financial) worth is limited to one speedy racer. I think he grew up on a dairy farm, if only to learn how to milk things dry.

The game of musical spares was a hot favorite at NTW technical. Usually you shift the parts to other aircraft till the MEL expired there, or a new:hmm: one arrived, only now the music has stopped.

Mo, evB and Shrike:ok:

Year is 2005 and a bunch of CAA management and HOO's are discussing some serious findings brought to light by two young inspectors. The inspectors have on record sworn statements by technicians at NW detailing all illegal or rather dangerous maintenance practices they were forced to perform on a/c (registration marks were also provided). Unanimous verdict: suspend the AMO and ground specific a/c implicated.

In the mean time VB and his entourage is waiting ouside at the Airworthiness table. Two senior management figures charged with delivering the news join the VB crew at the table. The result: These two only suspend the London Gatwick maintenance, much to the disappointment of the young enthusiastic inspectors. One of them resigns from the section in fury and joins the accident investigation department. My point: Read what you may, this is the story of NW and the CAA....to be continued.