Varsity Express
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My guess is that one of the key factors which may test them will be whether their ops manual requires them to have a Deconfliction Service outside CAS. If it does, they'll regularly get vectored al over the shop by Brize, who will then dump them on to non-radar Oxford
Traffic loading at these times is 'normaly' light. The only conflictor will be the 'Traffic Survey' C172 :-).
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Varsity is a 'pay-to-fly' scam.
Co-pilots are all being drawn from Cabair. 10 Co-Pilots interviewed recently and all offered the chance to pay £15,000 for a Jetstream 31/32 rating. They will then be bonded for a further £15,000 over a period of 2 years. Moreover, paying and bonded for what? Varsity is at most a ticketing agent. They are using Linksair to fly the route. Varsity do not have an AOC or any of the other required aviation paraphernalia, like an aeroplane.....! But who cares? Give them £15,000 and you'll get a type rating! Right now it's all ideas, paper and other people's money. Martin Halstead will also be a Co-Pilot. So with 10 flights a week and 11 Co-Pilots, I'd suggest the new chaps aren't going to be doing much flying.
It seems to me that this is an interesting example of what is happening elsewhere. However, this time it seems that the airline has been set-up as a carrot to merely attract inexperienced pilots to pay to fly. Whilst the co-pilot is paying to be there, Varsity can afford to sell seats at £149 and only operate twice a day! The current schedule is not sustainable otherwise (I am aware of plans for more routes).
In my opinion this is not a traditional operation, just an elaborate way to extract more money from young pilots. Cabair are aware of this scam and should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Halstead on the other hand, may finally make his money out of those he is so desperate to join.
I know of many(~20) Jetstream 31/32 rated guys most with 1000+ hours on type, all rejected. All of whom know it does not cost £15,000 for a Jetstream type rating. The fact that there is a surplus of experienced and typed candidates surely negates the need to ask people to pay a start-up airline for a type rating?!
Please treat this with caution.
To those Cabair guys that have paid - I know it's tough out there, but would your money not be better spent elsewhere? Halstead's last operation lasted six weeks, this time may be better, but Ryanair/Easyjet/anywhere looks like a good deal compared to this.
Co-pilots are all being drawn from Cabair. 10 Co-Pilots interviewed recently and all offered the chance to pay £15,000 for a Jetstream 31/32 rating. They will then be bonded for a further £15,000 over a period of 2 years. Moreover, paying and bonded for what? Varsity is at most a ticketing agent. They are using Linksair to fly the route. Varsity do not have an AOC or any of the other required aviation paraphernalia, like an aeroplane.....! But who cares? Give them £15,000 and you'll get a type rating! Right now it's all ideas, paper and other people's money. Martin Halstead will also be a Co-Pilot. So with 10 flights a week and 11 Co-Pilots, I'd suggest the new chaps aren't going to be doing much flying.
It seems to me that this is an interesting example of what is happening elsewhere. However, this time it seems that the airline has been set-up as a carrot to merely attract inexperienced pilots to pay to fly. Whilst the co-pilot is paying to be there, Varsity can afford to sell seats at £149 and only operate twice a day! The current schedule is not sustainable otherwise (I am aware of plans for more routes).
In my opinion this is not a traditional operation, just an elaborate way to extract more money from young pilots. Cabair are aware of this scam and should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Halstead on the other hand, may finally make his money out of those he is so desperate to join.
I know of many(~20) Jetstream 31/32 rated guys most with 1000+ hours on type, all rejected. All of whom know it does not cost £15,000 for a Jetstream type rating. The fact that there is a surplus of experienced and typed candidates surely negates the need to ask people to pay a start-up airline for a type rating?!
Please treat this with caution.
To those Cabair guys that have paid - I know it's tough out there, but would your money not be better spent elsewhere? Halstead's last operation lasted six weeks, this time may be better, but Ryanair/Easyjet/anywhere looks like a good deal compared to this.
Last edited by cockygashandlazy; 8th Feb 2010 at 02:10.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Varsity is a 'pay-to-fly' scam.
Co-pilots are all being drawn from Cabair. 10 Co-Pilots interviewed recently and all offered the chance to pay £15,000 for a Jetstream 31/32 rating. They will then be bonded for a further £15,000 over a period of 2 years. Moreover, paying and bonded for what? Varsity is at most a ticketing agent. They are using Linksair to fly the route. Varsity do not have an AOC or any of the other required aviation paraphernalia, like an aeroplane.....! But who cares? Give them £15,000 and you'll get a type rating! Right now it's all ideas, paper and other people's money. Martin Halstead will also be a Co-Pilot. So with 10 flights a week and 11 Co-Pilots, I'd suggest the new chaps aren't going to be doing much flying.
It seems to me that this is an interesting example of what is happening elsewhere. However, this time it seems that the airline has been set-up as a carrot to merely attract inexperienced pilots to pay to fly. Whilst the co-pilot is paying to be there, Varsity can afford to sell seats at £149 and only operate twice a day! The current schedule is not sustainable otherwise (I am aware of plans for more routes).
In my opinion this is not a traditional operation, just an elaborate way to extract more money from young pilots. Cabair are aware of this scam and should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Halstead on the other hand, may finally make his money out of those he is so desperate to join.
I know of many(~20) Jetstream 31/32 rated guys most with 1000+ hours on type, all rejected. All of whom know it does not cost £15,000 for a Jetstream type rating. The fact that there is a surplus of experienced and typed candidates surely negates the need to ask people to pay a start-up airline for a type rating?!
Please treat this with caution.
To those Cabair guys that have paid - I know it's tough out there, but would your money not be better spent elsewhere? Halstead's last operation lasted six weeks, this time may be better, but Ryanair/Easyjet/anywhere looks like a good deal compared to this.
Co-pilots are all being drawn from Cabair. 10 Co-Pilots interviewed recently and all offered the chance to pay £15,000 for a Jetstream 31/32 rating. They will then be bonded for a further £15,000 over a period of 2 years. Moreover, paying and bonded for what? Varsity is at most a ticketing agent. They are using Linksair to fly the route. Varsity do not have an AOC or any of the other required aviation paraphernalia, like an aeroplane.....! But who cares? Give them £15,000 and you'll get a type rating! Right now it's all ideas, paper and other people's money. Martin Halstead will also be a Co-Pilot. So with 10 flights a week and 11 Co-Pilots, I'd suggest the new chaps aren't going to be doing much flying.
It seems to me that this is an interesting example of what is happening elsewhere. However, this time it seems that the airline has been set-up as a carrot to merely attract inexperienced pilots to pay to fly. Whilst the co-pilot is paying to be there, Varsity can afford to sell seats at £149 and only operate twice a day! The current schedule is not sustainable otherwise (I am aware of plans for more routes).
In my opinion this is not a traditional operation, just an elaborate way to extract more money from young pilots. Cabair are aware of this scam and should be deeply ashamed of themselves. Halstead on the other hand, may finally make his money out of those he is so desperate to join.
I know of many(~20) Jetstream 31/32 rated guys most with 1000+ hours on type, all rejected. All of whom know it does not cost £15,000 for a Jetstream type rating. The fact that there is a surplus of experienced and typed candidates surely negates the need to ask people to pay a start-up airline for a type rating?!
Please treat this with caution.
To those Cabair guys that have paid - I know it's tough out there, but would your money not be better spent elsewhere? Halstead's last operation lasted six weeks, this time may be better, but Ryanair/Easyjet/anywhere looks like a good deal compared to this.
niknak
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No one, under any circumstances, should hand over money to Halstead, his tin pot venture or Linksair.
The reasons if not already apparent, will become totally obvious within a few weeks. just like they have done with all other Halstead pie in the sky attention seeking ideas.
The reasons if not already apparent, will become totally obvious within a few weeks. just like they have done with all other Halstead pie in the sky attention seeking ideas.
I presume the money will be used to pay some of the court orders outstanding
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Constantflyer/Cloud 1/ Captain Sunshine
Whilst my grammar spelling is not of A Level Pass Marks my Knowledge is
I have said in previous threads my Spelling is not at its best and I Apologise to those whom it offends.
However I Do Believe Varsity Express is a Total Scam.
You do not need 10 Co Pilots (plus Martin ????) to cover the routes they have or are proposing (Unless of course they pay you £15000 each) then have as may as you wish with a 2 year bond
Martin H is Pie in the Sky a young Lad with delusions of Grander which will all end in tears but not his tears I add
He is very good at using other peoples money and A/C ..
I only hope everybody gets Paid but I suspect they wont and lots of Young lads /Girls will give this Man lots of Money for a Rating on J31/J32 which in all honesty is not worth Dilly Squat today.
If you have 10 Co Pilots plus 1 Martin H how many captains do you need ??
Maximum on current schedule is 5 maybe 6
You have 2 A/C not on your A O C 10 Co Pilots ??? Captains
Linksair is the A O C Holder they sure as hell are not going to let Varsity Express pick up any ad hoc Charters
So with all the Pilots 2 Sectors a day 5 Days a week where will it all end
IN TEARS
\regards
P S Constantflyer
Found out how to use Spellcheck on computer and the word Idiot or Idiots has not appeared on the above thread
I am not trying to knock anybody but after 40 years in the business I think I smell a Rat
I have also heard ducks FxxT before
Good luck to all
Whilst my grammar spelling is not of A Level Pass Marks my Knowledge is
I have said in previous threads my Spelling is not at its best and I Apologise to those whom it offends.
However I Do Believe Varsity Express is a Total Scam.
You do not need 10 Co Pilots (plus Martin ????) to cover the routes they have or are proposing (Unless of course they pay you £15000 each) then have as may as you wish with a 2 year bond
Martin H is Pie in the Sky a young Lad with delusions of Grander which will all end in tears but not his tears I add
He is very good at using other peoples money and A/C ..
I only hope everybody gets Paid but I suspect they wont and lots of Young lads /Girls will give this Man lots of Money for a Rating on J31/J32 which in all honesty is not worth Dilly Squat today.
If you have 10 Co Pilots plus 1 Martin H how many captains do you need ??
Maximum on current schedule is 5 maybe 6
You have 2 A/C not on your A O C 10 Co Pilots ??? Captains
Linksair is the A O C Holder they sure as hell are not going to let Varsity Express pick up any ad hoc Charters
So with all the Pilots 2 Sectors a day 5 Days a week where will it all end
IN TEARS
\regards
P S Constantflyer
Found out how to use Spellcheck on computer and the word Idiot or Idiots has not appeared on the above thread
I am not trying to knock anybody but after 40 years in the business I think I smell a Rat
I have also heard ducks FxxT before
Good luck to all
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Constantflyer/Cloud 1/ Captain Sunshine
Whilst my grammar spelling is not of A Level Pass Marks my Knowledge is
I have said in previous threads my Spelling is not at its best and I Apologise to those whom it offends.
However I Do Believe Varsity Express is a Total Scam.
You do not need 10 Co Pilots (plus Martin ????) to cover the routes they have or are proposing (Unless of course they pay you £15000 each) then have as may as you wish with a 2 year bond
Martin H is Pie in the Sky a young Lad with delusions of Grander which will all end in tears but not his tears I add
He is very good at using other peoples money and A/C ..
I only hope everybody gets Paid but I suspect they wont and lots of Young lads /Girls will give this Man lots of Money for a Rating on J31/J32 which in all honesty is not worth Dilly Squat today.
If you have 10 Co Pilots plus 1 Martin H how many captains do you need ??
Maximum on current schedule is 5 maybe 6
You have 2 A/C not on your A O C 10 Co Pilots ??? Captains
Linksair is the A O C Holder they sure as hell are not going to let Varsity Express pick up any ad hoc Charters
So with all the Pilots 2 Sectors a day 5 Days a week where will it all end
IN TEARS
\regards
P S Constantflyer
Found out how to use Spellcheck on computer and the word Idiot or Idiots has not appeared on the above thread
I am not trying to knock anybody but after 40 years in the business I think I smell a Rat
I have also heard ducks FxxT before
Good luck to all
Whilst my grammar spelling is not of A Level Pass Marks my Knowledge is
I have said in previous threads my Spelling is not at its best and I Apologise to those whom it offends.
However I Do Believe Varsity Express is a Total Scam.
You do not need 10 Co Pilots (plus Martin ????) to cover the routes they have or are proposing (Unless of course they pay you £15000 each) then have as may as you wish with a 2 year bond
Martin H is Pie in the Sky a young Lad with delusions of Grander which will all end in tears but not his tears I add
He is very good at using other peoples money and A/C ..
I only hope everybody gets Paid but I suspect they wont and lots of Young lads /Girls will give this Man lots of Money for a Rating on J31/J32 which in all honesty is not worth Dilly Squat today.
If you have 10 Co Pilots plus 1 Martin H how many captains do you need ??
Maximum on current schedule is 5 maybe 6
You have 2 A/C not on your A O C 10 Co Pilots ??? Captains
Linksair is the A O C Holder they sure as hell are not going to let Varsity Express pick up any ad hoc Charters
So with all the Pilots 2 Sectors a day 5 Days a week where will it all end
IN TEARS
\regards
P S Constantflyer
Found out how to use Spellcheck on computer and the word Idiot or Idiots has not appeared on the above thread
I am not trying to knock anybody but after 40 years in the business I think I smell a Rat
I have also heard ducks FxxT before
Good luck to all
Join Date: Aug 2009
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learjet50, sorry if I caused any offence from my little joke back there. hope i didnt 
you off.
What I'm struggling with is that if the flights are sold by Varsity Express under Linksair's AOC using their aircraft then surely all pilots are recruited by Linksair meaning any money for TRs etc. goes to Linksair not Varsity.
you off.What I'm struggling with is that if the flights are sold by Varsity Express under Linksair's AOC using their aircraft then surely all pilots are recruited by Linksair meaning any money for TRs etc. goes to Linksair not Varsity.
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learjet50, sorry if I caused any offence from my little joke back there. hope i didnt you off.
What I'm struggling with is that if the flights are sold by Varsity Express under Linksair's AOC using their aircraft then surely all pilots are recruited by Linksair meaning any money for TRs etc. goes to Linksair not Varsity.
you off.What I'm struggling with is that if the flights are sold by Varsity Express under Linksair's AOC using their aircraft then surely all pilots are recruited by Linksair meaning any money for TRs etc. goes to Linksair not Varsity.
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Surely Varsity Express nothing more than a name who sells tickets. If they are operating under someone elses AOC then they are the operator. Hopefully the CAA get involved and sort out this Martin Halstead who appears to be a wannabe wo wont ever succeed with these stupid ideas, before alot of people lose money in something that will never fly!
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Surely Varsity Express nothing more than a name who sells tickets. If they are operating under someone elses AOC then they are the operator. Hopefully the CAA get involved and sort out this Martin Halstead who appears to be a wannabe wo wont ever succeed with these stupid ideas, before alot of people lose money in something that will never fly!
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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learjet50 -
I did the same sums and got the same answer. The cynical TA nose is sensing a rodent here, as I suspect yours did...
How does this business model pan out? Guy wants to be a pilot - fine. Manages to set up an airline that he can fly for - even finer.
But.
This is NOT an airline, it is a ticket vendor. WHY are pilots being recruited by VE when they do not have an AOC and therefore cannot employ them as pilots? It is for the lifting carrier - the AOC holder - to recruit and employ crew, NOT the agent.
Clarity. If you want to be a ticket seller, fine - sell tickets and get an ACMI operator to provide the lift on their licence and AOC. CAA happy.
Or. Get yourself an AOC, and a Type B op licence, and then you can fly for them, and you get to play with the aircraft and all the rest of the hoopla. Again, CAA happy.
But don't think you can fall into the grey area in the middle - being a ticket agent and working for the airline as well - Kingsway will uncoil and bite you in the bum, Mr H.....
TA
I did the same sums and got the same answer. The cynical TA nose is sensing a rodent here, as I suspect yours did...
How does this business model pan out? Guy wants to be a pilot - fine. Manages to set up an airline that he can fly for - even finer.
But.
This is NOT an airline, it is a ticket vendor. WHY are pilots being recruited by VE when they do not have an AOC and therefore cannot employ them as pilots? It is for the lifting carrier - the AOC holder - to recruit and employ crew, NOT the agent.
Clarity. If you want to be a ticket seller, fine - sell tickets and get an ACMI operator to provide the lift on their licence and AOC. CAA happy.
Or. Get yourself an AOC, and a Type B op licence, and then you can fly for them, and you get to play with the aircraft and all the rest of the hoopla. Again, CAA happy.
But don't think you can fall into the grey area in the middle - being a ticket agent and working for the airline as well - Kingsway will uncoil and bite you in the bum, Mr H.....
TA
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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learjet50 -
I did the same sums and got the same answer. The cynical TA nose is sensing a rodent here, as I suspect yours did...
How does this business model pan out? Guy wants to be a pilot - fine. Manages to set up an airline that he can fly for - even finer.
But.
This is NOT an airline, it is a ticket vendor. WHY are pilots being recruited by VE when they do not have an AOC and therefore cannot employ them as pilots? It is for the lifting carrier - the AOC holder - to recruit and employ crew, NOT the agent.
Clarity. If you want to be a ticket seller, fine - sell tickets and get an ACMI operator to provide the lift on their licence and AOC. CAA happy.
Or. Get yourself an AOC, and a Type B op licence, and then you can fly for them, and you get to play with the aircraft and all the rest of the hoopla. Again, CAA happy.
But don't think you can fall into the grey area in the middle - being a ticket agent and working for the airline as well - Kingsway will uncoil and bite you in the bum, Mr H.....
TA
I did the same sums and got the same answer. The cynical TA nose is sensing a rodent here, as I suspect yours did...
How does this business model pan out? Guy wants to be a pilot - fine. Manages to set up an airline that he can fly for - even finer.
But.
This is NOT an airline, it is a ticket vendor. WHY are pilots being recruited by VE when they do not have an AOC and therefore cannot employ them as pilots? It is for the lifting carrier - the AOC holder - to recruit and employ crew, NOT the agent.
Clarity. If you want to be a ticket seller, fine - sell tickets and get an ACMI operator to provide the lift on their licence and AOC. CAA happy.
Or. Get yourself an AOC, and a Type B op licence, and then you can fly for them, and you get to play with the aircraft and all the rest of the hoopla. Again, CAA happy.
But don't think you can fall into the grey area in the middle - being a ticket agent and working for the airline as well - Kingsway will uncoil and bite you in the bum, Mr H.....
TA