Varsity Express
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My my my, what an incredible imagination you have Mr Rider! You should write Morse novels, quite the conspiracy theorist indeed.
In answer to your question, no, I have never met Mr Halstead. I've never worked for easyJet. The only similarity I can fathom from your post is that we are both Airbus rated pilots, incidentally I'm A320/330 rated, one of thousands (and unfortunately also one of thousands currently out of work).
I'm sorry to disappoint you, I just don't agree with this agenda of putting a young man down because of a failed company from five years ago.
Incidentally, if what is written on this thread is true then Mr Halstead is encouraging pay-to-fly and self funded type ratings. Something which I am inherently against.
It's a nice theory though, very creative.
Right, I'm off for a large scotch and then bed. I'll leave you to it.
In answer to your question, no, I have never met Mr Halstead. I've never worked for easyJet. The only similarity I can fathom from your post is that we are both Airbus rated pilots, incidentally I'm A320/330 rated, one of thousands (and unfortunately also one of thousands currently out of work).
I'm sorry to disappoint you, I just don't agree with this agenda of putting a young man down because of a failed company from five years ago.
Incidentally, if what is written on this thread is true then Mr Halstead is encouraging pay-to-fly and self funded type ratings. Something which I am inherently against.
It's a nice theory though, very creative.
Right, I'm off for a large scotch and then bed. I'll leave you to it.
Varsity Express
Given that the last thread on this subject was pulled (understandably given some of the comments) can people be careful before they respond...
But, to my surprise, I must admit, a repainted Jetstream has arrived at Oxford.
Varsity Express | Facebook
But, to my surprise, I must admit, a repainted Jetstream has arrived at Oxford.
Varsity Express | Facebook
Varsity Express
Given that the last thread on this subject was pulled (understandably given some of the comments) can people be careful before they respond...
But, to my surprise, I must admit, a repainted Jetstream has arrived at Oxford.
Varsity Express | Facebook
But, to my surprise, I must admit, a repainted Jetstream has arrived at Oxford.
Varsity Express | Facebook
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Varsity Express - gone bust within 1 week
The guy who tried to setup airlines in the past, himself known as Baby Branson, had another airline fail once it got up and running, after being operational in total for one week, plus pilots out of pocket by £50,000 for training that never took place.
I don't think people will want to associate themselves with him in this industry any longer, full of lies that eventually backfire on him.
Read all the info here: Varsity Express: Baby Branson’s bogus business - Times Online
I don't think people will want to associate themselves with him in this industry any longer, full of lies that eventually backfire on him.
Read all the info here: Varsity Express: Baby Branson’s bogus business - Times Online
Last edited by Cirrus_Clouds; 14th Mar 2010 at 11:02.
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Not that little s**t again! Unbelievable...
Can't believe this time he actually stole money from four newbies - 15k each!
“I got some from my grandmother’s savings, some from my aunt and uncle’s savings, and my mum and dad took out a loan as well. I am devastated.”
As sorry as I feel for them... What were you thinking?????
Can't believe this time he actually stole money from four newbies - 15k each!
“I got some from my grandmother’s savings, some from my aunt and uncle’s savings, and my mum and dad took out a loan as well. I am devastated.”
As sorry as I feel for them... What were you thinking?????
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Desperation, lack of research into this guy/the company, full of hope, etc, where I wouldn't have touched him a mile off!!!! seeing what's happened to his business ventures in the past.
This guy has a similar pattern of failures, pitty he doesn't learn from past mistakes and drags others down with him.
But he is damn persistant!, but just *hit at it. 
This guy has a similar pattern of failures, pitty he doesn't learn from past mistakes and drags others down with him.
But he is damn persistant!, but just *hit at it.
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Ouch. What a disaster - both for the people who "bought" type ratings for £15000 (who were told they'd be doing the TRs at OAA's Stockholm base, when in fact arrangements were being made with a provider in Crete, at a cost of under £9000 to VE!), and for all the other people who put a huge amount of effort into making the first week run well. Fair play to someone for trying something new during the current doom and gloom, but a massive letdown that it had to be based on lies.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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I dont understand why the threads about Varsity Express that warned about this venture were pulled all the time... Can one of the moderators enlighten us? I feel that Pprune is THE forum to warn people against these operations that have IMPOSSIBLE written all over them 
Join Date: Mar 2007
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FO - Couldn't agree more. I know someone who was almost sucked into this scam but sensibly withdrew.
I hope this guy is prosecuted - taking advantage of desperate kids is not on, especially when you have absolutely no intention of actually doing as you say you will.
I hope this guy is prosecuted - taking advantage of desperate kids is not on, especially when you have absolutely no intention of actually doing as you say you will.
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Roll up, roll up! Jet jobs for newbies...
There appears to be precious little official comment within the Times online article. I would have liked to have seen the words "We are unable to comment as this forms part of a criminal investigation". Unfortunately, this new tycoon has now found a new source of cash - SSTR's. It doesn't take much imagination to see this entrepreneur offering wannabes 500 hours plus Airbus/747/etc. plus a job at say, £29-30K. (You can't charge too little. You have to make it sound sound credible). Get 20 or 30 suckers and that should buy him some nice bubbly.
This man should really have a fear of showers and soap, but I don't even foresee a non-custodial sentence or a small smack on the wrist. I wouldn't be surprised if he blames it on someone else and escapes scot free.
PM
This man should really have a fear of showers and soap, but I don't even foresee a non-custodial sentence or a small smack on the wrist. I wouldn't be surprised if he blames it on someone else and escapes scot free.
PM
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6. No mention anywhere in the entire internet world of "Will Gilligan" - I honestly can't believe that a "Commercial Director" isn't on linkedin at least these days - it's what they do. Whereas Martin Halsted, who has the makings of an exceptional self-publicist, is everywhere.
Bang on, sir, just a shame no-one paid attention at the time.
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taking advantage of desperate kids is not on, especially when you have absolutely no intention of actually doing as you say you will.
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There was a 4-part series of Channel 4 documentaries, one included Mr. Halstead, (aired Sept. 2005) called 'Live Now, Pay Later'. Unfortunately I've not been able to find a video of the documentary. From memory, it was certainly very eye-opening as to the then attitude of the individual.
Using the figures and information from the article and presuming he had no other investment what so ever. He took in over £50,000 from those 4 pilots (but at £15,000 per person that makes £60,000, surely?) and £8,200 in ticket receipts, all of which presumably went into his personal bank account as he had “not set up a company bank account”. He paid only £30,000 to LinksAir and the remainder (between £28,200 – £38,200) disappeared in “operating costs”, in one week, or since the debut on 20th January 2010 (47 days). It also seems that Mr. Halstead is trying to apportion the blame with Mr. Lawrence who was on paper only a shareholder and not a director. This is of course if we believe the article to be correct.
Be very interesting to see what the authorities do, but as PM says I wouldn’t be surprised if he escapes scot free.
Using the figures and information from the article and presuming he had no other investment what so ever. He took in over £50,000 from those 4 pilots (but at £15,000 per person that makes £60,000, surely?) and £8,200 in ticket receipts, all of which presumably went into his personal bank account as he had “not set up a company bank account”. He paid only £30,000 to LinksAir and the remainder (between £28,200 – £38,200) disappeared in “operating costs”, in one week, or since the debut on 20th January 2010 (47 days). It also seems that Mr. Halstead is trying to apportion the blame with Mr. Lawrence who was on paper only a shareholder and not a director. This is of course if we believe the article to be correct.
Be very interesting to see what the authorities do, but as PM says I wouldn’t be surprised if he escapes scot free.
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Re Heat, dont know what you have been smoking... If I understand you correctly it is ok in the US to:
-Claim to be a non excistent director
-Lie about money being available (for 2 years operation...)
-Lie to who ever rents you an airplane about payments
-STEAL money from wannabee pilots..
If this is your idea of pulling a country out of recession....
-Claim to be a non excistent director
-Lie about money being available (for 2 years operation...)
-Lie to who ever rents you an airplane about payments
-STEAL money from wannabee pilots..
If this is your idea of pulling a country out of recession....
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
I dont understand why the threads about Varsity Express that warned about this venture were pulled all the time... Can one of the moderators enlighten us? I feel that PPRuNe is THE forum to warn people against these operations that have IMPOSSIBLE written all over them
There were posts warning about paying £15k to VE. Can't help but think if the posts weren't pulled those 4 wouldn't have been sucked in by the "scheme".
I'm just off to Jetblast to see if I should invest my life savings in Icelandic Banks...
Quite often on this site we see criticism of journalists (often totally justified, I must admit!) but on this occasion surely we should say well done to the Sunday Times whose journalist has managed to prise the facts out of Mr Halstead, confirming the suspicions many of us had.
It's a fair question too, as to why so many previous thread were pulled (although I do recall seeing some comments which were potentially actionable as they could not be substantiated).
This quote (from another site) should have been enough to give anybody pause :
"What were the circumstances which lead to the creation of Varsity Express?
I had just been made redundant [in Autumn 2009], when I received a call from a group of property owners who were looking to invest in an airline. They asked me if I was willing to help them."
Now confirmed by Mr Halstead as a total lie, who on earth would have believed it in the first place?
Wouldn't you have loved to have read the business plan? As I recall, the Thames Valley Police HQ is just down the road from the airport...
It's a fair question too, as to why so many previous thread were pulled (although I do recall seeing some comments which were potentially actionable as they could not be substantiated).
This quote (from another site) should have been enough to give anybody pause :
"What were the circumstances which lead to the creation of Varsity Express?
I had just been made redundant [in Autumn 2009], when I received a call from a group of property owners who were looking to invest in an airline. They asked me if I was willing to help them."
Now confirmed by Mr Halstead as a total lie, who on earth would have believed it in the first place?
Wouldn't you have loved to have read the business plan?
As I recall, the Thames Valley Police HQ is just down the road from the airport...