Pilot Positive


MARTIN HALSTEAD IS THE REASON

Oxjob,

Allow me to challenge your humour for a few minutes.

Your postings so far on PPrune from registering in late December until today have been about Oxford, Varsity Express and the pay-to-fly schemes. I quote from your comments on the Oxford Aviation Employment thread over in the training forum:

Sorry to hear the bad news.

Do you know Halstead? It said in the Wikipedia profile of him (before it got edited to shreds this evening; busy night over there) that he is also an A319 pilot, same as you. Guess you might have been at easyJet about the same time then. ;)

Funny also how I commented earlier that the mysterious Cryton4 editing the Wikipedia page had not made any contributions on topics other than to do with Varsity / Halstead / Oxford Airport etc. Within 20 minutes of my comment, your equally limited scope of PPrune postings suddenly branches out into hitherto unknown fields, well beyond the previous discussions. You're perfectly entitled to do so, but I'm equally entitled not to believe in coincidences. Particularly as one of the topics was about Flybe's launch of MAN-BOH services.

Does anyone else have that feeling of deja moo (i.e. I've heard this bull before?).

Oxjob,

Allow me to challenge your humour for a few minutes.

Your postings so far on PPrune from registering in late December until today have been about Oxford, Varsity Express and the pay-to-fly schemes. I quote from your comments on the Oxford Aviation Employment thread over in the training forum:

Sorry to hear the bad news.

Do you know Halstead? It said in the Wikipedia profile of him (before it got edited to shreds this evening; busy night over there) that he is also an A319 pilot, same as you. Guess you might have been at easyJet about the same time then. ;)

Funny also how I commented earlier that the mysterious Cryton4 editing the Wikipedia page had not made any contributions on topics other than to do with Varsity / Halstead / Oxford Airport etc. Within 20 minutes of my comment, your equally limited scope of PPrune postings suddenly branches out into hitherto unknown fields, well beyond the previous discussions. You're perfectly entitled to do so, but I'm equally entitled not to believe in coincidences. Particularly as one of the topics was about Flybe's launch of MAN-BOH services.

Does anyone else have that feeling of deja moo (i.e. I've heard this bull before?).

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.

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.

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

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

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

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?????

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. :ugh: But he is damn persistant!, but just *hit at it. :)

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.

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 :rolleyes:

....personally, i think if i were one of the four who parted with £15k, a little midnight visit by some large men to chat in this guys shell-like might be in order !!!!

:E

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.

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

Bang on, sir, just a shame no-one paid attention at the time.

I'm sure he will claim to have intended to keep his promise - just like some much much bigger and much much better known uk airlines have done. :=

If the article in the Times is correct, it is possible Mr Halstead may have some legal issues to deal with in the not too distant future.

Re-heat

perhaps you should read the article before posting.