Viktor Bout: working for us now?

[steamchicken]

The Financial Times reported last week that the UK and US governments have been trying to block the freezing of air smuggler and gun runner Viktor Bout, allegedly in return for services rendered in Iraq. Link (http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1083180541131&p=1012571727085) More recently, the FT reported that this had been reversed, but Le Monde contradicted this. They mention a firm called British Gulf International Airlines, based in Sharjah, but incorporated in Kyrgyzstan (and previously in Sao Tome & Principe) that seems (blog post (http://yorkshire-ranter.********.com/2004_05_01_yorkshire-ranter_archive.html#108513857909011710)) to operate a fleet of An12s that all originate with other - shall we say - dubious or Bout-connected operations.

Two things.

1) WHAT THE F**K!
2) Anyone heard of this lot?

[kijupa]

There's an exellent story of Viktor Bout at www.ruudleeuw.com/vbout00.htm

[GK430]

British Gulf certainly exist with AN-12's seen at SHJ & DXB - got a photo of one somewhere.

[Formally Known As]

I know a greedy pilot that used to work for Viktor Bout.

M. S:mad:d. He's got a big posh voice. Used to work for Heavylift and now with Channel Express. He's also on the :mad:.

[Frankfurt_Cowboy]

On the game? On the turn? ..the pop??? What??????

[SeldomFixit]

Dodgy written all over it, sheister emblazened in every space in between, hints of illegality oozing from every crack in the operation and NOT ONE request for min requirements to score a seat at the pointy end.

Really lads, I'm disappointed !! :p :p :p

[an-124]

I have used BGI for commercial relief flights and Military (approved) flights and they have never let me down.

[BRISTOLRE]

Our friend Victor Bout, ex-Russian KGB and a KGB defector wanted and ran for miles! He is also suspected of having aircraft available to Osama Bin Laden. Anyone concerned with him,be careful !

[ocnus]

Why is everyone getting so excited by Victor? Of course he assisting with the war effort in Afghanistan and Iraq. You say he flew weapons for Osama Bin Laden. That may be true, but the U.S. and Britain sent millions of dollars of weapons to Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan when he was fighting the Russians. They didn't get there on Galaxies.

You can be sure that Victor and Sergei and Yuri have been well vetted by the Airlift Command and are doing their jobs properly. It is the French who have been pursuing him more than any others. One should remeber that the people who 'indicted' Victor for war crimes are the same people who are trying Hinga Norman for saving his country. There is a lot of pious hypocrisy in this world and much of it has been directed against Victor.

[CargoOne]

By the way, all crews who had an experience flying for Viktor Bout been saying he is a very nice and smart man and never tried to f**k them up, always paid as promised.

I also share Ocnus opinion expressed above.

[steamchicken]

Yes, but sending them in 1999 was a little different, no?

[ocnus]

We flew on opposite sides of several African wars with Victor Bout. Unfortunately in the African cargo business it is difficult to fly for 'nice people'. Those who put the freight on your plane are rarely nice guys, whichever side you are flying for. Victor has always played straight with others, including his competitors. That is an unusual trait and worth commending. We flew for the 'good guys' and Victor flew for the insurgents, but it could have beenthe other way round. There are less problems with grapes, fish or roses, but it's more cutthroat.

[sharpshot]

http://img51.photobucket.com/albums/v156/Emirates/British_Gulf.jpg

[steamchicken]

Good photo! Where d'ya geddit?

[SQUAWKIDENT]

Looks like that aircraft could do with an "M.O.T"

[sharpshot]

Taken at OMDB

Hey Squawk Ident - even EK's can look bad after a few days sandblasting and no washing. AN-12's always smoke;)