New Outfit on the Block

[SevenSeas]

Came across <a href="http://www.mama-air.com" target="_blank">www.mama-air.com</a> today - anybody any idea who is behind this new venture - I wish them well in these troubled times. Would be nice to see Kent International used for pax as well as the truckers.

Always the optimist!

[MEVERTSGB]

Looks like someone's wet dream to me ! There's no mention of who's behing this airline. Talking of dreams, L O N D O N Manston ? Dream on.

[Wing Commander Fowler]

Nobody's wet draem, but a very real proposition - given the right funding of course. A lot of people have put some very hard work into this venture already. Don't be too hard on people with "Dreams". A lot more people would be out of work or even never have got a start without someone having a go. Good luck to them!!

[Pilot Pete]

Nice picture of a '75 in the intro.......'73s seems to be what they intend operating with though. Strange.........

PP

[ADC]

My thoughts exactly.

Looking at the route structure, it seems like a cross between GO and most charter airlines.As most of these services are already available for London, I wonder why they think they will get passengers to Manston?

The Prague route will require a route licence application which will be a challenge, if the BMI/Go saga is anything to go by.

But...if it gets a few more pilots of the dole..then it's got to be a good thing.

[stagger]

Graphics ripped off from other websites (notably IBM and Boeing).

Registered address is the same as a "Casino Nights" franchise...

<a href="http://www.mackinlay.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.mackinlay.btinternet.co.uk/index.htm</a>

[ 09 January 2002: Message edited by: stagger ]</p>

[Anti Skid On]

What's with the 0709 237 1918 phone number for recruitment - is that a mobile or a premium rate?

Some time ago someone scammed loads of wannabe's using a premium rate number and a PO box - anyone live near 8 Manor Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6AG (their office) and able to check it out - is it a mail forwarding office?

Looking for £1000 investors - they need a load of them for a 73ng!

Manaston is quoted as a 'hub airport' - which carriers can you transfer to??? (none I suspect)

When I see it I'll believe it!!

C'mon guv, you know about these things!

[Boss Raptor]

This is some accountant from the Medway towns who admits in the press he 'knows nothing about aviation but enjoys a challenge' - got himself a whole load of publicity in the Kent press mid summer and not been seen since - in my opinion the bizplan is questionable...to say the least <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[stagger]

It would seem that Craig Mackinlay, the accountant who is behind this venture is also on the National Executive of the UK Independence Party.

Here's a pic from the "Casino Nights" franchise website...

http://www.mackinlay.btinternet.co.uk/0d178a60.jpg

...and another from the UK Independence Party site...

http://www.ukip.org/assets/images/craig_mackinlay_2.jpg

[Greg Baddeley]

He's a pretty boy, isn't he? Is he after meeting a load of swinging cabin crew?

[euroboy]

Way too pretty!
Think 07 is a mobile number. But if premium rate good way of raising capital.

[Big Tudor]

Second pic looks remarkably similar to Gus from C4 series Drop The Dead Donkey.

[euroboy]

Gus. No way <img src="eek.gif" border="0">

First picture is very "Dynasty" :)

[Cisco Kid]

Never trust an accountant wearing a coloured bow-tie!.
He looks like an amateur hypnotist in the second picture, as a group aspiring pilots generally make excellent subjects, if it happens good luck! but don´t put up your own money, you can be sure he isn´t.

[Devils Advocate]

Their website (nice'ish as it is) does not really mention too much about routes, ATC slots, business plan, nominated CAA (creditable) post holders, to say nothing of funding.

Indeed the fact is that even to lease a B737-300 is in the region of $150,000 PER MONTH (but forecast to rise as aviation once again finds its feet post 911) and that (presently) to lease a B737-800, as suggested on their website, the lease rates are about $280,000 PER MONTH (and similarly forecast to rise) - then there's all the DOC's & FOC's etc.... this is really in the realm of serious Venture Capital for which not much evidence of their prior planning is in evidence.

Uhm, thus far my money is on <a href="http://209.61.219.133" target="_blank">Astraeus</a> to make-it first - and thus it gets worse, in that Mama will even be starting with strong competition in that sector too.

Ah well, good luck to them, coz looks like they're gonna need it !

[David Hurst]

Mama doesn't look much like a goer but good luck to them.
There's another rumour of a rumour of someone with a Shorts 360 planning a scheduled service from Manston to Amsterdam. Anyone know anything?
I like the look of the new Brad Burgess outfit. It seems a good team and anything he is associated with should be considered serious contenders.

[The Guvnor]

Indeed the Astraeus management team is an excellent one comprising people with a comprehensive knowledge of the charter/regional market; all of whom would be given the thumbs up by the CAA's ERG.

Strangely, the MAMA website doesn't have such credentials...

[Tristar Freak]

Guv,

Rearrange these words into a well known phrase or saying:

pot kettle calling black the

[Zeppelin]

They may well be an excellant team, Guv, but a very high percentage of them are ex BWA- and look what happened to them.

[euroboy]

I was wondering if this is one of this sites which people can join if they have one of those flight sim programmes for their pc and fly the routes. Forgotten what they call em, but you know what I mean. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[ADC]

Zeppelin,

must have missed something but I see that four of the founders of this new airline are ex-cityflyer, and look what happened to THEM!

:) :)

[ 10 January 2002: Message edited by: ADC ]</p>

[Lee Palmers]

Do you mean a virtual airline euroboy?

[euroboy]

Yeap that it! Thanks...one of `em

[Doodles]

As always, good luck to anyone who "has a go" but the report I've read this afternoon which talks about a 737-800 by June this year, with the "eventual" aim of 747's to Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong in 2 years seem just a bit beyond sense.

BTW, the name apparantly comes from the first planned route MAnston-MAlaga

[simbad3000]

Apparently Mama are half way to getting the 4 million GBP they need for start-up.

They'll be flying under Flightline's AOC until they get their own.

[Tin Kicker]

Which report is that? Can you post it?

[andy.summers]

Just as well that the first route isn't MAnston - NUREmberg. Wouldn't be quite as catchy a name. Good luck to them!

[Tin Kicker]

LMAO@Kwimper :)

[MEVERTSGB]

simbad3000

Does that mean they found 2000 mugs coughing up £1000 each ? If this is the case, I better start designing a 'start-up' website. You never know ! ?

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">