Ford Air Transportation Dept

[fokkerjet]

Effective today, Ford ATO will close after 67 years of operations. An additional 49 people will join the ranks of the unemployed.

[doubleu-anker]

That is sad news indeed and a few people had been there a long time.

49 personal seems like a lot for a flight department. Not sure how many a/c they had but is a lot of crew etc.

[INNflight]

Wonder if that was a follow-up on the fly-in partey in Washington DC earlier last week :(

Can't imagine their exec's taking the train though, maybe going NetJets?

[BelArgUSA]

According to Globo-TV (Brazil) - on the news, evening 01 DEC - private jets of Ford, GM and Chrysler will be sold, and "executives" from now on, will fly the airlines instead. For whatever they are accurate about aviation news. Was about a remark about the heads of auto industry going to Washington to beg for government money, and flew there in private jets...
xxx
I have the feeling other exedutive jets will be disposed of, in other industries as well...
Good luck to all of you flying these...
:bored:
Happy contrails

[fokkerjet]

HAD 5 airplanes: (2) GV, (2) F70 and (1) F2000. 49 included 17 pilots and 9 flight attendants; the rest is made up of maintenance, dispatch and some office people.

[FLEXJET]

GM, Ford and Chrysler act like AIG while asking for a handout - TECH.BLORGE.com (http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/11/20/gm-ford-and-chrysler-act-like-aig-while-asking-for-a-handout/)

They had to react to the bad press.

The russian are doing similar as they asked for around 100 billion USD help to russian state bank VEB, and they almost stopped using their jets or chartering...

The number of used G-IV and V for sale has doubled compared to last year.
Quite scary isn't it?

Will Netjets or another frax get some Ford business? I can't believe the management will only rely on airlines.

[INNflight]

I can't believe the management will only rely on airlines.

That's what I think. Time is money, and time waiting at the gate is wasted.

[merlinxx]

What of the Ford UK Flt Dept ?

[StressFree]

Hi T,

Really sorry to hear this news. I so well remember when Ford closed us down at Stansted, it feels like yesterday even though it was 2.5yrs ago.
Have you still got the same email address? I'll try it, we need a chat.
What now for everyone at DTW? Are there any jobs around for you all? :sad:

Best regards,
M

[fokkerjet]

M

Not much left in Detroit; GM shut it's doors today, and heard that USAJet also laid off 28 pilots too.

Same e-mail.

T :ok:

[AA717driver]

fokker--So sorry to hear this--particularly given the circumstances. You are held in very high regard on the other boards we frequent. Hopefully, that will translate into 'rapid-reemployment'! :ok:

Good luck.

TC

[monkey_wrench]

Merlin,

The UK Ford Flight Department closed it's doors in April 2006. The Operation downsized and moved to Southend using a leased RJ-100 aircraft from BAe, with Crew provided by Flightline and Maintenance provided by Inflite.

The two Boeing 737's went to Southwest Airlines and the Hawker is now on the Isle Of Man reg as M-JETI.

[monkey_wrench]

Fokkerjet, good luck to you!

:ok:

[fokkerjet]

Thanks for the good wishes gang....it's a new opportunity :cool:

[merlinxx]

Hi Monkey, yup I know that, but I was ref'ing to the air transportation dept. Thks anyway.:ok:

[StressFree]

Further to the news of The Ford fleet being grounded in Detroit I see that the last remaining Ford aircraft in Europe is now facing problems due to the collapse of its operator, Flightline at Southend.
Anyone got any ideas as to what happens now? :eek:

[merlinxx]

Buy a bus and book res on the Le Shuttle or via ferry, must of course have a bar on board. One in SEN & one in CGN double shuttle, double per diems etc, dress drivers with 4 rings & 3 stars on their sleeve:ok: Simple really :E:ugh::=

[Captain Dilbert]

Meanwhile back on planet Earth what's happening to the Ford operation at Southend?

[HZ123]

The Ford operation at SEN has ceased operation at least until January. With the loss of the AOC it is questionable whether Ford UK will seek another operator, although there is a RJ German outfit WDL that maybe able to resurect the operation. Unfortunately Ford is intend on cutting the number of Essex based Ford jobs and they may weel see this as a good reason to close this operation.

[StressFree]

Merlinxx,
What sort of airhead are you? If thats the best you've got then just don't bother to post...............:ugh:

[Expressflight]

According the the Echo newspaper a Ford spokesman said, in response to news of the collapse of Flightline, that the CGN shuttle would restart as soon as a replacement operator could be found for their RJ100. G-OFMC was not an asset of FLT as it is leased by Ford from BAe.
They had obviously recently reviewed the need for the SEN-CGN shuttle in light of the current financial situation, because the Tuesday and Thursday rotations were withdrawn last week. I would have thought it unlikely that the failure of FLT would make them rethink that decision to maintain the route at a reduced frequency.

[atb1943]

The airplanes were also being used for charity - Corporate Angel Network - News (http://www.corpangelnetwork.org/news/press/Ford%20Motor.htm)

Who is going to take up this challenge now?

[FLEXJET]

Corporate Angel Network uses hundreds of different aircraft and operators.
Around 530 corporations provided with their aircraft and 20000 flights performed since 1981.

[monkey_wrench]

I have just received an email from Ford Motor Co regarding Ford Air..

The purpose of this communication is to advise you that, effective
immediately, the Company will use commercial travel providers for the
provision of scheduled flights between the UK and Germany. Ford Air
will therefore cease to operate. Concurrent with these new
arrangements, additional enhancements to the current travel
arrangements will be introduced.
The Company has negotiated a corporate rate with Germanwings for
flights on their Stansted to Cologne route.

Last nail in the coffin...

[StressFree]

I hope they handle this final FordAir Europe shut down better than they did when they closed us down at Stansted in April '06, although I doubt the redundency payments will be as good as we got back then..... :E

:}:}:}

[fokkerjet]

Not that this is any great source of information, but in the May, 2009 issue of Airliner World, small article that FordAir was resuming service in early April. Saw the earlier post about Germanwings, so I thought I'd see if anything changed........:confused:

[Carrier]

Quote: “Was about a remark about the heads of auto industry going to Washington to beg for government money, and flew there in private jets...”

It seems there is a double standard with one rule for the politicians and bureaucrats and a different more restrictive rule for the rest of us.

Considering the great distances in large countries such as the USA, that airlines go to only a very few of the available airfields in the country, and that airline travel now involves major hassles, delays, baggage theft/damage, and anti-passenger bullying by pseudo-security thugs, private aircraft are a natural for long journeys. This is not just for executives but also for urgently needed parts and technicians. Politicians who want to keep their economy moving should also look at how many people are employed making and operating private aircraft, and also consider the taxes all these people pay. All this is on top of the economies and increased competitiveness that the use of private aircraft brings to a major company.

For short journeys it is just as natural to use a private car but these politicians have a different view of private transport. If they did not walk or use a bicycle, it would be interesting to know how many of the politicians on that commission went to work that day by private car. Surely they would not drive themselves there in their own private cars or, horror of horrors, go there in a chauffeur driven taxpayer provided private car? They should follow their own principles and give up the use of private cars. They should be made to travel by public transport (bus, tram, coach, ferry or train) or very occasionally use a charter car (taxi). Yes, let’s see the politicians practice what they preach and set a good example by giving up using private transport!

It’s too bad the heads of the three loser auto companies were not quick thinking enough to throw the above back at their inquisitors. That’s why their companies are in such a mess. They have been mismanaged by managerial dunces. Those who represent the makers and users of private aircraft seem to be little better. They should have been loudly complaining about the abusive use of private cars by politicians and taxpayer funded public servants.

Note to BelArgUSA and others: It was not the heads of the auto industry but only of three loser companies. Many other auto companies make vehicles in the USA and their heads are not holding out begging bowls. The same applies in Canada where we do not have any Canadian auto companies. They are all foreign transplants in Canada. Only the same three losers are asking for tax hand-outs in Canada. Mrs C and I oppose this. We own a Toyota that was made in Cambridge, Ontario by a company that is not a corporate beggar and loser.
Any taxpayer help for the auto industry should be for the industry as a whole, such as inducements to scrap and replace old bangers, and should not be given to specific companies under some sort of favouritism or possible corruption! Losers should take their chances under Chapter 11 or the Canadian equivalent, just as numerous airlines, such as US Airways, Delta, Northwest, Continental, Air Canada, United, Aloha Airlines, etc, have done in the past.

[OFBSLF]

Carrier: Ford has not asked for a bailout.

[fokkerjet]

Toyota, Facing First Loss in 59 Years, Seeks Loans From Japan


By Tetsuya Komatsu and Naoko Fujimura
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/data?pid=avimage&iid=iOKpjpvW.ooo

March 3 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp., (http://www.tfsc.jp/overseas/index.html) forecasting its first loss in 59 years, is seeking loans from the Japanese government as private investors demand up to 50 percent more in interest for the company’s debt.
The company’s financial unit may ask for 200 billion yen ($2 billion) in loans, public broadcaster NHK reported today, without citing anyone. Toyota Financial Services Corp. spokesman Toshiaki Kawai (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Toshiaki%0AKawai&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) said the unit is in talks with state-owned Japan (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=JBIC%3AJP) Bank for International Cooperation, without confirming the amount.
The carmaker expects a net loss (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=7203%3AJP) of 350 billion yen after vehicle sales in the U.S., traditionally Toyota’s most profitable market, plunged 31 percent last quarter. Incoming President Akio Toyoda (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Akio%0AToyoda&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) is adding to the company’s reserves as the global recession also forces General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC to get bailouts from the U.S. government.
“Toyota should take advantage of anything it can to get through this crisis,” said Hitoshi Yamamoto (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Hitoshi+Yamamoto&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1), chief executive officer of Tokyo-based Fortis Asset Management Japan Co., which manages $5.5 billion in Japanese equities. “Money is not flowing in the capital markets.”
Automakers usually raise funds through bonds and loans for their financial companies to offer loans for their customers. The government aid would mostly be used to help offer loans to customers in North America, Toyota Financial’s Kawai said.
Toyota sold 80 billion yen in 10-year bonds priced to yield 2.012 percent last month. That compares with 150 billion yen of 10-year bonds sold in August 2002, priced to yield 1.337 percent.
Laying Up Cash
“Toyota is trying to lay up as much cash as it can to protect itself in a worst case scenario,” said Yasuhiro Matsumoto (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Yasuhiro%0AMatsumoto&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1), a senior analyst at Shinsei Securities Co. in Tokyo. “The government loans, combined with the bond sale, show how much Toyota fears the global financial crisis.”
Japan will use some of its foreign-exchange reserves to lend to the state-owned corporation that gives financing to Japanese companies operating abroad, Japanese Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Kaoru%0AYosano&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) said today.
Toyota follows other carmakers seeking government help as sales plunge worldwide. GM has received $13.4 billion in U.S. aid and is seeking more to keep its operations in its home market running through this month. France granted PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault SA a total of 6 billion euros in five-year loans last month. In the U.K., carmakers are seeking support for their finance units from the Bank of England. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has gotten subsidies from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to help pay wages, as it cuts domestic production.
Slashing Production
Toyota, the maker of the Corolla compact, may slash production 12 percent next fiscal year, it said yesterday. Toyota’s sales in Japan plunged 32 percent last month. In the U.S., sales also dropped 32 percent in January. Worldwide vehicles sales may fall 14 percent to 55 million units in 2009, according to Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Carlos+Ghosn&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1).
In response, automakers are shutting factories and cutting jobs. Toyota plans to halve the number of contract workers in Japan to 3,000 by March 31. GM last month said it is cutting another 47,000 jobs globally, as it reported a $30.9 billion annual loss. Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest carmaker, on Feb. 28 said it will cut all 16,500 temporary jobs globally and shuttered five factories in Germany last week.
The Toyota City, Japan-based company has 2.34 trillion yen in loans and bonds (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=7203%3AJP) maturing this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The company had 2.3 trillion yen in cash reserves as of Dec. 31.
The extra yield over government debt of similar maturity that investors demand to own Toyota’s 1.22 percent bond due 2011 has more than doubled to 56.75 basis points as of yesterday from September according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Toyota (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=7203%3AJP) fell 0.3 percent to 3,060 yen, at the close of trading in Tokyo. The shares have risen 5.3 percent this year compared with a 19 percent drop in the benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average.
To contact the reporter on this story: Tetsuya Komatsu (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Tetsuya+Komatsu&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) in Tokyo at [email protected] ([email protected]); Naoko Fujimura (http://search.bloomberg.com/search?q=Naoko+Fujimura&site=wnews&client=wnews&proxystylesheet=wnews&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&filter=p&getfields=wnnis&sort=date:D:S:d1) in Tokyo at [email protected] ([email protected]).
Last Updated: March 3, 2009 04:08 EST

[monkey_wrench]

Fokkerjet... sadly no, the RJ (G-OFMC) is on a care of maintenance programme (storage) and is based at Southend. Air Travel out of Stansted on Germanwings is severely restricted. But who knows... the aircraft has another 3 years to go on its lease before being returned to BAe.

What is the situation with the Flight department in Detroit? Has any of the aircraft been sold yet?

[fokkerjet]

What interest there has been, are from people looking for a steal. The Falcon had some interest recently, but I don't know where that has gone. Haven't heard of any interest in the GV's, and the Fokker's had some interest from KLM and Vietnam early on, but they didn't want to pay. Hangar is on lease until sometime in 2010.

Just found my books on the history of Europe and US flight departments....couldn't really stand to look through them :sad: