Listen all, and listen well.
Pprune started life as a rumour network, and 'Rumours and News' is still such. However, its days as an insignificant private bulletin board are long gone. Statements made on this site are underwritten by its position as the most authoritative professional pilot's site on the web, even though individual posters may have no credibility whatsoever.
Now, Wannabes is not a rumours site. It is here to help those undergoing training to become professional pilots. Certainly, the failure of any FTO is worthy of comment, but you must remember that unfounded speculation jeopardises the livelihoods of those working for those you speculate about, and the savings of those being trained by them.
It is entirely possible that any given FTO is struggling right now; it's a tough market. But I very much doubt that any FTO wants to go under, and I would expect their staff to be working very hard to prevent such an occurrence. It might not work, but do you want to be part of the reason they failed?
I repeat what I said in the thread I closed (which was going nowhere, which is why it was closed): just because you can comment, doesn't mean you should. If you have specific information, which will help Wannabes make informed decisions about their future, please feel free to post it. Hearsay from friends and relations does not count....
In the meantime, all Ppruners must heed what WWW, IFR and I have been saying for a long time: do not pay up front, however solid the FTO might seem. Establish an escrow account, or a credit card monthly payment, which will protect your capital if things should go wrong.
Now, pprunner, if you want to go on calling me 'stupid', how long do you think it will be before I remove your posting privileges?
Think before you type, all of you. <img src="mad.gif" border="0">
[ 20 January 2002: Message edited by: Scroggs ]</p>