Willow Air- Southend Airport

[vjmehra]

Has anyone tried to contact these guys recently, I've been trying to book a lesson, but no-one has been answering e-mails or phone calls. It may of course be complete co-incidence and bad luck, but does anyone know if perhaps the number on the website is out of date?

[ifonly]

There was a sign on the door saying they were 'temporarily closed' or words to that effect. I think it gave an alternative number.

[vjmehra]

Oh doesn't sound good :-(

By chance if you happen to pass by again, would you mind posting the number on here (I'm presuming from your post you walk by occasionally)?

Many thanks!

[jkveenstra]

Via a friend of mine, who did his training with Willow, I heard the owner stopped the business (no bankruptcy, I believe). Probably the rate of return was to low.

I believe it is hard to make a penny in the General Aviation Business. Luckily many people try to make a business.

[IO540]

Was this JAA or FAA training? WA did FAA training for sure but it was always fraught with problems as a result of the FAA checkride hassles. And a school which has to send students to the USA for a checkride is on a hiding to nothing because there is hardly any point in training in the UK if you have to go to the USA for the checkride.

[vjmehra]

Well good to hear no-one is in financial hardship at least, these days, that is always a bonus.

If anyone else can shed anymore light, that would be much appreciated!

[vjmehra]

If it makes a difference, for me, I was attempting to book a lesson for JAA training in a C172 and also a trial in a Schweizer 300C (or Cbi, not sure, but essentially I just wanted a go in a heli to see what it was like).

[Red Four]

I believe that a couple of the instructors that were at W.A. are now to be found at Seawing Flying Club, and they certainly have a C172 on fleet, but not a Schweizer as far as I am aware. I think the Schweizer there is operated by 'Iris Aviation'

[IO540]

One freelance instructor who used to work at WA was George Capon who is not hard to trace via google. He might know what is happening. The bloke who used to run it was Steve Papi.

[Redbird72]

I can't recall who there has a C172 these days, but both Seawing and The Flightcentre have R22's. Contact numbers can be found on the main Southend Airport website.

To be honest, I'm surprised four schools managed to survive there for so long - there's still three there (for now - goodness knows how hospitable Stobart will be if/when their commercial activities really get going).

[vjmehra]

Great, thanks for all the help guys, really appreciated!

[KieranBal]

I'm doing my PPL at Southend Flying Club at the moment and I think they mentioned something about them going out of business? SFC have just bought a C152 from one of the other clubs at Southend and I think it may have been Willow Air?

I think it was put down to the fact that Willow Air didn't actually own the building they were using and had to pay rent to Southend and they had all of their a/c parked on the main apron, which they also had to pay for, which I'm guessing would have been a significant drain of funds. SFC own their building and parking area outright so they haven't got that problem.

KieranBal

[Danscowpie]

Thats a great shame but I suppose it's no suprise.

Those old farts among us will recall the days when Willow Air used to operate several twin turbo props (albeit under the OACs of other operaters), to and from all sorts of European destinations.
I also know a number of pilots who "cut their teeth" there due to the contracts Willow had in much better times, and went on to much better things.

Its all very sad, but has been on the cards for a while. I don't know much about the current management, but the previous guys in charge, in todays situation, would have ensured all the bills were paid before the doors were locked.
Hopefully that's still the case.

[IO540]

I did some stuff there a few years ago and decided to leave when the airport had to get a 4x4 to pull my plane out of some massive ruts in the "grass" on which one had to park.

I suspect WA got screwed by that as much as anything else.

[GiveMeABreak]

As commander of the aircraft surely you should have requested parking on the acres of available tarmac at SEN !

Willow have moved on by the way....

[IO540]

As commander of the aircraft surely you should have requested parking on the acres of available tarmac at SEN !

I always do but ATC often refuse.

[xpabl0b]

For those interested:

Willow Air has ceased trading. Apparently this was a sudden decision made by the proprietor, Steve Papi, and it seems that he closed the business leaving staff unpaid, money held on account by club members appropriated and money owed to Southend Airport left outstanding.

Most of the flying club members have taken their membership to another flying club at the airfield, Seawing. Apparently Willow Air's Chief Flying Instructor, Mark Carter, has moved to Seawing also.

In the light of these developments those people contemplating business dealings with Mr Steve (Stellios) Papi, especially in the field of aviation, may wish to think carefully about proceeding.

[biggles617]

hi everyone yes most of the members of willow air flying club southend have moved to seawing .
both myself mark carter and rob bull have moved there.
please come in and visit us .
its a great club friendly and the planes are good .
george capon is there also and can do faa training
regards
mark

[Sir George Cayley]

Biggles 617

Glad you all found somewhere to go :ok: What concerns me is the Stobart Air plans to make Southend a 'big' airport.

When easyJet arrive it can turn managements head with a negative impact on GA. Heard charges have already gone up.

Does this resonate with you?

SGC

[Peter Bowes]

Hi All

I was training at Willow Air, but had not been back for about 12 months, they had a lump of my money paid up front :{

But my pilot Mark was excellent, does anybody know where he went?

Peter

[Red Four]

Sorry to hear you invested up front. I'm sure Mark is at Seawing FC now.

[dublinpilot]

They had a lump of your money, and you weren't near them for 12 months?

[India Four Two]

Peter Bowes,

If you paid by credit card, you can get your money back. If by cheque or cash, you're probably out of luck.

[old-timer]

Seawings a good club, I learnt there in 1989 - I remember Willow Air starting up, shame it's gone as it had been good base for hours building & moving onto the Bandits & Sheds - happy days.

What happened to Capt' 'Freeperson' - anyone know ?

PS - SFC is very good too especially for twin & commercial ratings. :D

[happybiker]

I endorse Old Timer's comments, Seawing is a very good club. I learnt to fly at Seawing in the early 1980s and flew on and off with them until 2006. It was always a pleasure to go there and meet the members who all are aviation enthusiasts.

I have particular fond memories of "Barnstorming weekends" round the farm strips and disused airfields in East Anglia in the 1980s with convivial evenings spent in the bar at Shipdham. Happy days indeed!

[asdf1234]

Try Seawings.

[biggles617]

hi peter
how are you its mark
im at seawing now give them a call on 01702 545420
they will give you my number
hope you are well
m

[madmandy]

Captain Freeperson (Nigel Freeman) is still alive and well, however he ceased flying in 2006 due to health issues. He has lived in Spain for 7 years and has various business interests there. He can easily be found on Facebook and is in the London Southend Airport Then & Now group.