Ex SFT boss & Cabair start-up in Bournemouth

[wordonthestreet]

Word on the street has it, that ex SFT boss, Colin Green has joined forces with Cabair to start a new flight training school at Bournemouth.

Using the old SFT aircraft that Cabair bought from the SFT administrators earlier in the year, they will start trading very soon.

Although not trading as Cabair, the new organisation will bring some more competition to; Bournemouth flying club (due to move into the old SFT building very soon), PAT and the new venture consisting of 3 more ex SFT staff members.

Will this increased competition benefit prospective students wishing to start training soon? In terms of reduced training costs perhaps??

Lets hope all works out well or everyone.

[Sensible]

So the phoenix rises from the ashes! Anybody for paying upfront?

[spitfire747]

Will they offer the students who lost thousands with SFT anything ???

[Sensible]

Yes!---------------- The opportunity to part with more money!

[steamchicken]

If it's a new firm and they've just bought assets (i.e. aeroplanes) from the one that went bust, no, the new firm doesn't have any liability for the old one's debts - not even with the same directors.

[Long Briefing]

Interesting thing about this new BB is that it shows the number of views for each post.

At the moment this one has only had 4 replies but has had 175 views.

Now.... it seems that "wordonthestreet" has never posted before now, so could this be a Colin Green advert! If so its very cheap advertising with 175 Wanabees so far seeing it. Crafty one!

[Quarternion.]

Long Briefing

Correct me if I'm wrong but If you keep clicking on the subject, the counter increments automatically. So the preson who started the thread can make it look interesting when it really isn't.

As for starting up in business again - well business has one golden rule - Reputation.

Without reputation you have no business. Enough said.

[notice]

WEALTH (& HEALTH) WARNING

wordonthestreet may not be Colin Green but, if this rumour is true, the guy has de big brass neck after his SFT definitely did the dirty, according to plenty of posters.

There are always more suckers but it's hard to imagine how this Cabair with a Green streak school would attract sane students. There are plenty of professional and ethical schools, with good reputations, so why would you want to train with SFT (2002) Ltd ?

If my last company had dumped people in the ..... and not met its obligations, I'd be very scarce and scared (cos some poor wannabes might want to use me for their baseball practice !!!)

[Gin Slinger]

perhaps wordonthestreet has circus blood?

[pilottom10]

As one of the former students of SFT I feel that I can speak from an unenviable position of authority on this matter.

No matter whom you choose to train with the age old advice holds true. Don't part with all your money up front or all at once, don't believe all the fancy talk about seperate accounts. keep control of your money and only part with it when necessary.
Don't be swayed by discounts for advanced payment, unless you can afford to write off the money should the company go bust. SFT was a well established company but they never let on as to the financial position of the company. These matters are commercially sensitive.
I made the mistake of trusting them to be honest and not take me to the cleaners. They were still taking students money up to the very end, very little of it recovered. The company has been wound up and there was no money left to pay unsecured creditors.
When it comes to these matters we the students are unsecured creditors and as such are the lowest of the low when it comes to carving up the proceeds.

PLease Please try to avoid the pit falls...............I thought it would never happen to me or SFT and it happened to us both..........

Tom......:(

[Flying Farmer]

Just a thought ? what will they call themselves I wonder, seeing as the old SFT company name and all has bieng sold.
Pilot Tom how are you ? Got a job yet? Got the I.R passed last week still unemployed !!!

Flying Farmer
Andrew H

[wordonthestreet]

NO I AM NOT COLIN GREEN!

I would not give him any money at all, after he took thousands from prospective students at SFT knowing his business was in dire straights.

I feel very sorry for the students that lost money.

If training at Bournemouth I would use either PAT, or the newly formed company comprising of ex SFT guys; Mike Bolton etc, they are now offering Ground, SIm & Flight Training.

There are of course others; Bournemouth Flying Club, who have taken over the old SFT building and will be offering commercial training. I see they have stuck their new signs over the old SFT signage.

Good luck guys and girls!

[pilottom10]

Hey there,

CONGRATULATIONS

great to hear another one has passed the IR.

Still not got a job and not for the lack of trying. Quiet just now, but have gone back to work for old company. Saving up for the MCC course maybe go in Aug.

Take care A.

Tom......

[rebeccadblake]

I thought there are to many FTO's on the airfield already, seems funny that the CAA would allow it, but I suppose BIA being money hungry as usual will allow it.

spitfire747, No BFC will not be re-embursing SFT ex student's.

What concerns me is that Colin actually thinks he can start up another FTO and potiental students will trust him!, yeah right! In his dreams. No-one will trust him, even if his company offers a pay as you go scheme. (which BFC is doing)

I can't wait to see what BCFC(BFC) has in store for the ex SFT building. (sucking up so I can get a BFC pen, hmm how sad)

[mboulton]

009

Thanks wordonthestreet for your mention. We are a fto run by pilots ( ATPLS ) not bloody bean counters. Good luck to the best

[spitfire747]

As already been said, i reckon flight training schools rely alot on reputation. Colin Green does not have a good one anymore, so i wonder how busy the school will be, knowing the way life turns out - probably busier than before !

[notice]

Spit sounds suicidal & this is getting confusing.

It was Colin Green and Cabair now it's being run by 'pilots' (so it's going to crash eventually !).

Seriously, who owns this new outfit and what is it called?

[spitfire747]

No way am i suicidal, i am off to my ATPLs so the grin on my face is huge !!!:D :D

[distaff_beancounter]

I am getting confused as to which FTO(s) everyone is discussing :rolleyes:

Anyhow, I would always choose an FTO where:-
The flying is run by pilots
The finances are run by beancounters

The other way around can lead to crashing planes & crashing finances :mad:

Of course, I am not at all biased, just because I am a beancounter & a pilot :D

[notcavok]

This latest development was predicted almost 2 months ago through pprune. It has to be said that it is a kick in the teeth to those who lost out with the demise of sft. There should be some sort of protection to stop people like Mr Green and co from running this type or indeed any company again. Only time will tell
whether or not his latest venture will prove to be successful.
Word on the street has it that the new company will immediatley benefit from most of the mod students at Cabair (egtc) starting in early may.

Now with the sudden outbreak of fto's @eghh it will become a fight of the fittest and my money is on PAT and BFC (with a very impressive new website and user friendly types) with ETA providing a more specialist role.

Anyway it's friday night and time to indulge in a bit of social intercourse .


Toodle pip


;)

[Slim20]

Duhh

Of course the CAA will allow another FTO at Bournemouth. There's a CAAFEU there.

KER-CHINGGG!!!

[Robthestudent]

Anyone know the name of this new organisation????

[gemellus]

I recently revalidated my multi IR with a combination of Mike Boulton ( Simulator Training Services) and ETA. I can only speak as I found and would have no hesitation in using them again. My original contact had been Chris Gould whose opinion I had sought with regard to revalidation. I had no intention of going back to SFT even if it had still been in business! On the subject of SFT in its new guise I can only say be VERY CAREFUL. I can't help feel there is something ethically and morally wrong, even if it is legal!) that an individual is able to set up in business again so quickly with so many people left hurt after his last foray.
Good luck to all the decent people out there.

[Midland Maniac]

:mad: :mad:
It's great isn't it that the former students of SFT that lost thousands of pounds have been sold short by the administrators also!!! I mean how can you justify selling the aircraft so cheaply to someone who is working with Colin Green to set up another flying school!!!!!

I personally never expect to get any money back from the former SFT business or Mr Colin Green, but it does annoy me to see that he can so easily set up another FTO without the CAA batting an eyelid. Usually the CAA are the wonders of the rules and regs when it comes to licencing and flying matters, but obviously when it comes to flight schools, they really are not that bothered!!!

What i say to other wannabes out there is that if you are serious about becoming a Proffessional Pilot, then choose your flight school very carefully. Make sure that you know the history of the company and the history of the people that are running it. Lets not see another screw up of the SFT kind. It hurt me badly and I would not like to see anyone else in the same situation.


Hello to Flying Farmer and PilotTom!!!! Long time no speak. Hope that the job hunting is going well. I am working as an Aircraft Dispatcher at the moment, which is great fun!!! It's not flying, but at least I get to see the inside of an aircraft on a daily basis (best I can hope for at the moment!!)

Good luck to you both, hope that you get jobs soon!!

MM

[notice]

There are still no facts so the Green/Cabair rumour seems like rubbish.:p

[andy.reohorn]

Basically then if any wannabees are looking for a FTO then BEWARE. Relying on past history and recommendation usually best option but even then I've been a paid up member of three failed "reputable" established clubs in two years...

As long as we all keep flying we'll stay smiling :cool:

[spitfire747]

MM

of course the CAA won't "batter an eyelid"

Another FTO means more wannabes, more licences, more licence fees, more exam fees and nicer cars for CAA bosses.

You forget this world revolves around money, not what is morally right or wrong.

[Sensible]

Do I remember reading that the SFT aircraft were purchased at a knockdown price and shipped to the USA???????

[Midland Maniac]

Spitfire,

I suppose you are right....

Just really Pi***s me off to see this happen, when there is nothing we can do about it. It is like they are laughing in our faces!!!!

Still suppose I should put all my effort into getting a job now, and paying back Barclays they money that I borrowed but never saw!

MM

[somewhatconcerned]

notice you are quite correct in saying there are no facts but then again this is a rumour network and I think you maybe supprised where these rumours originate but short of seeing an advert in the aviation press this is probably as good as it's going to get.:p

I try to avoid being too scathing of 'SFT' as it may reflect on the instructors and I think that many agree that they were second to none. It seems wrong to tar them with the same brush as CG's.

I am very supprised that CG hasn't been more carefull in keeping his name out of this new venture surely it would be the proverbial 'kiss of death'.

What ever happens I scincerely hope they offer a water tight solution to protect the students money or a pay as you go option. In addition future students must take steps to safe guard their own money and find ways of payment to do so.

I also hope this thread or ones similar stay high up in the wannabe league table as many students have had to learn lessons the hard way and new ones should heed them.

in case anyone asks, I am not an 'insider' and I certainly do not intend to come across as a CG sympathyiser

[Robthestudent]

Having just spent a few days down in a very sunny bournmouth i must admit to be very impresssed with the location and the ftos based down there. However hard i tried i could not find this new organistaion on the airfield, could this possibly be somebodys imagination working overtime or does this new fto without a name exist. can anyone shed any light on this please??

Also as i said i was impressed with theother fto especially bfc they seemed to be a very friendley and professional outfit even if their cfi seems to have had a charisma bypass(maybe sometime on a customer orientation course might help.)

Whilst been aware of the main issue of this thread surely this new fto cannot function if it is managed by the md of a company which apparentley disappeared owing students a lot of money.that appears to be shear folly to me or am i just been a rather naive potential student

:confused:

[Barcli]

"charisma bypass" - the cfi , no surprises there !!

[skysailor]

Robthestudent

This new fto is located in the hanger containing an aircraft interiors fitting company, and a swish Mig-21. Can't miss it. Won't tell you the name tho', cos that'll be advertising...

[Send Clowns]

Rob - Lance is fine once you get to know him, if he does look like a throwback to the 70s. I'm not just saying that 'cos he's my boss, I said it here before BCFT even existed :D .

The "new organisation" with which Colin Green is involoved is next to us (we being Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training, owned by BFC and operating from the buildings that housed SFT's flying operations) and is not yet particularily obvious. We make no complaints about the competition, as we are quite able to hold our own.

Glad you found our parent to be friendly - we certainly try to keep that going over in the groundschool side.

[Robthestudent]

Skysailor,

Why can't you tell us the name of the new fto???? if it was advertising surely all the mentions of other ftos would have to be edited out.

Not been up to date on military aircraft would the mig21 have anything to do with the protection of the boss of the new fto(bearing in mind his alleged previous endeavours).

send clowns many thanks for your thread i will be making a decision in the near future about where i do the training and bcfc is very high on my list.


:rolleyes:

[vaga]

The CFI's at bfc are well known for being twits.

why do you think only 2 of there employee's will follow em into the bar after work!!

Would you be taught by a CFI who you can never get at the flying club past 4 O'clock cos he's in the bar, and appearently never drives home becuase he's always drunken to much!, I dont think so. Or alternatively the other one drinks to much and then drives home.

There is a new school on the airfield called ETA, they sound pretty up with it and poffesional, give them a call.

[rebeccadblake]

Vaga.....

There is nothing wrong with lance, he's lovely, well I think!, although he can appear at first instance a bit odd and I do agree with send clowns, that he needs a bit of customer service training, other than that, he's a good egg, and a great laugh to be around.

miles.. no comment.

Vaga, and miles the "other" one you speak of isn't a CFI, he's just an FI, that has a share in BFC+BCFT.

i love BFC to bits, all of the FI's there, have always been really helpful, and always manage to squeeze my lesson in when needed.

wot the fock does vaga mean anyway? you one of colin greens crew?

Send clowns, we will have to meet up for lunch, seeing as I am working not to far from you now, say a day and i'll come over to see you.

[Send Clowns]

Vaga ETA is far from new, it's been going since well before I was in EGHH. Yes they are an extremely professional organisation, who specialize in flight instructor training. I know two of their pilots, one very well (he is an old family friend who even attended my passing-out ball at Dartmouth) and their owner is an old friend of those of us who were in SFT, so popped over recently to say hi. Alternatively BCFT can offer training in all levels of flight instuctor ratings.

The rivalry between us is very amicable, and genuinely so, partly because we really specialise in different areas. If you want to train in Bournemouth (we have a well-equipped international airport with real 747s :D and great weather), come down and visit both, and Professional while you're here, even CG/Cabair's operation if you like (can point you at the hangar, though I can't remember the company name written on it). You will find your own preference, and this is best when you make this considerable investment.

Libelous allegations aside (if you knew about the FTOs in Bournemouth I might suggest you worked for ETA, Vaga ;) !), the instructors at BFC have achieved excellent pass rates with non-sponsored students. That is one major factor in choosing a school, as first-time pass in IR can be very important in finding a job. We have several instructors, of varying character, two of whom helped to train me for my CPL and are excellent, very professional and very easy to like and get on with in the air. One of these used to train military pilots, so cannot be slack.

[Robthestudent]

Dear All,

looks like i may have opened up a can of worms.

I did not realise the cfi @bfc liked a drink or two still i am sure he is not the first and certainly not the last to have such indulgenges within the biz.

However afterhours activities does not help my quest in determining where i am going to spend my money. Does anyone know anything about the new organisation
i am aware of ETA and to be honest they seem to represent the quality end of the market with so much experience of the people involved is second to none at bournemouth

If this new connection is just a satellite of cabair then enough said, my money will not be going in that direction.

:confused:

[Send Clowns]

All I really know about the new organisation is three of the staff and the aircraft they use. The one flying instructor I know that is working for Colin taught me on my IR, and he was very good.

[Flying Farmer]

Not much in the profiles of the guys doing the bitching!!

Fly with Lance or Miles you'll pass 1st time(cpl and ir) I did ENOUGH SAID.

Still no jobs out there though.

Flying Farmer

[Send Clowns]

notice

Considering your disgraceful manners and pointless foul language I should really ignore your post. However you have emphasised the confusion caused by a new entry into the Bournemouth FTO scene and the expansion of two others, so I shall attempt to clarify what each FTO does. I will try to make the post purely factual so as not to fall foul of advertising rules, but I know more about BCFT simply because I work for them, and I cannot guarantee accuracy of most of this information - ask the schools themselves.

Bournemouth Commercial Flight Training Centre
Owned by Bournemouth Flying Club Ltd.
Bought most assets of SFT, groundschool instructors all ex-SFT, no SFT management involvement

Full-time/evening PPL groundschool
Full-time ATPL groundschool from June (distance learning - soon!)
Groundschool brush-ups/tuition as required

PPL
IMC/Multi/night ratings & all normal club flying
CPL
IR
FIR
FIC/IRI - basically any flight instructor rating, as the CFI is highly qualified to teach instructors

ETA/GTS/STS
Separate, co-operating small companies
No involvement from PPSC senior management

Groundschool brush-ups/tuition
Possibly ATPL distance learning now or future
Simulator training (I think on a PA-44 Seminole, purchased from SFT)
FIR/FIC/IRI - various instructor ratings, again well-qualified instructor instructors!
Possibly CPL and IR - check with ETA

Professional Air Training (forgive me if I have the name wrong - Proflight callsigns :D)
Little change to this one

As far as I know just
CPL
IR
Night/multi?

Cabair
This does involve Colin Green, ex-MD SFT. However I assume he is just an employee of Cabair, not a director.

As far as I know
CPL
IR
Night/multi

[Send Clowns]

Flying Farmer

Was pleased to hear about you finishing. Best of luck with finding a job, will pick up soon. If you need a reference I know any of us would give you a very good write up.

[Heavensdoor]

Flying Farmer

Well Done, best of luck in the future.

[P-61]

Rob
Check your 'profile' email.

[P-61]

For everyone else, here are some facts about the new fto.

Its called the European Flight Training Academy and is owned by CABAIR. They will be using the old SFT fleet with some additions. Courses on offer include modular ATPL and some others. At the moment they are using an office in Neales Interiors but will be moving to a new building shortly.

[Robthestudent]

P61

Please check your email.

rob

[vaga]

rebecca....

vaga is a star which is said to have intelligent life becuase it sends out odd fequencys back to earth.

You think lance is lovely ha?, hmmm that doesn't suprise me.

so why you not working at the flying club anymore?, bet they all miss you for your boobs!

P61, you one of colins new minions?, certainly sounds like it!, you are not the one i saw in the car park the other day are you?

Flying farmer, i do not re-call you passing first time. Or was that someone else ;)

[mboulton]

To Send Clowns
I would like to update you on your last post with regard to ETA/STS/GTS We are approved from PPL to CPL to ATPL to IRE/CRE. and FIC GTS so far has 100per cent first time passes for IR subjects. Hope you now have a better idea as to what we do .