AeroTropics Ceases Operations
Troppo's has gone into administration. It was all over a couple of weeks ago. 1st creditors meeting apparently happened last Wed 22nd Oct. I believe that they have a couple of Bongo's, Pn68 & C208 still up on Horn Island as CASA did not allow them to be flown back to CNS! A few of the drivers were picked up by Westwing but not sure if all the boys and girls have found new jobs. Good luck to all going through the creditors process hope you all get what you are owed!
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Alice, that would be a false hope. Once in administration and usually due to no large cash reserves the lawyers and accountans feast on the carcass, and creditors are usually best to cut their losses and only waste money on faxing a POD, just in case they get 2 cents in the dollar.
Sad but true.
J
Sad but true.
J
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I really don't know how companies would of let Troppos build up such a debt?? I flew for troppos a few years ago and I can remember on frequent occasions the refueller telling me that if the bill isn't paid by "4pm this arvo" no more gas!! Use to hear similiar stories from other suppliers heaps on CNS airport back then. they were always borrowing from peter to pay paul. Good luck to all involved.
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I just love this quote from their website regarding maintenance:
Quote:
As I recall, and I was there, the only reason they started up their own maintenance was NO ONE would touch their aircraft anymore. They had run up bills of hundreds of thousands to just about everyone in Cairns. Was told CYA was owed over $200,000 when they refused to do any more work.
RL's standards (that couldnt be achieved) amounted to " give us free maintenance while we compete with you", sadly a lot of people let him get away with it. For that ass to denigrate the maintenance organisations that kept him flying while he was ripping them off just shows the measure of the man. Good ridance to him, sad for his employees.
Quote:
We have seen the addition of a Cairns-based Maintenance division to our company as it was difficult to achieve the maintenance standards that we demanded from contracted organisations.
RL's standards (that couldnt be achieved) amounted to " give us free maintenance while we compete with you", sadly a lot of people let him get away with it. For that ass to denigrate the maintenance organisations that kept him flying while he was ripping them off just shows the measure of the man. Good ridance to him, sad for his employees.
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The latest news is that talks continue between the various stakeholders. RL was confident that a deal had been done last Thursday, but it failed to materialise.
He states that there two parties interesting in taking over operations, but declines to identify whom.
However, with the loss of virtually the entire Troppo's workforce any new company would need to recruit heavily.
On other matters, the local council is currently in the process of preliminary investigation works to extend and strengthening the main runway (08-26). At a cost of $2.2m, construction is anticipated to commence after the next wet season.
(courtesy of the Torres News)
He states that there two parties interesting in taking over operations, but declines to identify whom.
However, with the loss of virtually the entire Troppo's workforce any new company would need to recruit heavily.
On other matters, the local council is currently in the process of preliminary investigation works to extend and strengthening the main runway (08-26). At a cost of $2.2m, construction is anticipated to commence after the next wet season.
(courtesy of the Torres News)
Last edited by usernamesarebunk; 31st Oct 2008 at 13:39. Reason: grammatical error - tut tut
The big house has been up for sale for some time. My parents were visiting that part of the world in July and bought back a copy of the
Torres News and I saw an ad for the big housse. Intersting to see what it sells for (if it sells)
Torres News and I saw an ad for the big housse. Intersting to see what it sells for (if it sells)
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Torres RPT to recommence mid November ?
Rumour has it that some pilots have been contacted to restart mid November, and engineering staff retained.
The P68 (that started A/T) departed HID on Thursday heading south, heard that a van will be heading north to join the other one still at HID. 2 islanders to be retained, other piston fleet to be sold off.
Sounds like 2 x vans and 2 x BN2's to conduct scheduled "service flights". (BN2's needed for Mabuiag, cant fit grand Van in and out of MAA).
A former A/T employee who specialises in travel and shared charter has spent a lot of time in TI and HID recently and has just opened a TI travel office. more info on Torres News website.
Westwing and Slingair are likely starters if A/T doesn't come back with interposed 3rd party travel agent / legitimate pseudo RPT.
Rumour has it that some pilots have been contacted to restart mid November, and engineering staff retained.
The P68 (that started A/T) departed HID on Thursday heading south, heard that a van will be heading north to join the other one still at HID. 2 islanders to be retained, other piston fleet to be sold off.
Sounds like 2 x vans and 2 x BN2's to conduct scheduled "service flights". (BN2's needed for Mabuiag, cant fit grand Van in and out of MAA).
A former A/T employee who specialises in travel and shared charter has spent a lot of time in TI and HID recently and has just opened a TI travel office. more info on Torres News website.
Westwing and Slingair are likely starters if A/T doesn't come back with interposed 3rd party travel agent / legitimate pseudo RPT.
Last edited by Captain Starlight; 1st Nov 2008 at 12:10. Reason: fix typo
It is my very sad duty to inform any interested parties that the 'big wall' has in fact been removed from the house. (Now rented). Sorry to be the bearer of unfortunate news! 
Last edited by Unusual-Attitude; 3rd Nov 2008 at 10:09.
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RL's "last ditch effort" to get Troppo's off the ground again will entail:
-employing only about one quater of the previous staff level
-focusing exclusively on the RPT flights in the Strait (i.e no operations out of Cairns)
-Less aircraft, most likely only 3 Caravans
-Providing a schedule similar to that in operation prior to October 3.
On other news, Outie street is up for sale (the lucky numbers being 3,5,29,33,35,37)!
(courtesy of the Torres News)
-employing only about one quater of the previous staff level
-focusing exclusively on the RPT flights in the Strait (i.e no operations out of Cairns)
-Less aircraft, most likely only 3 Caravans
-Providing a schedule similar to that in operation prior to October 3.
On other news, Outie street is up for sale (the lucky numbers being 3,5,29,33,35,37)!
(courtesy of the Torres News)
How does a company so far in debt and in administration get enough funds to obtain a 3rd Caravan? I'm no expert in this type of thing but it seems to me to be a pipe dream!
Good luck to anyone who wants to take on this operation!
Good luck to anyone who wants to take on this operation!
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how does a company in so much debt with so many creditors (i have the minutes of the creditors meeting) managed to get approved this new proposal past the creditors????
Latest.
Courtesy of the Torres News.
Vendetta claims as Aero-Tropics' bid to resume flying set to fail.
Aero-Tropics almost certainly has failed in it's bid to provide an air service in the Torres Strait, amid claims of a vendetta against his family, former CEO Ric Lippmann says.
Mr Lippmann has told the Torres News that CASA has advised the administrator handling the company's affairs that CASA is unlikely to approve any application from a company which involves "the Lippmanns"
Aero-Tropics almost certainly has failed in it's bid to provide an air service in the Torres Strait, amid claims of a vendetta against his family, former CEO Ric Lippmann says.
Mr Lippmann has told the Torres News that CASA has advised the administrator handling the company's affairs that CASA is unlikely to approve any application from a company which involves "the Lippmanns"
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From the Torres News - A spokesman from CASA told the Torres News on the weekend that the agency is doing 'everything possible' to restore an air service to the Torres Straits. A mite credibility challenged I would have to suggest. Excuse me while I throw up.
