Unique Air Swansea
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Location: U.K.
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Rebel1. Just one note of caution, if you are involved inlegal proceedings with Unique, don't say anything on here until it is all finished. Don't say anything as you could prejudice your case against them.
We all want to hear what you have to say, but be careful. If you tell your lawyers you are posting on this site, they'll probably have kittens!
We all want to hear what you have to say, but be careful. If you tell your lawyers you are posting on this site, they'll probably have kittens!
Join Date: Aug 2007
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smilingknifed
(Well Phil, I worked in the office whilst waiting for my 'King Air' job. It proved interesting to say the least.)
I have kept out of this thread up until now. But smilingknifed, didn't you just hang around the office because you had nothing better to do didnt unique have to ask you to leave as you were allways there, were you not at some point told you did not have anywhere near enough hours to fly a king air, isnt it you that went to fly the Let 410 for free isnt it you that was involved when the skydivers left Swansea owing massive amounts of money. And before you point the finger I am not MD I just do know some of the things that have gone on, I left due to family reasons, it would be interesting to see just how many people here did work at unique.
I have kept out of this thread up until now. But smilingknifed, didn't you just hang around the office because you had nothing better to do didnt unique have to ask you to leave as you were allways there, were you not at some point told you did not have anywhere near enough hours to fly a king air, isnt it you that went to fly the Let 410 for free isnt it you that was involved when the skydivers left Swansea owing massive amounts of money. And before you point the finger I am not MD I just do know some of the things that have gone on, I left due to family reasons, it would be interesting to see just how many people here did work at unique.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Scotland mainly, rather than at home.
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Solitary office work
My time in the office was spent answering and fending off calls from people who were expecting chartered helicopters to turn up, one poor chap who had bought MD's Seneca and wanted a VAT receipt, chatting to MD's girlfriend who, probably quite justifiably, used to ring in to find out where he was - just don't mention he has a secretary!! In addition, collating and sorting for the nth time under the latest sets of criteria MD decided to hand down, cvs of prospective employees for all the SJ30 jets we were about to acquire.
Apart from that time was spent variously looking out of the window at OTHER PEOPLE flying, eating, and looking at emails. The phone didn't ring very often, although MD is always very busy working late into the night, calls calls calls, girls girls girls etc etc.
When not in the office we were mainly expected to hang around the cafe of Swansea airport expecting to be invited to important meetings which never materialized. The thing which is sad is that we put up with it for so many weeks, but we really wanted it to work, and with the bank instrument document Sedgely the investor sent us to prove the millions in funding it all did seem a lot more plausible then than it does looking back.
Just call me a mug, I don't mind any more!
Apart from that time was spent variously looking out of the window at OTHER PEOPLE flying, eating, and looking at emails. The phone didn't ring very often, although MD is always very busy working late into the night, calls calls calls, girls girls girls etc etc.
When not in the office we were mainly expected to hang around the cafe of Swansea airport expecting to be invited to important meetings which never materialized. The thing which is sad is that we put up with it for so many weeks, but we really wanted it to work, and with the bank instrument document Sedgely the investor sent us to prove the millions in funding it all did seem a lot more plausible then than it does looking back.
Just call me a mug, I don't mind any more!
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Not so sure
I dont understand things here, information doesnt add up further back some1 said the seneca was leased now some1 is saying it was sold as the buyer was looking for the vat paperwork MH said he didnt do that much now he was full time in the office there seems to be a lot of mixed stories here, unique have never said they have helicopters so where does that come from, seems to be mixed signals here, Im not defending them but diffrent posts give totally diffrent info does anyone really know or is it what they think they know, where is MD to answer
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sussex
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The facts
As someone who was involved in an advisory capacity (never been paid) with Unique, perhaps I could shed some light on the myths, stories and other half truths. MD started off with just his father, and then gained a General Manager, who was a former police officer, who joined on the promise of flying, stayed until January 2007 and then returned to his former life. There was another gentleman who helped out as a general assistant before moving on. In February, against the advice of many, MD recruited five pilots, amongst who were some of these threads contributors. As there were no aircraft to fly, they were asked to assist/deputise for MD at various times, and carry out tasks as previously described. A further four pilots joined/left in June/July 2007. There was also for a short while a company chauffeur, with no car and more recently an agency employed secretary. With regard to the Seneca, it was indeed sold, and the new owner is still seeking documentation from that sale. With regard to the mention of a helicopter, it is claimed that an operator with an AOC based just over the border in England had been acquired and will have their one Bell 206LR augmented with an A109 and possibly a Eurocopter.
In my estimate, that makes for one GM, nine pilots, one secretary, and numerous others who were asked to act as advisors/representative, chaufeurs, etc., most of whom have never been paid and have only received abuse for their loyalty and hard work. There is probably more that I and others could say, but with various legal proceedings going on, perhaps now is not the time.
In my estimate, that makes for one GM, nine pilots, one secretary, and numerous others who were asked to act as advisors/representative, chaufeurs, etc., most of whom have never been paid and have only received abuse for their loyalty and hard work. There is probably more that I and others could say, but with various legal proceedings going on, perhaps now is not the time.
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With regards the helicopter Op, by acquired, do you mean that Unique in one of it's guises has purchased an AOC holding operator with a 109 and a Long Ranger?
Who told you this, is it true, or another one of the Unique Myths?
I know they had a number of conversations with a helicopter operator in Staverton, but was unaware anything had been purchased.
Who told you this, is it true, or another one of the Unique Myths?
I know they had a number of conversations with a helicopter operator in Staverton, but was unaware anything had been purchased.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Sussex
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Helicopter AOC / Secretary
This particular operator is based in Hereford and their website shows just the 206. Their name is the same as well known brand of toothpaste.
Fiancee, (ex) if you wish to be correct, and she was in fact the Marketing Manager.
She was suceeded by the secretary/girlfriend (ex).
Fiancee, (ex) if you wish to be correct, and she was in fact the Marketing Manager.
She was suceeded by the secretary/girlfriend (ex).
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Tailorman is factually spot on apart from just one small point, which he probably wasn't aware of, which is that in fact six pilots were recruited in the initial intake, two of whom were Scandinavian. They arrived a day or two earlier than the rest of us, and apparently MD was extremely offhand (probably so busy with the stress of buying all these companies). One of the Scandinavian pilots saw the coffee much more quickly than the rest of us and made his excuses and left. No idea where he ended up but if he's reading good luck to him.
Phil, everyone was told conflicting stories, so all we can do is read between the lines about company purchases. I THINK the truth is that negotiations were opened with several companies (doubtless the same documents proving forthcoming investment which were used to convince us were used to convince them) but I think that is as far as it ever went. Whether an agreement to purchase was ever reached or not, I think possibly, but not in all cases. Whether a purchase definitely was completed of any of these companies, I would say no, due to investment promised not arriving for a host of excuses which were plausible at the time, and centered around the Barclays or RBS buy out of ABN Amro. MD still CLAIMED that several companies, one of which was a helicopter company, one of which had an AOC, had been bought. When calls started coming in to the office about helicopter charters it merely added weight to his claims, and whilst we were pretty sure he was lying about some things (like the Ferrari for example) it looked like he was just jumping the gun and it was slowly starting to happen. We told ourselves that in any start up there were bound to be teething troubles, and to be honest, thought that MD would not last the distance anyway, once he had served his usefulness. What we got wrong was that he was in any way useful at all, and he had lied to the investor about his prowess and skill running a charter company.
He also told us, and gave us a handout of the purchase schedule, that Unique Air had agreed to buy every single SJ30 which was due to roll off the production line in the next two years, possibly more. He even had the brokers convinced as they spent a large sum on a trip for MD and his then girlfriend to Dubai, where he told us he had signed the contract.
As I say it all seemed a lot more plausible back then.
Phil, everyone was told conflicting stories, so all we can do is read between the lines about company purchases. I THINK the truth is that negotiations were opened with several companies (doubtless the same documents proving forthcoming investment which were used to convince us were used to convince them) but I think that is as far as it ever went. Whether an agreement to purchase was ever reached or not, I think possibly, but not in all cases. Whether a purchase definitely was completed of any of these companies, I would say no, due to investment promised not arriving for a host of excuses which were plausible at the time, and centered around the Barclays or RBS buy out of ABN Amro. MD still CLAIMED that several companies, one of which was a helicopter company, one of which had an AOC, had been bought. When calls started coming in to the office about helicopter charters it merely added weight to his claims, and whilst we were pretty sure he was lying about some things (like the Ferrari for example) it looked like he was just jumping the gun and it was slowly starting to happen. We told ourselves that in any start up there were bound to be teething troubles, and to be honest, thought that MD would not last the distance anyway, once he had served his usefulness. What we got wrong was that he was in any way useful at all, and he had lied to the investor about his prowess and skill running a charter company.
He also told us, and gave us a handout of the purchase schedule, that Unique Air had agreed to buy every single SJ30 which was due to roll off the production line in the next two years, possibly more. He even had the brokers convinced as they spent a large sum on a trip for MD and his then girlfriend to Dubai, where he told us he had signed the contract.
As I say it all seemed a lot more plausible back then.
L'enfant Terrible
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RHS1, for someone claiming not be MD, your viewpoint and knowledge base are remarkably similar.
Hanging around the office was something of a factor for the Unique 'pilots' (as several have already alluded to). My own 'hanging around' was on the promise of pay (another MD promise). Both myself and Phil (a truly outstanding bloke and not guilty of any wrongdoing) saw the writing on the wall and left.
I did indeed go to fly the LET for the skydivers, as a paid pilot. The company did pull out of Swansea, the details of which I'm not sure on and I left for South Africa shortly after to fly LETS out here.
Anything else you want clearing up?
Edited for grammar
Hanging around the office was something of a factor for the Unique 'pilots' (as several have already alluded to). My own 'hanging around' was on the promise of pay (another MD promise). Both myself and Phil (a truly outstanding bloke and not guilty of any wrongdoing) saw the writing on the wall and left.
I did indeed go to fly the LET for the skydivers, as a paid pilot. The company did pull out of Swansea, the details of which I'm not sure on and I left for South Africa shortly after to fly LETS out here.
Anything else you want clearing up?
Edited for grammar
Last edited by SmilingKnifed; 25th Aug 2007 at 12:59.
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does anyone really know or is it what they think they know
RHS, in answer to your question, does anybody really care?
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RHS you say that smilingknifed went to fly the LETS for Free!! the point being what, who wouldnt, nice plane, seems that everyone else was flying for unique for free also, sorry I mean on the ground for free
Everyone still up for a drink
Everyone still up for a drink
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Hi
Hi,
As your aware of the MD's lies why would you think I was his girlfriend just because I worked with him and at the time considered him as a friend, it seems you believed his lies. At the end of the day it was just a job it meant nothing to me cause I knew that nothing was coming out of it. My agency didnt even know I was working from his appartment because he lied yet again saying it was fine and if they did they would of pulled me out weeks ago. I have seen on his google mail the chat conversations what he said about me and it was quite funny to think in his twisted head that there was something going on between me and him.Like we all did just felt kinda sorry for him and now I see that he deserves what he gets. So I wish you all luck with what court settlements you have with him, i just wanted to get that clear.
Thanks
As your aware of the MD's lies why would you think I was his girlfriend just because I worked with him and at the time considered him as a friend, it seems you believed his lies. At the end of the day it was just a job it meant nothing to me cause I knew that nothing was coming out of it. My agency didnt even know I was working from his appartment because he lied yet again saying it was fine and if they did they would of pulled me out weeks ago. I have seen on his google mail the chat conversations what he said about me and it was quite funny to think in his twisted head that there was something going on between me and him.Like we all did just felt kinda sorry for him and now I see that he deserves what he gets. So I wish you all luck with what court settlements you have with him, i just wanted to get that clear.
Thanks
