Club 328
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
Age: 79
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Monkey Boy & TP102
C328 ops was a shambles, some what like another that calls it's self 247. Take the dosh and don't deliver. Brokers around Europe and beyond have them black listed. I just love and appreciate a 'can do' attitude from professionals, but not from unknowledgeable* ops clerks and numpty double glazing salesmen with superior, and arrogant attitudes!
*Airport/Runway analysis is one point you made, well quoted! How about service delivery accounting/accountability, would they make ISO9001?
Use the best and leave the cowboys to fight for the penny pinching crap market share!
*Airport/Runway analysis is one point you made, well quoted! How about service delivery accounting/accountability, would they make ISO9001?
Use the best and leave the cowboys to fight for the penny pinching crap market share!
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bristol
Age: 54
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Has anyone used Planechartering, any feedback?
I heard some odd rumours about catering and waiting time, anyone clarify these?
What is the overall opinion of the 328 Envoy (if operated correctly).
Phil
I heard some odd rumours about catering and waiting time, anyone clarify these?
What is the overall opinion of the 328 Envoy (if operated correctly).
Phil
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: in a world of my own
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As far as I can see it, Club 328 should've cleaned up with the 328. It's a rare bear in Europe and unique in the UK. If managed properly, then it should've been flying all the time. However, it seems that this particular one seemed to spend most of it's time in pieces in a hangar somewhere waiting to be glued back together!
With Plane Chartering, you've not really got anything of Club 328 left (ok, the Hawker). So, what you're left with now are two Citation II's which are hardly difficult to come by in the UK (most of the ones already operational are run exceptionally well - we all know who the cowboys are) and the Hawker 800's. The Hawker's may have decent range, but how often do you need it? The Citation Excel / XLS is a much newer aircraft with a decent luggage hold, or even the Lear 45 if you don't mind crawling on your hands and knees to get to your seat - if you need the range on a budget then go for a Lear 60. To be honest, anything over 4 hours then you've got the Challenger 300's or Sovereigns now, why bother with a Hawker?
To make Plane Chartering work they're going to have to be competative price wise, offer outstanding service and be contactable out of hours (especially weekends)!
With Plane Chartering, you've not really got anything of Club 328 left (ok, the Hawker). So, what you're left with now are two Citation II's which are hardly difficult to come by in the UK (most of the ones already operational are run exceptionally well - we all know who the cowboys are) and the Hawker 800's. The Hawker's may have decent range, but how often do you need it? The Citation Excel / XLS is a much newer aircraft with a decent luggage hold, or even the Lear 45 if you don't mind crawling on your hands and knees to get to your seat - if you need the range on a budget then go for a Lear 60. To be honest, anything over 4 hours then you've got the Challenger 300's or Sovereigns now, why bother with a Hawker?
To make Plane Chartering work they're going to have to be competative price wise, offer outstanding service and be contactable out of hours (especially weekends)!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: wish I was in the clouds
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So, Planechartering are the new Club 328 ?? is that how we read it. I read in Aviation International News that there is an exodus of key personnel along with pilots, so who is replacing……who is at the top ???.
Be interesting, wonder how the industry is going to work with this entity from what I hear about them, or to be more frank, the ‘leader’, creating havoc in our back yard, disregarding the hard earned professionalism we rely on, and not paying bills, and staff.
Bodes well…..seem to have a good publicity machine working round the clock to make them look squeaky clean.
Off now to watch what happens
Be interesting, wonder how the industry is going to work with this entity from what I hear about them, or to be more frank, the ‘leader’, creating havoc in our back yard, disregarding the hard earned professionalism we rely on, and not paying bills, and staff.
Bodes well…..seem to have a good publicity machine working round the clock to make them look squeaky clean.
Off now to watch what happens
Phil Brockwell.....
The 328Jet in Corporate service is a peach of an Aircraft. 15 tons of reliable Jet with a huge freight bay. Club328's G-CJAB was a hybrid with both Club and Economy seats. it has a range of just under 1500 miles and a slow mach .66 cruise - but so what! Anything less than 2 hours it was an absolute winner over any other Mid size Corporate jet available. It sells for 601 prices and has so much more capability short haul (apart from speed!!)
Club328's Jet attracted some very big names in the music/media/fame world, so why didn't it succeed? Buggered if I know, great crews, now dispersed to the winds, great price, huge dream (we originally were down to buy 8 of them)I suppose it's easy to blame Sales and Marketing, but I honestly believe there was a real future for the 328Jet in NW Europe as a Corporate Jet. I taxied past one in Milan the other day and still think it's a honey of a Jet.
The 328Jet in Corporate service is a peach of an Aircraft. 15 tons of reliable Jet with a huge freight bay. Club328's G-CJAB was a hybrid with both Club and Economy seats. it has a range of just under 1500 miles and a slow mach .66 cruise - but so what! Anything less than 2 hours it was an absolute winner over any other Mid size Corporate jet available. It sells for 601 prices and has so much more capability short haul (apart from speed!!)
Club328's Jet attracted some very big names in the music/media/fame world, so why didn't it succeed? Buggered if I know, great crews, now dispersed to the winds, great price, huge dream (we originally were down to buy 8 of them)I suppose it's easy to blame Sales and Marketing, but I honestly believe there was a real future for the 328Jet in NW Europe as a Corporate Jet. I taxied past one in Milan the other day and still think it's a honey of a Jet.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: York, via Melbourne
Age: 48
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DO328 Jet
We used G-CJAB twice and on both occassions our clients raved both with the service and the aircraft. One of these was with PC for the World Cup Rugby and the flight, an overnight from BQH, couldn't have gone better. Gutted its gone as we had a flight planned for May.
Regarding PC - we've have had many dealings with Claude, Chantal and Paul and honestly can't complain, they've always been great and commercially keen. So I wish them all the very best and hope that they carry many more of our clients.
Regarding the Club/Econ seating, we always gave the invoice payer a hot tip - 'Be the first to get on!!' - and they loved us for it...
Regarding PC - we've have had many dealings with Claude, Chantal and Paul and honestly can't complain, they've always been great and commercially keen. So I wish them all the very best and hope that they carry many more of our clients.
Regarding the Club/Econ seating, we always gave the invoice payer a hot tip - 'Be the first to get on!!' - and they loved us for it...
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: 1000ft above you, giving you the bird!
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well wit a bit of luck things will start to settle down now - Elaine has now departed and Martin Bird a top guy is the new acc man - all he has to do is reign in PC a little in his ways then the future may be a little brighter - but at the very least a glimmer of light at the end of a very long datk tunnel...!
blue skies - summers coming.... yeeee haaaa!
blue skies - summers coming.... yeeee haaaa!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: 1000ft above you, giving you the bird!
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in my opinion MB is a quality manager and accountable manager that takes no crap - and in both roles you actually need someone like that - after all they are custodians of the AOC on behalf of the CAA - are you saying the crews crews think they are better qualified and have better knowledge than those in post?
Or is it a skygod syndrome affect that seems to come about in all organisations at some time or another???
Or is it a skygod syndrome affect that seems to come about in all organisations at some time or another???
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: FL450
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When you consider Mr Bird "found" himself in the position of ops manager with no previous experience and would not listen to the accumalated hundreds of years experience of the guys that had been doing this for decades I think the resounding answer is YES!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: E.U.
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Kelly Hopper,
I thought MB was a former highly experienced military aviator? Falklands, Gulf War 1, Northern Ireland, Kosovo. No Ops Experience? Sorry, I think you are way off the mark; but OK maybe not initially within the Civilian world, but he has picked it up pretty damn quickly. His guidance as Q/A Manager resulted in a complete turnaround last year. Yep, MB pushes hard, but he gets results. However, that can upset those of a weak disposition. You sound as if you have some personal issue with him. One thing is for certain, Acc Man is a demanding job for anyone; I am confident he will do his best, but he is a braver man than most. Let's hope he gets all the support that he will undoubtly need. He is the type of bloke 328 needs right now; he can cut through all the crap, stand his ground and try to get things back on track. I personally wish him all the luck and success in the world - he's going to need it.
I thought MB was a former highly experienced military aviator? Falklands, Gulf War 1, Northern Ireland, Kosovo. No Ops Experience? Sorry, I think you are way off the mark; but OK maybe not initially within the Civilian world, but he has picked it up pretty damn quickly. His guidance as Q/A Manager resulted in a complete turnaround last year. Yep, MB pushes hard, but he gets results. However, that can upset those of a weak disposition. You sound as if you have some personal issue with him. One thing is for certain, Acc Man is a demanding job for anyone; I am confident he will do his best, but he is a braver man than most. Let's hope he gets all the support that he will undoubtly need. He is the type of bloke 328 needs right now; he can cut through all the crap, stand his ground and try to get things back on track. I personally wish him all the luck and success in the world - he's going to need it.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: South of Watford Gap
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Good, glad to hear they're getting busier. Hopefully that means thay are also making lots of lolly......Maybe now the CEO will stop talking out of his 
: and pay the people who were laid off what they're owed and start running things as they should be for a corporate outfit, instead of trying to do everything on the cheap, generally cut corners and assume the rules don't apply to him!
: and pay the people who were laid off what they're owed and start running things as they should be for a corporate outfit, instead of trying to do everything on the cheap, generally cut corners and assume the rules don't apply to him!
