Club 328
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Club 328
We have all been aware over the years of the Bookajet story and then club328' great plans. However I now see that Club 328 have been bought out.
It would seem that "Club328" have been bought out by a company called Planechartering and Mitre Aviation.
From what I can gather, Plane chartering are new to the aviation business (less than 2 years) and were operating 2 Citation 550's and a beech 90. However there is no record of an AOC for either of these companies.
Club328 have recently been advertising for flight crews through CTC.
What does anyone know anything about this new organisation.
It would seem that "Club328" have been bought out by a company called Planechartering and Mitre Aviation.
From what I can gather, Plane chartering are new to the aviation business (less than 2 years) and were operating 2 Citation 550's and a beech 90. However there is no record of an AOC for either of these companies.
Club328 have recently been advertising for flight crews through CTC.
What does anyone know anything about this new organisation.
- Who are they?
- What aircraft are they going to be operating, I thought Club 328 had premier1, Hawkers and Dornier 328 on their AOC.?
- Have Plane chartering bought the AOC?
- What will be there base of operations? Club 328 are Southampton based, but the web site says moving to Biggin Hill. But they seem to also have a base in LFMD
- Are the crews from Southampton Moving?
- Are the operations staff moving?
- Does anyone know of their future plans?
Last edited by Raethmeon; 23rd Oct 2007 at 11:28.
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Planechartering are/were operating under the AOC of Xclusive Jet in Bournemouth. Having operated under Xclusive's auspices I am happy to say I have no argument with them, quite the opposite. Planechartering on the other hand did not exactly fill me with joy during our (brief) association and I made my way swiftly in the opposite direction.
Sitting firmly on the fence the difficulties I encountered might have been just teething troubles. Their origins are, I believe, in the world of boat charters and certainly when I dealt with them they were somewhat........vague in matters aviation.
I've had no dealings with them for over a year though and would bow to the opinion of someone more recently associated.
Sitting firmly on the fence the difficulties I encountered might have been just teething troubles. Their origins are, I believe, in the world of boat charters and certainly when I dealt with them they were somewhat........vague in matters aviation.
I've had no dealings with them for over a year though and would bow to the opinion of someone more recently associated.
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Have only had a brief experience of planechartering and I wont be repeating it. Used one of their aircraft and the whole episode was a nightmare from start to finish. I also spoke to people at Xclusive earlier in the year who said that planechartering wouldnt be on their AOC for much longer as they 'arent performing as they should be'......
That said, buying 328 is a ready made fix to those problems.....
That said, buying 328 is a ready made fix to those problems.....
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Club328
Cant say if Planechartering jumped or was pushed from their hosted AOC however i understand there was an urgent need for them to get their own AOC and club328 was the best available????? 328 was bought for £1 from what i am led to believe and the deal was the aircraft and debt which according to a KPMG prospectus that passed before my eyes was a balance sheet debt of +50m.
Dont know the ins and outs of the deal but the crews are remaining in SOU and the operations are being moved to BQH. Not had a huge amount to deal with Plane Chartering due to the calibre of some of my clients. A glass of wine per passenger and some crisps which is their standard fare according to their quotations does not really cut it for clients paying in excess of €10,000 for a flight! Having said that I have not heard anything negative about them and both Claude and Chantal are nice peeps
Dont know the ins and outs of the deal but the crews are remaining in SOU and the operations are being moved to BQH. Not had a huge amount to deal with Plane Chartering due to the calibre of some of my clients. A glass of wine per passenger and some crisps which is their standard fare according to their quotations does not really cut it for clients paying in excess of €10,000 for a flight! Having said that I have not heard anything negative about them and both Claude and Chantal are nice peeps
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Not had a huge amount to deal with Plane Chartering due to the calibre of some of my clients. A glass of wine per passenger and some crisps which is their standard fare according to their quotations does not really cut it for clients paying in excess of €10,000 for a flight!
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Club 328/Planechartering/Euromanx
Any of you boys down South know where Euromanx fit into the new equasion
Lots of rumours here on Fraggle that Club 328 and 3W and will be cosying up, sharing AOC's, aircraft type, spares, maintenance and crews.
If someones taken on £50m of liabilitys ther must be a plan somewhere
Lots of rumours here on Fraggle that Club 328 and 3W and will be cosying up, sharing AOC's, aircraft type, spares, maintenance and crews. If someones taken on £50m of liabilitys ther must be a plan somewhere
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Emx C328
Given that 328 are no longer part of the CJS group I seriously doubt there will be anything between the 2 and also there is no way that EMX would be able to operate on 328's aoc as it is a completely different operating license.
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If you cannot handle that you should not be in this business... 
Too many startups are started on information of the manufacturer telling you what the (US!) cost per hour of an aircraft will be. None tells you about the cost of blowing an engine and your "Gold" power by the hour program telling you it was because the pilot f**ked up.....
Too many startups are started on information of the manufacturer telling you what the (US!) cost per hour of an aircraft will be. None tells you about the cost of blowing an engine and your "Gold" power by the hour program telling you it was because the pilot f**ked up.....
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Club 328 Going Bust?
has anyone heard that Club328 / Plane chartering are going into liquidation? Apparently the debt of £50M has been written off by the banks (sounds unlikely to me but then - it's possible, they are, after all, not a third world country 
) Apparently all the staff were called in for a general announcement on Wednesday... One wonders what's going on there - I believe a lot of their aircraft have been grounded for ages due to CAA issues...
) Apparently all the staff were called in for a general announcement on Wednesday... One wonders what's going on there - I believe a lot of their aircraft have been grounded for ages due to CAA issues...
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Debt
I know of someone with a rather substantial charter bill that is now going unpaid because of 328 going bust but to be fair it has been on the cards for years. I believe the phrase that waas used in the office this morning was 'if plane chartering come to us for a charter, tell them to go f*** themselves.'
Doubt Plane Chartering will be affected, probably a very shrewd deal on their part however that withstood they, 328/PC have shafted a lot of other suppliers through this deal I have no doubt and therefore as an entity whatever they call themselves judgement is out as far as if they can be trusted I would think.
As for aircraft being grounded I have no idea or reference re that but know of a few very unhappy passengers of late. Not going to start rumours but 328 service has been F*cked for months both operationally and customer services, not to put to finer point on it.
Doubt Plane Chartering will be affected, probably a very shrewd deal on their part however that withstood they, 328/PC have shafted a lot of other suppliers through this deal I have no doubt and therefore as an entity whatever they call themselves judgement is out as far as if they can be trusted I would think.
As for aircraft being grounded I have no idea or reference re that but know of a few very unhappy passengers of late. Not going to start rumours but 328 service has been F*cked for months both operationally and customer services, not to put to finer point on it.
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Not going to start rumours but 328 service has been F*cked for months both operationally and customer services, not to put to finer point on it.
