Forget Ryanair cancelling flights due lack of crew, whats going on at Fordair? Their aircraft havent turned a wheel since the weekend and Titan seem to be operating some of the schedules. I even noticed a german registered aircraft operating their Istanbul flight this week.
Is the end for one of the best jobs in the business?

Well it's a Ford, ain't it?

There seems to be an awful lot of shiney hardware sitting in the Ford hangar 24/7 at the moment. Is this a result of Monday's cutback announcements? Seems pretty quick action if it is, not really what you would associate with Ford Air, I heard it took them 38 years to decided on a move from PG Tips to Typhoo.

Lord Montford

In answer to your question.

I think you may find it is! Ford are desperate to save money, this could
be one option.

......or maybe the Boeings are on scheduled maintenance

Still No Ford aircraft operating today! Can't believe they would have both of their aircraft down for maintenance at the same time $$

Aren't the B737s leased from SAS Braathens so could be returned to the lessor fairly quickly depending on much it'll cost to terminate the contract?

Fried Chicken

Fob602 31jan Ops On Xla B738
Fob601 31jan Ops On Awc B733
Fob616 31jan Ops On Awc B733

My info is that these a/c were not taken up by SAS and in fact are leased direct from the Leasing Co.

Could be wrong here but i've heard there's a problem with the pilots and them flying the Ford a/c on a VP-B reg - this is second hand info mind you....

.....and how long have they been flying on VP-B registered a/c Were they not validated when the a/c arrived or did that get missed

exactly Vikiing. They've only been VP-B reg'd for over 10 years (MD80's, BBJs, 700's). I don't think that's got anything to do with it.

It's got nothimg to do with VP-B, I was told it was more to do with Ford
world wide reducing its staffing by 20%+ worldwide, and that Pilots had called in sick with "Stress" due to the uncertainty about their jobs ?

Without sound too harsh towards Ford pilots, but they've had it too good for too long. Maybe some of them will have to join "real aviation" and work for a living, i.e. multi sector days, maximum flying hours etc.

Maybe Ford have finally woken up to the fact that flying their staff around in 2 737's isn't excatly cost efficient !

I suspect XL will be around for a while longer. Wet lease is cheaper while Ford try to sort out there next move.

Again, apologies for sounding too up front and harsh but it's an operation that just cannot pay for itself. Maybe if Ford offered out the a/c at weekends and bank holidays, they'd get some money in rather than just sending it out........but, I suspect they don't hold an AOC

Actually, it is.

A face to face meeting around a vehicle can resolve many more problems than can be done by net-meeting or video conferencing. Travelling to Turkey commerical is a major problem and thats just getting the tickets signed off!

As an aside - any truth in the rumour that Fordair are moving back to Southend???

quote Viking9:
Without sound too harsh towards Ford pilots, but they've had it too good for too long. Maybe some of them will have to join "real aviation" and work for a living, i.e. multi sector days, maximum flying hours etc.

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And nobody stopped them from beeing sooo selfish for all these years !!!

All the best for everybody with DECENT T&C, may they be at Ford or elsewhere !

Yes I agree. So why are Ford having problems flying their Boeings then Have they had any audits lately, maybe something has been bought to light by the feds and they ain't happy with it

bw - Haven't a clue, thats not my side of the business. But all aspects of the business are being closely scrutinised to cut any costs possible and I can see no reason why Fordair is exempt.

Excel are doing the work on the 73-800s. Ford seem more than happy with the way things are going. (ie it must be cost-effective as beancounters rule the roost).

Does that mean the guy who reckoned he was the uk's only civilian harrier pilot is out of a job then? Maybe he could go back to being Deputy Chief Training Captain or whatever it was he fabricated.