would imagine its the whole fleet

A real bad bit of news for all at JEM. I can't wish anything but luck to all my ex-colleagues who all went well beyond the call of duty on a regular basis (That's everyone except management basically), don't worry there are far better employers out there, once you get into the "real world" you'll realise what a bag of s*ite Emerald was.

I hope it does get sorted, with a change of management Emerald could be a fantastic place to work.

Good luck all, I think you'll be needing it.......

There is only one reason for this state of affairs and I think most could take a guess at his initials. He'd never admit it, but I'm afraid when stuff like this happens it can only be due to the "leadership".

Ops Gimp,
Do you really think this is the time and the place to say 'I told you so' when there are others perhaps sh1tt1ng themselves regarding how they may survive or pay the mortgage etc?

If you're one of the affected persons then you have my sympathy but go out, have a few beers, give the girlfriend a seeing to, but try to lay off pprune posting in the manner you have been.

I worked for an airline 4 years ago, the one after I last left Emerald, the CAA tried to pull the AOC twice in a fortnight because they believed the crew records were a shambles. I, personally, proved to the a'hole of an inspector that they were not and the airline continued flying.

Obviously I do not know what is going on inside Emerald at the moment, perhaps it is all over or perhaps they have been given time to get their house in order but at least give them a fighting chance before burying them yourself!

PF

Ah ****......Emerald have no reason to be where they are except bad management. The contracts etc are there, the staff are there. The buck has to stop somewhere and someone HAS to take things seriously.

We all know what the Campaign Against Aviation is like, but there is a limit. I seriously hope EMERALD get through this.

They deserve to be a survivor.

DV they will be.

It is a crying shame for all those concerned, but there is blame here and that lies firmly with management, if you cannot even sort out the basic fundamentals of a proper training and maintenance structure then you are letting down those who have given 100% for you.

On the ramp at EMA last night the word from the RM is that they are pulling some of the contracts already and that Central Control had one of its worst nights in 25 years, what any other customer must think is probably exactly the same.

I dont really think anyone is saying 'I told you so' but if you look at the facts the management (non flying) really have let everyone done very badly.

Any Update
 

Its all very well speculating, does anyone actually know what's going on.

Ongoing
 

A concern must be that, all things being equal Emerald can get over their problems and get their AOC back, what work will they still have?

Emerald's operation of 11 748's & 5 SD3-60's is a big hole to fill.

Until recently the UK supported a variety of cargo airlines: Atlantic, Air Contractor, BAC, Channex, Emerald, Streamline & Titan, with other airlines doing the odd bit (Aurigny, BMI).

Now, with Emerald out of the picture, there is really only Atlantic Airlines, who tend to go for the larger aircraft (ATP, L188) while Air Atlantic seem to be using their ATR's on passenger operations (Sub's and their new schedule). Air Contractors, now an Irish company, seem to be mainly a Fedex contractor. Will they get the F27's back in the air or use some of the extra ATR42's? Titan are down to just 1 ATR42, Channex are now a 737 only operator on those freight routes they still run, while AUR are doing a bit with their ATR72's but must still support their core passenger operation ex GCI. Streamline was taken over by Emerald some time ago.

So Emerald customers (the Royal Mail & courier companies) will have to move quickly to get capacity in to operate their flights. However once these alternative operations are underway, what's the chance of the work going back to Emerald when they get their AOC back?? Customers like RM & courier companies I presume would not react well to being dropped in the sh1t.

There is nothing, one presumes, to prevent Emerald from bringing in third party aircraft to operate their services and to maintain their contracts thus in theory Emerald can continue to operate, just not their own aircraft.

3rd party operators
 

While that would probably work for passenger operations, Emerald's customers a bit more 'savvy' than that and I would expect them to want to control their suppliers directly.

Also their would be the financial implications for Emerald, i.e upfront payments for third party carriers, while still having to suffer performance penalties??

Emerald have been subbing in freighters for years, Channex F27's and some Antonovs just for starters.

Sympathy to the many good folk who work there. There were certainly many in my time who gave their utmost DESPITE higher management not BECAUSE OF.

If their crew records are in a mess it will be because they can't keep staff, ditto Ops. Anyone tries hard, u know who gets rid of them. Abusing staff is not the way forward.

I sincerely hope this Phoenix rises from the ashes, but if it does I would suggest radical amputation of the senior management and get someone in who knows not only what they're doing but how to achieve it without regular whippings and "morale boosters" from MOB.

Regards and Luck to all

Doc C.

What's Occurring?
 

I am so glad that pprune exists, otherwise I would have no idea that the company I work for are in major trouble. I finished work a few days ago and I am due back in tomorrow. Wondering when they will call?

I would like to know if the CAA can turn a decision like this around in a day? Do they work weekends? I think I know the answer as they are a Government body aren't they? (10 working days.....Computer says No..You've got the wrong department)...So familiar!

I am waiting and wondering with my fingers and toes crossed!!!

To pick up on the mismanagement element, I couldn't agree more. Without assassinating anyone or any one thing at JEM, I have to say that at a recent meeting I had with them, it all seemed very unstructured and 'all muck in' - not an ideal way to run the show; seems to have worked up to now but the proof of the pudding has clearly shown with the suspension of the AOC. Chap I spoke to told me he was in a post he really didn't want and it had kinda been forced on him. Not conducive to morale; not a contributor to a successful undetaking. Ergo!

SATCO

DOC C
I can't imagine the CAA pulling an AOC because Emeralds crew records are a mess (who says they are). If there have been breaches forced by lack of crew (aka Commercial pressure) then thats another case. The original post was something to do with Line Checks not being in order.
Also the CAA wouldnt "pull" an AOC lightly, when is the last time an AOC was pulled??? :\

It seems that the SD3-60's are also being moved to BLK where a meeting is to be held this afternoon with crew, I guess the CAA must have given them dispensation to do this, or can they posn non public transport outwith the AOC in this situation???

I guess more will come to light later today after this meeting.

The Scottish RM contracts from Aberdeen have 'apparently' been awarded to another operator, for a 2 week period and will no doubt go out to tender after that, and various AN26's are being brought in by others to pick the pieces up tonight, my contact advises me that the RM are not inviting Emerald to cover flights with AN26's etc, and last night will probably not be forgotten for a very long time by those who had a few hours notice to pick up the pieces, the charter brokers will be rubbing their hands with glee

Indeed NO UK carrier benefits from this as the influx of cheap aircraft from Eastern Europe instigated by the charter brokers could change the ball game for many many years to come, and thats a very very depressing prospect for those of us making our living flying the post.

highly unlikely that this will get turned around very quickly. Its a serious matter. I hear Eastern Airways has picked up some work already.

I heard the CAA pulled the AOC because of a few reasons - one being that the third aircraft in the space of two months ran off the end of the runway.

And you're right - us charter brokers are rubbing our hands in glee!

Mr Angry,

Crewing WAS mentioned earlier on in this thread, just picking up on that as it was ALWAYS crewing or ops fault. No matter that both crewing AND ops had said "we can't do it", the idiot at the top STILL sold the flight and left the rest of us to try and beg, borrow , steal and promise our sister to the devil to get something done. Mayhap that's not the reason, but a "Crew Duty Hours" complete c*ck-up was always only a slip of the pen away.

I don't think I intimated that the CAA pull AOCs lightly either, where d'you get that idea? If the CAA pull an AOC its very serious and seriously considered. I for one am not surprised the CAA have considered them "Unsafe to fly" (to quote the Scotsman), only surprised that it took so long.

Flame me if you wish, just a personal viewpoint and I STILL wish every one of the worker bees at Emerald well for the future.

Doc C

Edited to get the quote right

Looks like they are subbing in F-27s tonight for some routes.


It's all very well saying they can continue as a business by subbing other aircraft in, but when those aircraft are bigger and more expensive than those which you used to operate, you start to have a problem unless more cargo is available to be carried.