Emerald and the CAA
 

Does anyone know what the latest is re the CAA inspection at Emerald? I heard that all line re-certs have been put on hold (mostly the Budgie guys). Rumours are that they're very short on Shed pilots, but can't recruit fresh meat until they get current guys back on line! :ouch:

:uhoh: :uhoh:

things just seem to go from bad to worse ......not to worry MOB will sort it

Can't possibly have any fingers left to stick in the holes can he?
Not counting the ones pushed in each ear of course, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU".

I understand that about half of Emeralds ATP F/O's now have no valid type rating as of today

I hear that plans to have their 'very own' TRE on the SD3-60 fleet have been put on hold.

This is indeed worrying news for all the guys still working there.
They won't get a TRE unless the salary reflects the position, but some companies seem to think it's all for your own benefit. Can make more money and have a better lifestyle as a freelancer.

They were supposed to be sending someone on a TRE course but thats been scrapped or blocked as some seem to think.

That leaves just one SD3-60 TRE available to them which cannot be an ideal situation.

I had a PM recently from someone who has unbelievably been offered a type rating later in the month, I imagine the course has been cancelled now !!

anybody heard anything ? this is bad news

Suspension of AOC
 

Be advised that with effect from 2100 hours local this evening our AOC has been suspended.

The reasons for such will be highlighted in a ‘Notice’ to be prepared and issued likely tomorrow morning.

This means all aircraft must not fly beyond 2100 hours and customers are being advised of such as quick as I possibly can.

The above suspention is subject to an appeal, details of which will be issued later.

5 748's on their way back to BLK at the moment.

Cant imagine this is going to go down well with the RM, the ABZ flights were on a final warning anyway 'alledgedly'

No one can take any pleasure in what is going on at JEM, its a very sad day for all those who have worked damn hard.

I've worked for Emerald twice in my career, the first time back in 1994/1995 and the second time some years later.

I have to say that the first time was the best and some fond and fun memories remain with me from that time, by the time I worked there the second time the company had grown and whilst some politics etc. had set it it remained, on the whole, fun.

Hopefully this is just a temporary setback and better times may lie ahead, good look to all including AJ & MOB.

PF

It's a sad day
 

I just heard the news, I'm so sorry for all staff. I hope that it all works out for you.

Having recently left after 9yrs I know just how hard working everyone is. I even wish MOB the best of luck in getting it back for the sake of all employees.

Take Care Guys, see you soon for a 10 Strong Whipped

yep sad indeed....just witnessed a stream arrival of budgies arrive BLK.

wish all well at emerald hope it works out ok.

wonder who,s fault this ime
 

it will either be ops or crewings fault as usual.Sorry but the buck stops at the top
i do not understand why anyone is surprised we all saw it coming.A few pilots must be loving it ?they know who they are.If AJ lets it continue in the manor its been managed then what does he expect.Abusing staff and the authority will only last for so long before they bite back .Sad for many deserved for a few

one of the reasons i headed for pastures new ;-)

Does this mean the end, or is there still a hope that Emerald will continue in business? Not a journo, I have a good mate who flies for them.

if the aoc is pulled you cant fly

if you cant fly its harder to make money

if you dont make money ....well you know the rest

Has it affected the ATP's as well??. Maybe this new operator who's advertising in Flight International (Magic Bird Airlines) has timed it just right?

did the same
 

yes germstone understand where your coming from still have friends who work there to be honest they are glad its possibly over so they can put an end to their suffering and move on .Since being away from there its been a shock as to how bad the place is run and how many health and safety rules they break and thats just the tip of the problems .There are some good people who would be welcomed else where but they need to move and move fast or be left out in the cold .The amount of people leaving in the last 6 months should have been enough warning many long term employees who saw the writing on the wall

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.