Kitoro Kid
What you get for your money is a DC10, as you say, in need of a C check.
What you also get is an EASA145 approved maintenance facility in the UK, associated tooling and equipment and a very large DC10 spares holding and all the staff.
Flight crew, operations, engineers etc are all still on the payroll. Nobody has yet been made redundant.

Twitcher
 

All said and done ,who is the new owner of DAS AIR CARGO
Interesting what you are saying but , that is in the UK
Operations / cheif Pilot / etc
What about the guys who made the Airline Work !!!!!!!!!!!!

Twicthcer ,kitoro Kid
 

what is a long running battle is that JCR ,had big problems when MRS JCR
started AFRICA ONE , CAPT JCR tried to overcome that Big mistake ,


Yes Das Air got by ,but a huge dent in the outcome of what was right what was wrong ,

All i will say is the Guys who operated the DC-10'S for Das are the best in the World

VERY , VERY GOOD GUYS !!!!!!!!!

another delay.....
 

It seems they are still not ready to release the info to everyone :eek:
So, you now have a few more days to make guesses. Anybody got any ideas other than Avient?

Avient doesn't really make sense does it? They appear to have done pretty well so far already from the demise of DAS, why spend millions when they don't have to? Unless the EASA145 facility is extraordinarily attractive. My guess is that it is somebody nobody has thought of in this context. There are vague whisperings about Nigeria from some quarters.

well lets hope that the possible new owners were not banking on getting the commonwealth games as part of the plans as a possible start, thats if they are from nigeria...!!!!!!

Perhaps its Arik - just a thought.......

... and Afrijet is coming up on the inside rail.

yes, but what about their tie up with mk cargo that seems abit silly as they are big buddies in nigeria (lagos)..still we shall see....

MK etc
 

As well as being an EASA approved maintenance hangar, it is also has approval as a line station. Ideal for MK who are currently using Manston daily and are currently almost non existent at Ostend :}
all speculation of course.....maybe an announcement tomorrow....they keep saying that though :ugh:

almost there..
 

The staff got the info today on who it is and what is going to happen :) Hopefully the news will be freely available by the end of the week to everyone else.

So then looks like we will be back at work soon then twitcher!! Be good to get back in the hanger.

seems that afri-jet, the pax charter company has bought das and intend to use the hanger at manston as thier uk base.

That will be these then.
http://www.afrijet.com/fleet/fleet.htm
Hope it helps
Be lucky
David

fleet maintenance at MSE
 

I'd look more at the passenger fleet, both current and future, as opposed to the freighter fleet ;-)
However, still no official announcement yet....

I asked this question over on the Manston thread but it's probably more appropriate asking it here and if I'm lucky I might get an answer. According to Jes: "They are buying the whole airline, and intend to run the hangar as a separate profit centre." So does that mean they will be carrying out maintenance work for other airlines as well as their own?

well, still waiting for the offical verdict, but they still hve afrijet as the front runner, alot of people still tight lipped, not letting much slip....:=

Official Announcement
 

Date: 20 November 2007, London:
Andrew Duncan and Andrew Stoneman, partners and Joint Administrators from Menzies Corporate Restructuring (MCR), announce today the sale of the business and assets of DAS Air to Continental Aviation Services (Nig) Limited (CAS). The liabilities of the Company remain with DAS Air Limited (In Administration). The Company, a long established UK based air freight services business operating routes between Europe and West Africa and between East Africa and the Middle East had ceased operations following the appointment of administrators on 17 September 2007. The sale of the business should allow operations to recommence in the short term and preserves the jobs of 34 staff, who work at the Company’s sites in Crawley and Manston. Andrew Duncan comments, “We’re pleased that the sale of the business represents the preservation of a long established African all cargo airline. It’s also good to note that of all the offers we received for the business from interested parties, CAS had the best funding package to acquire the business but also to fund investment and its future working capital requirements. I believe that this gives the business a very real chance to thrive and succeed, going forward.” Vitalis Ibe of CAS commented, “We are very excited with the opportunity to acquire this business and Charles Goodrich has been appointed as the CEO. We are looking forward to building a brand new vibrant cargo airline and maintenance facility”.

Good Luck Boys
 

Continental is part of Afrijet.

Vitalis Ibe used to be the BA Cargo Manager in Lagos.

Good luck to him, Berry, Dr D and the rest of the gang

crew for DC10
 

when will hiring begin for new crew for DC10

Afrijet have an Italian AOC as AfriJet Europe. Which register are they going to use.
Be lucky
David

from aircargonews
 

DAS Air Cargo’s remaining assets have been bought by Continental Aviation Services (Nigeria), in a deal that saves the airline from extinction.

As exclusively revealed in Air Cargo News in early November, the administrators of the airline, Menzies Corporate Restructuring, struck a deal a few weeks back, and the new owner finally put pen to paper on 20 November.

According to DAS Air’s commercial/operations manager, Malcolm Higginson, Continental Aviation Services is incorporated in Nigeria and will establish a new UK division named Continental Aviation Services (UK) Ltd. Higginson says the company is well funded and has expertise in cargo operations.

Continental Aviation Services (Nigeria) is a majority shareholder (70 per cent) of Afrijet the Nigeria-based passenger and cargo airline.

Afrijet currently has two Fokker F-27s on its books, but has also recently operated a B727F to supplement its cargo services.

Higginson said that “all the assets of DAS Air have been sold. The debt, however, remains with DAS Air Ltd and is in the hands of the administrators”.

He added that “as from now myself and the other 33 staff that work at our two sites at Crawley and Manston airport are employees of Continental Aviation Services”.

Higginson said that the initial plans involved getting the sole remaining DC-10 up and flying again and re-establishing the route network. “The Ugandan registration will end and we will be looking for a new approval. It is most likely that the aircraft will be registered in Nigeria. We are also looking to lease a second aircraft to help re-start scheduled and ad-hoc operations.”

He added more will be revealed soon, however, the company’s energy for now is focussed on setting up CAS(UK) Ltd.

In the longer term the airline is looking at options to re-equip with more modern aircraft. “Operating DC-10s with current fuel prices, is extremely challenging,” admitted Higginson.

Posted to the web 10 December 2007

Kunle Aderinokun
Abuja

Three of the nation's foremost banks, namely First Inland Bank Plc, Bank PHB Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc are guaranteeing about N6.25 billion (an equivalent of $50 million) representing a total loan facility granted to Afrijet Airlines Limited and its sister company Continental Aviation Services (Nigeria) Limited (CAS) by African Export Import Bank (AFREXIM) headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

From the total, Afrijet secured $30 million in April 2007, to expand its airline operations while CAS received $20 million in June 2007 to finance cargo operations worldwide following its acquisition on November 20, 2007, of DAS Air Cargo reputed to be the largest cargo airline in Africa.

CAS owns 70 percent of Afrijet, which is presently undergoing major restructuring and would commence full operations in the first quarter of 2008. All the three banks are involved in the $30 million facility. Under the arrangement, First Inland Bank is providing $11 million while BankPHB and Fidelity Bank will finance $10 million and $9 million respectively.

On the other hand, the $20 million financing is expected to be borne by First Inland Bank and BankPHB in the proportion of $10 million each.

Sounds all very complicated - but good luck guys, hope it all works out.

Hope
 

Bad time to happen. Wish the chaps at DAS all the best!

ooohhh well looks like another wave of african style funding lets see how long it takes to get the airline up and running again, and whether all the money is used for the good of the airline and not wasted on other things.

The whole thing looks a shambles. Let's hope it's cock-up rather than conspiracy. Company names have not been registered, and the staff have not been paid since the takeover. There's never a problem getting money transferred to Nigeria, of course; it's getting it out that's hard.

well by all accounts its still a shambles..so much for the rescue plan none of the staff have yet been paid since the new company took over back in november as i understand, and they are no further forward than from day one, sounds like another failed african take-over, did the administrators really see the true future past the amazing big bucks deal ,as they thought oh good another company off our books, or was it a case of please tie up your dog sir as you enter the building and allow me to help you sign on the dotted line and by the way what time is your flight back to lagos mr wonder if we're lucky you can still make the midday flight !!!!!!

wages..
 

The staff have now been paid up to date so things seem to be finally moving forward :ok:

News SVP
 

Update/sitrep appreciated

update...
 

Things are progressing...you should see the aircraft head off for a C check in the next few weeks. It will then go into service under the new name.
I'll start a thread in the name of the new airline when the time is right ;)

With regard to the maintenance side, the company will reapply for EASA 145 approval under the new name too.

Thks Twitch, had a few Flt Deck chums it that org over the years.

Guys, while I am very pleased that your jobs appear to have been saved, please spare a thought for the 52 of us at Turbine Motor Works who were made redundant on Tuesday 24th January. This included 17 apprentices, some of whom had worked extremely hard for the qualifications they had achieved, and are now in a position where they are very unlikely to be able to finish their apprenticeships.

DAS was a 50% partner with TMW, and we did all their engine overhaul work, including 'hospital visits'.

When DAS went down, they owed TMW a lot of money, which we are never going to see now, hence the redundancies.

Take care, and good luck, and I wish you well for the future.

TMW
 

I am sure all are very sorry that TMW staff suffered from the DAS situation. While most permanent staff remain, the majority of flight crew and overseas staff still lost their jobs.
It is well known however that over the years, Tom did very well indeed at the expense of DAS. The whole Tamro spares situation was a licence to print money for Tom and maybe if he had found other customers as well as DAS, he wouldn't have had to rely on them to keep his own company running.

Good luck in your hunt for employment.

Thanks for that Twitcher. I have to agree with you, I did wonder at the wisdom of putting all our eggs in one basket so to speak as Tom did with DAS.

I was one of the lucky (?) ones who dodged the axe this time, but I have to say the picture regarding our future is looking pretty bleak at the moment. A lot of the guys are looking to get out anyway and look for something a bit more secure, but with the looming recession I don't think there's much hope of that. The atmosphere in the hangars at TMW is really bad at the moment - we're still reeling from the shock of it all I suppose.

One good piece of news this week is that we have secured a new contract with a major US airline, but I think we probably won't see any actual money from them untill the middle of May when they should have taken delivery of their first overhaulled engine from us. Here's hoping it all goes well.

The aviation business is a harsh and unforgiving mistress, and always has been I suppose.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the B.707 ex AUST.A.F which Tom brought over to the UK last year, that's still parked out in front of the Das hangars at manston since its arrival, I suppose if nothing else it can always be used for towing practice around manston.

DAS Air Cargo
 

Anything happening during the last month?

Aircraft doesn't appear to have gone anywhere and still needs a good few weeks for check.

It reminds you of the shampoo advert in the 70's - Is she? Isn't she?..... Are they?, Aren't they?

Good luck if they can, Good luck if they can't.

There seems to be a few problems over the release of the a/c from the previous owners as the aoc is still in their name and the a/c is still registered 5X-, also a couple of issues with the Ugandan caa, so hopefully these problems can be resolved and the DC.10 can be on its way for a c-check very soon, it looks like African dragging feet policy's , but yes the progress is very slow, lets hope that the new company has staying power and dose'nt give up the commitment half way through the process.

DAS
 

Africa man , how are you
So thats why Mr Wrong was in Entebbe this week , having a meeting with
Madam D

By all accounts crew are on standby to ferry the aircraft
Hope all goes well

Ex dog

also heard from Das the other day, that they are looking for a couple of newer DC10's from the USA...

It would be great to see these boys in the air again..

Good Luck