Gulf Air - Capt Rad Gammage critically ill
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BD 100 is the least I can do for Capt Radstone Gammage. What a name! What a bloke! I first met him in DAC, in the 80's, handing over a Tristar with a MEL/CDL item (missing gear door) which required the a/c to cruise in a tight regime between a reduced VMO and above the Vmd. I was a sprog F/O and the the skipper, eng and I had spent BKK-DAC fretting about how the next crew were going to find a speed both slow enough and fast enough for the next DAC-BAH which had a full load of pax and 7 hours of gas when we had only had a knot or two spare with half a load and 3 hours. We need not have concerned ourselves. Rad listened attentively to our misgivings but immediately formulated his own strategy(lower level,extra fuel,fly below Vmd,no need to accelerate past it). For me, an inexperienced F/O, it was a revelation, seing a captain who was cautious yet confident, calculating yet incisive, a true professional at work, delivering the goods. Since then he has trained me and checked me, on the 76 and the Airbus, and it has always been a pleasure. Rad has flown many, many people safely to their destinations. The least we can do is fly him now to where he needs to go.
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Great News
Fantastic news gents, Rad came out of the comma tonight, recognised Roni and spoke a few words. He's lost a hell of a lot of weight obviously and is real weak but at least he's out of the coma now.
We communicated with Roni who was almost in tears with the plan to try and raise money. She was so touched by everyone's response and wishes for Rad and was lost for words when she heard that we're trying to raise some funds for him.
She has pretty much ruled out the move to the UK so whatever we can raise she will use for his rehab. He's still paralized on one side and is in dire need of a neurologist so it will be some time of rehab for our mate to get back on his feet.
Thank goodness though he seems to have been through the worst now.
Once again on behalf of Rad and Roni I would like to convey to all here their thanks and appreciation.
We will soon formulate a voluntary contribution plan which was so greatly proposed by our friend and colleaugue Icarus to help Rad with his rehab, your support would be really appreciated.
I would like also to thank our friends and colleaugues in ETIHAD. I was advised today that several of them who have followed Rad's plight through this thread have expressed the desire to make contributions when we setup the plan. Thank you Gentlemen.
Once again many thanks to all here.
Mach
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Great news Mach84, we all miss Rad and wish to see him make a full recovery soon.
As for the donathion plan, i'm in too.
I remember the days when Ali Sultan would take care of all that. All you had to do for any donation was to walk into his office, and he did the rest.
As for the donathion plan, i'm in too.
I remember the days when Ali Sultan would take care of all that. All you had to do for any donation was to walk into his office, and he did the rest.
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What about creating a paypal account on Roni's name, so each person can 'donate' as much as desired? (or as much as we can), independently of the company we fly for.
I never met Capt. Gammage, in fact I never flew for any of the ME carriers, but if something like this happens to me or any of my colleagues I would like to have this support from you.
Open the paypal account and I will be more than happy to be the first to participate on this great initiative. If they don't need all the money we can raise with this, we can just keep the money for future occurences (though I hope they never come).
Best regards,
MD
I never met Capt. Gammage, in fact I never flew for any of the ME carriers, but if something like this happens to me or any of my colleagues I would like to have this support from you.
Open the paypal account and I will be more than happy to be the first to participate on this great initiative. If they don't need all the money we can raise with this, we can just keep the money for future occurences (though I hope they never come).
Best regards,
MD
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I don't know Rad either but from what I've heard, he is certainly a legend and I am more than happy to put in my 6 pence worth. What is important about this thread is how we as pilots ought to conduct ourselves at work and at play to attract the kind of respect and admiration that Rad unintentionally recieved. God bless him and Roni and may they enjoy each other for many many more years. Whoever is organising this fund raise, please update us asap. Good on you mate.
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All,
There are a few of us getting together to plan the formation of a fund/donation scheme and whatever else we can muster. Ground work is underway but it would be careless of us to move forward until we understand from Mrs Gammage what the priorities are so we can set and communicate goals. As you may imagine, under the current circumstances these are/can be 'moving targets'. Suffice to say, the dialogue has started and hopefully in a few days to a week we will be able to start work on putting things in place. Please bear with us.
There are a few of us getting together to plan the formation of a fund/donation scheme and whatever else we can muster. Ground work is underway but it would be careless of us to move forward until we understand from Mrs Gammage what the priorities are so we can set and communicate goals. As you may imagine, under the current circumstances these are/can be 'moving targets'. Suffice to say, the dialogue has started and hopefully in a few days to a week we will be able to start work on putting things in place. Please bear with us.
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Yes even Pprune rivals have put aside their differences to rise to this occasion...proving their is an aviation brotherhood even here at GF...and of course GF-2
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One more in the head count for Rad.
Any thing for a fine man that he is!
My req would be NOT to go the Ali Sultan way - he is a helluva nice bloke, but off late, was not to be trusted with money.
Moreover, I am not sure if the collection made for the Bulgarian captain who died in a Dubai road crash reached his family in tact.
Again, PayPal is not feasible - it does not accept Bahrain credit card holders as applicants, and other payments are cumbersome.
Maybe someone in the office could volunteer - Icarus ???
Any thing for a fine man that he is!
My req would be NOT to go the Ali Sultan way - he is a helluva nice bloke, but off late, was not to be trusted with money.
Moreover, I am not sure if the collection made for the Bulgarian captain who died in a Dubai road crash reached his family in tact.
Again, PayPal is not feasible - it does not accept Bahrain credit card holders as applicants, and other payments are cumbersome.
Maybe someone in the office could volunteer - Icarus ???
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Fund
Most of the ground work is complete; there appear to be no hurdles left other than to satisfy the accountants that the process will be secure (at least as secure a possible) - we had some good gains today in a number of other areas too.
There are a couple of issues left to clear up with Insurance and then we should be able to implement. This will still take quite a few more days.
Please bear with those of us that are helping put this together, I hope to have the first phase available soon.
There are a couple of issues left to clear up with Insurance and then we should be able to implement. This will still take quite a few more days.
Please bear with those of us that are helping put this together, I hope to have the first phase available soon.
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Hi Prop,
Thanks mate, rest assured that the system for contributions which we will set up will be done so anyone even non-GF people can contribute. Icarus is doing some great work in that department and getting results.
If this thing goes through it will be a great show of support for a very worthy individual who has helped guys like all of us throughout his long career.
Cheers
Mach
Thanks mate, rest assured that the system for contributions which we will set up will be done so anyone even non-GF people can contribute. Icarus is doing some great work in that department and getting results.
If this thing goes through it will be a great show of support for a very worthy individual who has helped guys like all of us throughout his long career.
Cheers
Mach