Gulf Air - Capt Rad Gammage critically ill
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BIG Shame
What a BIG, MASSIVE shame for Gulf Air.
It not olny took ages, but also comes to a point that Capt. Gammage has to be booked on Cyprus Airways!!! This airline lack of initiative and people to be accountable of it never ceases to amaze me! Unbelievable!
Glad to hear that Rad will be soon in BAH (although this could have happened a LOT earlier). Wishing an expeditious recovery surrounded by his loved ones.
It not olny took ages, but also comes to a point that Capt. Gammage has to be booked on Cyprus Airways!!! This airline lack of initiative and people to be accountable of it never ceases to amaze me! Unbelievable!
Glad to hear that Rad will be soon in BAH (although this could have happened a LOT earlier). Wishing an expeditious recovery surrounded by his loved ones.
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you're right joe, what a shambles...this is an example of the recent new package not being everything but the company as a whole package.
back to the topic at hand,
Icarus, please let us know if ongoing financial assistance would help the Gammage family and if there is a fund in place to enable this. i think after all that Rad and Ron have had to endure, the least we can do is be pro-active for them, non of this inshallah crap!!
back to the topic at hand,
Icarus, please let us know if ongoing financial assistance would help the Gammage family and if there is a fund in place to enable this. i think after all that Rad and Ron have had to endure, the least we can do is be pro-active for them, non of this inshallah crap!!
Last edited by brassplate; 3rd Sep 2007 at 23:10.
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I am not a pilot but knew Rad and Roni socially when I worked in Bahain 14 odd years ago. As other posters have already noted Rad is a true gentlemen and I trust, like you all, he is able to recover from this illness. As for GF....enough has been said. I hope someone will be able to monitor Rad's progress at BDF hospital and keep us updated.
Take care Rad and Roni.
Keith Blackburn
Take care Rad and Roni.
Keith Blackburn
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I find it rather strange (in a very sad sort of way) that a well known long flying Gulf carrier like GF can treat their staff in such a shabby way...
versus...
A small carrier with three old Lockheed three-holers that normally only fly the Hajj, and having, on the very last flight, an accident with a crew bus in Egypt where a First Officer was tossed out of a window at 40kmh, suffering rather massive head injuries, med-evac'ed to (first) an Egyption hospital, then a Jordanian hospital, and when well enough to travel to the USA, a f/c seat to his home, where further medical treatment was totally paid for by the company, including salary and bonus.
He is now back to full flying status, thanks to the very quick action of the company management.
On further reflection, I shouldn't be surprised at all by GF's in-action, as apparently those in charge are simply to busy lining their pockets.
versus...
A small carrier with three old Lockheed three-holers that normally only fly the Hajj, and having, on the very last flight, an accident with a crew bus in Egypt where a First Officer was tossed out of a window at 40kmh, suffering rather massive head injuries, med-evac'ed to (first) an Egyption hospital, then a Jordanian hospital, and when well enough to travel to the USA, a f/c seat to his home, where further medical treatment was totally paid for by the company, including salary and bonus.
He is now back to full flying status, thanks to the very quick action of the company management.
On further reflection, I shouldn't be surprised at all by GF's in-action, as apparently those in charge are simply to busy lining their pockets.
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Sorry I am with AAIGUY on this one. The company (GF) have acted disgracefully and the flightdeck are a bunch of wimps. Why in Gods name did we invent a parking brake! Stop flying and management will listen!
Back in the days when the Royal Air Force was a force to be reckoned with we would have gone off on a training flight, diverted to Cyprus and got the job done!
I appreciate that today is different but only because that's what you have chosen.
Captain Gammage I hope that the quality of life improves for you and I wish you and you family well.
felipe56
Back in the days when the Royal Air Force was a force to be reckoned with we would have gone off on a training flight, diverted to Cyprus and got the job done!
I appreciate that today is different but only because that's what you have chosen.
Captain Gammage I hope that the quality of life improves for you and I wish you and you family well.
felipe56
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Felipe56 and AAIGUY - The Bahrain Labour Laws may have changed but, at one time, it was illegal to strike and to do so was punishable by gaol.
Ever been to the Bahrain Gaol?
Add to that the fact that only a very small percentage of pilots would strike and that would leave the brave few to face the music on their own.
What might have happened in an RAF environment in the past is of little relevance to Rad's case, military and commercial aviation are a world apart.
Ever been to the Bahrain Gaol?
Add to that the fact that only a very small percentage of pilots would strike and that would leave the brave few to face the music on their own.
What might have happened in an RAF environment in the past is of little relevance to Rad's case, military and commercial aviation are a world apart.
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How could going on strike possibly help Rads case!
Would it not be a better longterm option to head up to UK for Rehab?
I have doubts about the long term honouring of the Medical bills in BAH. lets hope they prove me wrong.
I hope it all works out for Rad, he deserves to be looked after.
Get Well!
Would it not be a better longterm option to head up to UK for Rehab?
I have doubts about the long term honouring of the Medical bills in BAH. lets hope they prove me wrong.
I hope it all works out for Rad, he deserves to be looked after.
Get Well!
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Keith FYI
Keith Blackburn,
Jim Walsh here, still in this neck of the woods. All of us at the Brit Club
doing what we can to pressurize Gulf Air and hopefully it will happen this week. Regular updates on his condition will be posted once he is safely back in Bahrain, take care and all the best.
Rad and Roni, We wish you both well and will assist in whatever way we can.
Jim Walsh here, still in this neck of the woods. All of us at the Brit Club
doing what we can to pressurize Gulf Air and hopefully it will happen this week. Regular updates on his condition will be posted once he is safely back in Bahrain, take care and all the best.
Rad and Roni, We wish you both well and will assist in whatever way we can.
Last edited by Jim Walsh; 4th Sep 2007 at 08:10.
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update on Rad
Have just heard that Rad is no longer on the Cyprus flight, but has been rescheduled to fly to Athens with a one hour forty five transit ,then on to Gulf Air Flight Athens Bahrain in a wheel chair sitting passenger business class. His round trip will be approx 12 hours as appox the 2hr and 10 min .
HE IS NOT A WHEEL CHAIR CASE HE IS A STRETCHER CASE
ronni cannot accompany him the ambulance and has also found out that she has not been booked on any of these flight.
As a friend staying to help I can tell you all ,she is at breaking point now as she is currently in discussions again with america , re his evacuation , due to the shambles . also Gulf Air are insisting on a photo copy again of Captains passport, she is telephoning travel agents to try to accompany her husband. and is currently at the hospital to talk to his doctor. Will inform of any other news.. Bahrain has been informed of changes.
HE IS NOT A WHEEL CHAIR CASE HE IS A STRETCHER CASE
ronni cannot accompany him the ambulance and has also found out that she has not been booked on any of these flight.
As a friend staying to help I can tell you all ,she is at breaking point now as she is currently in discussions again with america , re his evacuation , due to the shambles . also Gulf Air are insisting on a photo copy again of Captains passport, she is telephoning travel agents to try to accompany her husband. and is currently at the hospital to talk to his doctor. Will inform of any other news.. Bahrain has been informed of changes.
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Incredible
This is indeed bad news and shows how unbelievably clueless GF Management are. I hope the little action I have just taken, will sort this situation out. let's wait and see.
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Yes the latest travel arrangements are a joke; but GF are at the behest of the (rather poorly performing) insurance companies involved and they have been advised of Gulf Air's dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms earlier today. It is all well and good critisising Gulf Air but despite several attempts to influence the decisions being made by the insurers has and continues to prove just about impossible. Taking things into their own hands may just result in invalidating the policy and any subsequent claims; surely that is a risk one too many.
Rad is booked as a wheelchair passenger LCAATH on Aegean Airlines 1200/1345 to connect to GF42 at around 1500 arriving Bahrain 1900-ish. Mrs Gammage is being provided with an FOC ticket to accompany Capt Gammage on the Gulf Air flight Thursday alongside Rad and two medical escorts.
Rad is booked as a wheelchair passenger LCAATH on Aegean Airlines 1200/1345 to connect to GF42 at around 1500 arriving Bahrain 1900-ish. Mrs Gammage is being provided with an FOC ticket to accompany Capt Gammage on the Gulf Air flight Thursday alongside Rad and two medical escorts.
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Icarus, sorry mate if my last post came across the wrong way.
You are right re insurance companies of course. I am not knocking GF as such. However, Rad came down with his illness some two months ago. In any industry this is a bad repsonse by all responsible parties concerned. Enough said about this though; the thread is first and foremost about the well being of Rad and Roni.
KB
You are right re insurance companies of course. I am not knocking GF as such. However, Rad came down with his illness some two months ago. In any industry this is a bad repsonse by all responsible parties concerned. Enough said about this though; the thread is first and foremost about the well being of Rad and Roni.
KB
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No offence taken.
It has been disappointing not to have managed to achieve things more quickly and it has been thoroughly frustrating at times, no where near as frustrating as things have clearly been for Mrs Gammage but frustrating non-the-less with things having to take a different direction at short notice and inconvenience to what were at the time best laid plans. My issue is the critisism of Gulf Air as a company as a whole which I believe is somewhat unfair. The insurance company have dragged their heels beyond belief and I dare not repeat some of things that they have communicated. I rather hope now that things will work out fine on Thursday. Certainly I can guarantee that Gulf Air are doing all possible to make sure that the trip is completed as efficiently and as comfortably as possible for Mr & Mrs Gammage.
That will not be the end of it of course. We still have to complete the set up of the voluntary donation scheme internally at Gulf Air to help Mrs Gammage with costs not covered by Insurance and Rad's ongoing rehabilitation and try to faciliate dontations from interested parties outside of Gulf Air.
It has been disappointing not to have managed to achieve things more quickly and it has been thoroughly frustrating at times, no where near as frustrating as things have clearly been for Mrs Gammage but frustrating non-the-less with things having to take a different direction at short notice and inconvenience to what were at the time best laid plans. My issue is the critisism of Gulf Air as a company as a whole which I believe is somewhat unfair. The insurance company have dragged their heels beyond belief and I dare not repeat some of things that they have communicated. I rather hope now that things will work out fine on Thursday. Certainly I can guarantee that Gulf Air are doing all possible to make sure that the trip is completed as efficiently and as comfortably as possible for Mr & Mrs Gammage.
That will not be the end of it of course. We still have to complete the set up of the voluntary donation scheme internally at Gulf Air to help Mrs Gammage with costs not covered by Insurance and Rad's ongoing rehabilitation and try to faciliate dontations from interested parties outside of Gulf Air.
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as promised update.
when I went to collect Ronie from the hospital, I can tell you from my heart that I broke down in tears to see Rads wife on his chest (WHAT IS LEFT OF IT) crying in each others arms on the eve of their 21st wedding annerverisay.
Yes Roni is an angel in disguise, but even her wings cannot fly her to athens from pahpos via taxi to Larnaca.
Thank you Gulf air for the FOC tkt from Athens, but why could he and Roni not be flown today or earlier.
Rads quote of this day "I am scared and I fear that I might be off loaded from Agegeon airline. Do not say I am a Captain"
company !!!Insurance !!!Company!!! Insurance!!!.
Let us all hope and pray for Rad.
.
Rads words today were " I fear that Aegean will off load me ,i want to die, do not call me captain on the flight but I will try .
"
Yes Roni is an angel in disguise, but even her wings cannot fly her to athens from pahpos via taxi to Larnaca.
Thank you Gulf air for the FOC tkt from Athens, but why could he and Roni not be flown today or earlier.
Rads quote of this day "I am scared and I fear that I might be off loaded from Agegeon airline. Do not say I am a Captain"
company !!!Insurance !!!Company!!! Insurance!!!.
Let us all hope and pray for Rad.
.
Rads words today were " I fear that Aegean will off load me ,i want to die, do not call me captain on the flight but I will try .
"