Sheffield City Flying School - Sandtoft - Liquidation
 

Not sure if any local members, but it appears that Sheffield City Flying School has ceased trading, although apparently another flying school has appeared and taken over the trading.

I have to admit, whilst everyone always advises never to have money on a flying club account I have lost a few hundred pounds. It's not anything to cry over, but annoying non the less. I've always prefered the convenience of having money on account and just come and go as I please.

I'm sure many people will tell me 'I told you so!'

Letter is dated 5th October from the CFI. Stating that 'Sheffield City Flying School Limited has ceased trading as of the 4th October 2009 and will be going into liquidation' then later states 'Sandtoft Airfield has been taken over by 52nd Street Aviation, and will continue to run as normal and all of the staff are being retained by the new company'

Received an apology and explanation for the situation, have seen this happen before so not really too bothered. Just curious about the situation.

Yes i got the same letter & also lost money that i couldn't really afford to loose.
Lesson learnt there then.

Trev:(:(:(

Picking Up The Post
 

Just now have bolted to the front door to rummage through the post and have found the said letter. Absolutely gutting.

T
he good news is that the airfield is still going to be run 'as per normal', so that implies that there will still be aircraft available for hire. But I won't find that out for certain until I can next get down to the airfield to see what's happening. Closing the account is going to be an inconvenience, because I'm not sure how much money was left on the account which has now been 'lost'. :sad:


Must be worse for Steve though, after all I understand he built that company from scratch.

Edit: Just telephoned to find out that I was £150 in credit, so my losses weren't that bad (I actually thought I owed them money). There's going to be a meeting at 19:30 on friday evening to meet the new chap in charge, for those that are interested.

Was hoping the "meeting" would be on Saturday as i work nights so won't be able to go friday.

Trev

The Heff, if you goto the meeting. Please can you let me know what is said. I'll not be back in the UK until Monday, interesting to see what pans out. It seems that some people have lost quite a lot and is a bit of setback for their training.

Could someone explain the "account" system operating here?
Is this pre-purchasing a block of hours?

Just curious.

That's the annoying thing...

This week I'm still working late shifts, so I don't actually finish work until eight on Friday. Although I'm hoping I can convince the manager to let me leave early, its going to take real charm (otherwise known as bribery) as I already got a day-off out of her on last Monday to complete a tail-wheel course in Clacton.

I'm wondering whether to try and persuade her with sex or with chocolate? :hmm:

Account was banking money with the school say £1000 they gave you 5% which was £50 which went towards your flying in other words nearly half an hour flying for free.

I fell for that & lost some money, not as much as others so it seems.

Now pay as i Fly with the new school with same instructors.

Incidentally some of the instructors & staff have lost out form this as they haven't been paid i have heard which is not good as it's their only wage for many of them there.

Trev

Yet another salutary lesson.

NEVER, EVER, pay a flying organisation up front in cash. Try and avoid giving them any money at all up front, but if you do, PAY BY CREDIT CARD or via a regulated loan.

Perhaps all the flying mag's could get their resources pooled on this one and have a concerted regular reminder prominently displayed where ever flying organisations advertise. Maybe a big banner headline at the top of each back page would get the message across.

Sad to repeat it but the "never pay upfront" mantra is proved several times each year with flying 'clubs'. They are amongst the most shaky (financially speaking) of business'.

Given the advertising that the magazines get I suppose it is highly unlikely they will every do anything about this.

To the Heff - the betting money is based upon extensive research and says chocolate every time!

ah thank you Goatface. Just reminded me why i'd always made my payments using credit cards over these years! Now going to work out how to get some money back from the credit card company, has anyone any experience in this?
I've asked Sandtoft to send me a statement confirming the amount owed on account, I have the credit card statement with the confirmed payments and have the letter from the CFI explaining the situation/liquidation etc. I would imagine this is enough?

L'aviateur

Speak to your credit card issuer.
There's a standard procedure for reclaiming the money, I think that the form you'll get from you card company will require you to include the liquidator of the company, amount you are owed and details of the Flying club.

The good thing is that if it's over £100, you should get all your money back, the bad thing is that sometimes it takes months.

Good luck.:ok:

If they are the only options available, I'd give it a try with a chip butty! :)

The results...

Owing to a prevailing cold/flu type thing, I decided that an offer of a night of passion would probably be met with a rejection. My ego is fragile and I'm not sure it would recover from bruising like that, especially in the office.

However, my offer of a box of Cadbury's Roses was met with a: "You shouldn't have;" which of course actually means: "Its a bloody good thing you did!"

To conclude, I've got my shift re-arranged so that I can make the meeting. To the PPRUNE'ers that cannot make it, PM me with any questions that you want me to ask and I'll play the messenger for you.

I called yesterday as I have an aircraft based there, but they told me the meeting would be Friday 16th not today - Heff, have you heard differently?

Michael, I also called them and was told its not today, but a week on Friday for the meeting with the new operator.

Why can't they have the meeting on a Saturday, i can't get any Friday off for the next month as they are booked off at work & i work nights!!!!

I just called to check, and the meeting is next friday on the sixteenth. :O

Sorry for that, must remember to clean out my ears.