Bae Flight Training for sale.

[jocko0102]

Bae are looking to sell the school at Jerez first and then the one in Aus.
It is to be sold as a going concern and i have been told they will be very selective regarding who they sell to.
For those who have signed a contract the price will not increase but for anyone else watch this space.
I have been told it is because it does not fit into what is basically a global military sales company.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

This is indeed the case - I can confirm.

Civil pilot training is deemed by BAE to no longer be a logical part of its activities as a global defence supplier.

They have therefore taken the decision to dispose of its civil flight training facilities at Jerez and in Australia.

Having spoken to a BAE spokesman a few minutes ago he confirms that the business is to be sold as a going concern and stated "we are aware of our obligations to students in that regard". Third parties have already been sought to purchase the business.

Therefore there is no need for current students, or potential customers thinking of going to Jerez, to panic in any way.

In my view the sale will take some time to come about anyway. When it does it might well be a good thing as new management come in with fresh funding to improve and develop the school yet further. It is after all an excellent resource as it stands with fundamentally good resources.

Doubtless there will be some movement in staff and this will cause some upheavel.

I hope that the change of ownership brings nothing but good things to all the staff in Jerez who made the considerable commitment to moving there from Prestwick 4 years ago.

Now. Time for the rumours as to who is buying them to begin... starter for 10 with - say - McAlpine and CABAIR in a 50/50 partnership that sees Cranfield wound down and all the CTC cadet IR's conducted out of Jerez.

Cheers

WWW

[mach252]

As a potential student at the facility, I do have my reservations, it would be good to hear other students opinions about the sale, either current or prospective. Is this really going to benefit the students or the accountants? Cheers!

[Ally Minium]

mach252 - rest assured that BAE will guarantee your money and training - the parent company is big enough to ensure that (and the same promise was made during the move from Prestwick, I understand).

[stevesmyname]

Not the only one

I hear that the same is true of Oxford - for sale, lock, stock and barrel

[oxford blue]

Stevesmyname - please don't put out rumours which have no foundation in fact. It is a very irresponsible thing to do, and potentially damaging to a highly reputable company.

In a recent question on just this point on Oxford's own website, the @SK OXFORD forums, OAT's Managing Director made the following reply:

"Thank you very much for asking the question directly rather than relying on the rumour network.

I can assure you categorically that Oxford Aviation Training is neither in financial difficulty nor about to go into liquidation.

Although you don't state whether you are undergoing either FAA or JAA training, I am sure you will be aware of the investments that we are making within our training centres towards the future development of our courses and overall the benefit of our customers.

I do wish that your 'trustworthy' source (sic!) would not make this sort of comment; albeit I am sure no damage was intended.

If you would like to contact me directly, please contact me at the Oxford centre and I will be pleased to answer any further questions that you may have.

Anthony Petteford
Managing Director
Oxford Aviation Training"

Not too much room for doubt there.

[stevesmyname]

Oxford Blue

Yep, it’s fair to say that unfounded rumours can be damaging. This is not an unfounded rumour though, and nobody, other than on your own forum and you on here, mentioned anything about financial difficulty or liquidation.

The fact is that OATS is for sale, and I think that people who are about to buy courses from OATS or take jobs with OATS should know that fact.

Not much room for doubt there either.

Steve

[fat and retarded]

stevesmyname
OATS for sale? As an employee here I think you are talking out of your rear end and until you can actually back up that statement with hard evidence you really should keep your opinions to yourself

fat and retarded

[oxford blue]

Steve,

If this is a fact (your capitals) - produce some evidence.

I simply don't believe you.

[Send Clowns]

Oxford Blue

I don't think anyone suggested that OATS is in financial difficulty, just that it was for sale. F & R seems to doubt that, and such rumours have been around for nearly two years now so I agree something more than insistence would be required to believe them.

I would have to say that sale of schools could be good for the industry, and may well be good for the students. I would certainly not be automatically concerned. Seems an unwise time to sell though. Potentially good buy for the right investor, if the industry behaves as usual with a steady rise after recent difficulties.

[BillieBob]

Now there's an interesting, if familiar ploy. To divert attention from a statement that you do not wish to confront, you attack as untrue an allegation that has never been made along with the poor soul who never made it! I wonder where oxford blue could possibly have learned that from?

[stevesmyname]

Oxford Blue and Fat & Retarded you seem to have forgotten what this bulletin board is called. This is a rumour – I happen to know that it is true and I do not get involved in speculation, but the only way I can prove it to be true is to ask you to wait. I’m sure that you will find out over the next few months.

I am sorry that you feel affronted to learn this news here rather than from your employer, or the company’s owners, but I’m not sure that it is realistic for them to discuss their plans with you in advance. And just because I am, by chance, better informed about this that you are is no reason to attack me.

However, I forgive you, as it is potentially worrying to hear that your employer is about to change hands – could be for the better though!

If you want confirmation, you could always ask that MD who posted on your internal forum, unless he hasn’t been told either…

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

I think its fair to say that the owners of OATS have been *rumoured* to be looking to sell the business on. These kinds of rumours are often rife within the flight training world.

At least now we *know* that this is indeed the case for BAEs ownership of Jerez.

As I heard it recently from a reliable source: When Mr Big from Bombs & Bullets PLC asked Mr Big from British Belts & Asbestos PLC if they wanted a school in Spain they actually said we were going to ask you if you wanted a school in England...

What Joe Wannabe is supposed to make of all this talk is really the issue here.

I guess he just has to pay his money and takes his choice. I can't see that either the facts or the rumours make a great deal of difference to his decision as his money is going to be pretty safe with either of these two training behmouths (check spelling - Ed). The reasons for choosing either school remain as compelling as they ever were - though I suspect some close questioning would be in order when on the 'phone to Spain.

Now. If I could just win that lottery and buy both of them then dominate the market...

Cheers

WWW

[weette]

bae sale and censorship

I read yesterday a post relating to this fto and somehow was surprised about some of the information that appeared on it.
Today that post is not here anymore so I must suppose that obscure forces run this forum, and big brother was unhappy with what was exposed. Is that the sort of plural information that is send to the community or is the information filtered as some "moderators" wish. Moderators please don´t corrupt what has been a great aviation forum.
Wishing the best for you all I certainly know that the training industry is suffering, we are back to the early 90´s scenario but life goes on and Bae Systems seems to still defend the bussiness as I read in Flight International for the forseeable future.

[Regis Potter]

stevesmyname

You don't work in Texas by any chance ?

[Touch'n'oops]

Fear not you ill bred oiks, for i shall see to it that daddy buys the school, and puts Poels in charge. Then we can all quaff champers and play the soggy biscuit game all day..

hurrah!

Glad to see that the computers here at Jerez still don't log people out properly!!!!

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

One does have to wonder what happens if nobody wants to buy it.

Also if a non British company does buy it will British Wannabes - the great majority of cusom - still want to go there. Also will the UK CAA remain the authority under which the school operates...

If the school is owned by a German company, and trains under the Spanish CAA with Spanish IR examiners, then its hard to see hundreds of Brit Wannabes signing up to go there.

Especially as its currently not a particularly cheap course if you are converting Pounds to Euros.

Without the steady stream of Brit customers - who are attracted by the school being British - and having a long high quality reputation from the Prestwick days, then surely the business case starts to look shaky to any potential buyer.

Nothing to spend time worrying about yet but - still - questions to be answered. Time will tell I guess.

WWW

[the goon]

Jerez

I`ve heard that an US based flight training organisation has expressed an interest in purchasing the BAE owned flight school at Jerez and also the accomodation block located at Prestwick which was previously used by BAE when they operated there. Does anybody know if there is any truth in this???????

[no sponsor]

That would depend on where you heard your facts from!

[ecj]

Mentioning Jerez and Adamton House [the accomodation block] in the same breath might indicate linkage.

Just what that might be - only time will tell.