The flight centre Halfpenny Green
 

Heard that it might of gone under? Anyone heard anything about it.. Will be a shame for everyone involved if its true

Yes, the website says it ceased trading 5/2/2010

That is really sad , sign of the times.

Unfortunately it's true. We've done our best not to let down any customers but there comes a point when you can't go on. I don't know what the future holds - I've no idea if there will be anyone doing commercial training at Wolverhampton.

Thanks go to all past and present customers.

I did my CPL there a couple of years ago, some cracking people who I wish well to and hope the future brings some good fortune..

Moggie what will happen to the bits of old Rovers!

Were they the chaps who got the first/one of the first Twinstars re-engined with the new Astro engines?

I am also saddened to hear this news, I recently did my FI course with them, a nice group of people.

Very best wishes to all of you.

Yes, HGFC have one of the first re-engined DA42 NGs. Unfortunately this has not helped - the aircraft owes slightly more than its current value thanks to depressed markets. Rather a shame, I was hoping to fly it next week for a renewal...

very sad news,

I did my MCC last year there with Richard Moss - what a guy, really good instructor for the course.

Very friendly staff, nice aircraft and good instructors.

Pity

Vulcan 607 - thanks for the kind words. I'm glad we did the business for you.

Nearly There - I repatriated the last one some time ago (I have three Rovers on my drive!).

As for what happens next, it's a bit early to say. I personally have a couple of irons in the fire and hope to hear something in the next week or two. Fingers crossed for the rest of the team - it has been a pleasure to work with such a great bunch, all of whom remained totally professional right to the end.

We've done our best to do right by our customers over this difficult period and hopefully they will not be too badly inconvenienced or left out of pocket by our shutdown. If anyone wants more information (such as we have!) feel free to send me a PM or email and I'll do my best to help.

I am sorry to hear about the demise of this well liked school. Flight training is not the best sector to be working in at the moment - unfortunately! With initial issue class one medical applications down by 50% things are going to get really tough for most FTO's involved - certainly in the modular training sector.

I too am very sorry at the demise of HGFC. I did my work experience there when I was 16 and have since gone on to finish my night rating only last week with them. Great bunch of people and I thank them for all the opportunities. Shame....was planning on carrying on my commercial training with them in due course.

Good luck to everyone!!!

Wolverhampton Halfpenny - cease trading
 

Had word that the Wolverhampton training base has ceased trading as of 5th feb, backed up on their website also.

This thread was halfway down the page! :}

http://www.pprune.org/professional-p...nny-green.html

Cheers

Whirls

Sad news, great little airfield and a school with a good reputation.

Wonderful that they - seemingly - didn't go under with any wannabes money owing to them and that they acted honourably to the bitter end. This has not always been the case with other FTO's that have gone bust/ceased trading.

Wannabes beware. It happens all the time.


Commiserations to all now out of work.

WWW

Thanks, I missed it.

The question is in times like now, does a student Commercial pilot take less of a risk by training at a larger organisation that seems well established rather than a smaller flying school?

Did my MCC there about 4 years ago with Richard Moss. Great course and great instructor. Had a wonderful time. A lovely little place in a lovely part of the country. My commiserations go out to everyone and I hope that all works out in the end for all those who were employed there.


Alpha

Firstly bad luck to all involved, would like to echo WWW sentiments that it is refreshing to see a buisness that has gone under behave in an decent way to its patrons.

I doubt the risk is any less with big schools than it is with small schools I imagine big schools have huge debts to service, large staff bills etc etc whilst the smaller school maybe able to cope with lower costs but has a smaller cash flow..

I certainly would not be paying upfront for a CTC/OAA course at the moment, or ever in fact...imagine if they went how many people would be seriously stung.

Do not pay up front, always use a credit card.

I started my training in 2001 with a large well-established school in Bournemouth. B***ards went bankrupt a month or 2 later takin my hard-earned cash with them!!

Take it from me..i have instructed in 3 different schools in my career (2 of which no longer exist...and the 3rd is floundering!!)

DO NOT SPEND ANY MORE MONEY UPFRONT THAN WHICH YOU CAN COMFORTABLY AFFORD TO LOSE.......

Ignore the above advice at your peril guys

Alpha

bye bye

Quote:

---

http://www.hgfc.co.uk/

---

who is next?

While the economic climate surely played a part in this, to my mind the major part of the blame lies squarely with JAR/EASA (and by default the CAA for acquiescing) for putting so much bureacratic crap in the way of aviation and flying training in the UK that reputable, quality companies such as HGFC are forced out of business. The amount of money that has to be paid to these collections of festering turds that call themselves regulatory authorities just so that companies can continue in business is disgusting, but not as disgusting as the use to which it is put i.e. paying the salaries and pensions of people who should be unemployed as they are merely a parasitic drain on aviation in the UK.

Sad news!

I did bring up their DA42 in a thread a few months back! Half a million sat in the hangar for a long time then another 100K + on the engines, No company in this industry can take that on and not suffer!

Lets hope things improve! Soon.....

We did our best. We actually turned away some customers so that we didn't take money for something that we couldn't deliver.

Glad to be of service.

That's a rather nasty post Flyprototype and totally unnecessary. :*
To everyone there who helped me in any way both whilst I was learning and since, I hope you all find new, good jobs very soon. :ok:

What a shame. I still remember going on my trial lesson in G-BPBM with Ron. It was a good school, it gave me a solid grounding for a career; I wish those involved all the best.

It is sad to see now that every school I trained at has gone, HGFC, ATA Coventry, Westflight and Jetlinx. Jeez I've only been flying for about 7 years.

Tom.

Good to see that things might not be completely dark - looks like Jetstream Exec are going to take over; whether that's good news or not I've no idea.

I'd been recommended to look at HPFC next year when I want to go for my CPL (assuming I get my PPL...) so was disappointed to see them gone (especially as I'd have had the chance to go back to Stourbidge and a rather fantastic curry house I used to know on the high street...)

Good luck to everyone involved whatever happens!

Jetstream Executive are in the process of taking over now - the announcement has been made on the website: www.hgfc.co.uk

I believe that they're going through the necessary re-approval processes but i don't know what the company structure will be or who if anyone from the old company will be taken on.

If anyone wishes to enquire about training, I would suggest contacting the following email address: [email protected]

Lets hope that this will benefit you all in Wolverhampton, I wish you all the best for the future.

Also sounds like there's some new investment going into another school - the daily trawl for wolverhampton flying schools brought up this. Maybe a new beginning for some?

I'm sorry to hear about the sad news. I did my MCC course there some 2 years ago. Richard Moss and his fellow instructors did a fantastic job!
In fact it was the only nice school experience I have had during my training career (and I have been involved in courses in five different schools).

Lets hope that Jetstream Executive can bring the school back to its former glory!

So sad to hear about the closure but what will happen to customers like me that have paid upfront for lessons for my son due to take place this coming week??? Have I lost it all? or will Jetstream honour us old customers? Shame that I had to find out about the closure on the net and not from the staff and on a weekend where nothing can be done :ugh: Im feel bad for all involved customers and staff, does anyone know or is anyone in the same situation as us? Any recommendations of another high quality training school as these guys locally?? Any help is apreciated as I am gutted!

Did my MCC at The Flight Centre back in Nov 2005

Hope things work out for you all

Good luck team

Rob

Once again, thanks for the kind words.

By way of an update, the remnants of the company have been taken over by Jetstream Executive Travel and applications for re-approval have been submitted to the CAA. The company will be staffed by some of the ex-HGFC instructors and should be back in business shortly. The aim is to run PPL, CPL, IR and MCC with the original simulator and a DA42.

The name is changing slightly to: Halfpenny Green Flying Centre

great news by the sounds of things!!

Did MCC/Instructor rating there few years back, fantastic service by all the staff. True professionals.

The best of luck to you all!

i heard a new school called flight academy wolverhampton is setting up there. is this anything to do with Jetstream?

I think Jetstream Exec are taking over some of the Flight Centre remnants, while Flight Academy Wolverhampton are an offshoot of Flight Academy Blackpool, but using the Flight Centre's former CFI and most of the instructing staff. It'll be good to see more schools using Halfpenny Green again - it's been very noticeable recently while hanging around the airfield that things are very quiet indeed.

Has Craig Padfield been taken on by the new school? Anyone in the know?

Horsebox, heard him coming out of Sleap the other day but dont remember the reg.