East Anglian Air Ambulance temporarily grounded/Longmint status
Not just Longmint aircraft - apparently any customer of a Longmint Co. is being refused. Hope it takes them down soon to allow someone to pick up the pieces. Sincere sympathy to all the honest hard working folk who've been dicked by these 
criminals! 
criminals!
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FWIW, my experience of FAST last year when picking a training org was pretty much as described by foxmead, so the lack of customer service has been happening in some form for well over 6 months now.
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Longmint Grounded
I know that there has been some angst between Longmint/Alan Mann and Fairoak airport for a while, is this finally coming to a head?
It will be hard to hide this from owner/operators that want to go to manns.
However despite all the various rumors everything still seems to be plodding along. Did the legal action at Sterling ever actually happen.
Longmint seem to get round these issues each time. will this be just another one of these?
Is there still a ban on movements associated with Alan Manns does it include FAST as well?
It will be hard to hide this from owner/operators that want to go to manns.
However despite all the various rumors everything still seems to be plodding along. Did the legal action at Sterling ever actually happen.
Longmint seem to get round these issues each time. will this be just another one of these?
Is there still a ban on movements associated with Alan Manns does it include FAST as well?
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FAT A - Interesting to see what happens in May.
Whirls and Loudone
Yes on the face of it it looks like we are enjoying someone's misery. However we have all now watched 3 very well respected companies being slowly destroyed by a group of non aviators. The misery here is not for the "poor" directors who may get taken to court and made bankrupt but the individuals in these companies that have suffered several months of uncertainty over pay and jobs; the lucky ones have already found employment elsewhere. There are people who have missed mortgage payments and faced big money issues due to the current situation. They have remained loyal to the companies, the owners know this and exploit them. Then there are the suppliers and aircraft owners who are also being treated in a shoddy manner and I imagine being told all will be fine but are losing money to the owners.
I do not want to see these companies put out of business but nor do i want to see them descend to a position where they have lost the reputation and become the joke of this industry. Again I imagine that there are many good people that would love to come in and bring them back to former glory.
So I am enjoying people's misery? See it as you will but I have friends that would be much better off if Longmint was no longer and that is what I would like to see.
Whirls and Loudone
Yes on the face of it it looks like we are enjoying someone's misery. However we have all now watched 3 very well respected companies being slowly destroyed by a group of non aviators. The misery here is not for the "poor" directors who may get taken to court and made bankrupt but the individuals in these companies that have suffered several months of uncertainty over pay and jobs; the lucky ones have already found employment elsewhere. There are people who have missed mortgage payments and faced big money issues due to the current situation. They have remained loyal to the companies, the owners know this and exploit them. Then there are the suppliers and aircraft owners who are also being treated in a shoddy manner and I imagine being told all will be fine but are losing money to the owners.
I do not want to see these companies put out of business but nor do i want to see them descend to a position where they have lost the reputation and become the joke of this industry. Again I imagine that there are many good people that would love to come in and bring them back to former glory.
So I am enjoying people's misery? See it as you will but I have friends that would be much better off if Longmint was no longer and that is what I would like to see.
Last edited by ExMAGE; 19th Apr 2011 at 08:21.
From my point of view, the sooner that Longmint finally comes to a sticky end, the better. It seems clear to me that those unfortunate folk stuck at the coal-face are not going to get any form of satisfaction from these unscrupulous opportunists, regardless of whether or not they manage to wriggle out of their current (self inflicted) difficulties. On that basis - the sooner that they fail completely, the sooner someone else will be able to step in and take on the premises, work and hopefully employees.
I'm truly saddened that companies with a reputation and history such as these have been destroyed by these people - it's a shame that tar and feathers have been removed from the list of powers held by the bankruptcy courts.
OH
I'm truly saddened that companies with a reputation and history such as these have been destroyed by these people - it's a shame that tar and feathers have been removed from the list of powers held by the bankruptcy courts.
OH
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Hear Hear Overthawk
These fly by night money grabbers that come to our industry destroy lives and reputations and scare investors away should be hung out to dry. Aviation is all about integraty and there is a hell of a lot of it out. But not in this case these people must be smooth takers to be able to get raise money to buy companies time and time again, or is it because once you are on the round-a-bout with them it is difficult to get off
These fly by night money grabbers that come to our industry destroy lives and reputations and scare investors away should be hung out to dry. Aviation is all about integraty and there is a hell of a lot of it out. But not in this case these people must be smooth takers to be able to get raise money to buy companies time and time again, or is it because once you are on the round-a-bout with them it is difficult to get off
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Hopefully, this action will see some success and one creditor gets the money that is owed. However, I wouldn't be surprised if all the assests have already been stripped and that there is no money in the company. What happens then? Are the Directors personally liable?
Hovering AND talking
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This is about the legal entity known as Sterling Helicopters Ltd and that is the one which will suffer. The whole point of a Limited Company is that the liabilities are limited to that of the company itself and not the shareholders i.e. Longmint.
The shareholders and directors will not be liable for Sterling Helicopters Ltd's debts hence no applause from me.
The only time this would not be the case would be if it could be proved that the directors acted in a fraudulent manner.
In the event of a winding-up, then the preferential creditors will call in the mortgages on the aircraft.
Cheers
Whirls
The shareholders and directors will not be liable for Sterling Helicopters Ltd's debts hence no applause from me.
The only time this would not be the case would be if it could be proved that the directors acted in a fraudulent manner.
In the event of a winding-up, then the preferential creditors will call in the mortgages on the aircraft.
Cheers
Whirls
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Whirls
No matter which way you cut it this is a grim situation. My "grin", as per emoticon label, was that the issues were directly with Longmint at Fairoaks not the court proceedings against Sterling and the potential that their comeuppance was on its way.
My dealings with Sterling were limited but I would not like to see them fall but sadly they have already lost their credibility due to the owners' actions. Sad indictment of the legal system that this situation can develop and the owners still profit whilst everyone else suffers.
No matter which way you cut it this is a grim situation. My "grin", as per emoticon label, was that the issues were directly with Longmint at Fairoaks not the court proceedings against Sterling and the potential that their comeuppance was on its way.
My dealings with Sterling were limited but I would not like to see them fall but sadly they have already lost their credibility due to the owners' actions. Sad indictment of the legal system that this situation can develop and the owners still profit whilst everyone else suffers.
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Whirls
So this means that Longmint directors can walk away as if nothing has happened, I hope not, if this is the case then the the law is an and they will do the same again to some one else
BW
So this means that Longmint directors can walk away as if nothing has happened, I hope not, if this is the case then the the law is an
and they will do the same again to some one elseBW
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Oh please, grow up everybody. The owners of Sterling sold up to a bunch of cowboys. The owners cashed out and presumably got what they wanted. The cowboys undoubtedly sucked every last bit of cash out of what they bought. I'm heartbroken for the employees, but we should have no illusions. Anyone can do this, and the smart ones see this as an opportunity. There were good contracts in Sterling, and the smarter employees will have seen the opportunity to make money out of that. Capitalism is about ownership, and we live in a capitalist society.
Hovering AND talking
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As I said, unless fraudulent trading can be proved, yes. Company directors do not get "punished" for simply being incompetent.
Earlier on this thread, I posted a link to the DTI (or whatever they're called these days) and the insolvency service. Those with an interest may wish to read it.
Could you please expand on that? Other than salaries, I don't think any Sterling employees made any money; whether they saw opportunities or not.
Cheers
Whirls
Earlier on this thread, I posted a link to the DTI (or whatever they're called these days) and the insolvency service. Those with an interest may wish to read it.
There were good contracts in Sterling, and the smarter employees will have seen the opportunity to make money out of that.
Cheers
Whirls
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When contracts move, employees who are seen to be key to a smooth operation and have made a good impression will be sought after in the new arrangements. That should direct the activity of any employee. As should the desire to become an owner in order to control their destiny.
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Ex mage2
Is it true that administrators are now running MAGE at Fairoaks?
The troubles where at MAGE long before Sterling, with bailiffs etc.
It's a shame what's happened to MAGE and Sterling, two great companies with great reputations.
It takes years to build reputations, months to destroy them!!
It will take a long time to rebuild them back up.
I hope something good comes out of the ashes for both companies.
Ackers Caffer, there's a name from the past!!!!!
The good old days, pre Hedgehogs!!!
What ever happened to Longmint Flier?
The troubles where at MAGE long before Sterling, with bailiffs etc.
It's a shame what's happened to MAGE and Sterling, two great companies with great reputations.
It takes years to build reputations, months to destroy them!!
It will take a long time to rebuild them back up.
I hope something good comes out of the ashes for both companies.
Ackers Caffer, there's a name from the past!!!!!
The good old days, pre Hedgehogs!!!
What ever happened to Longmint Flier?