Gulf Air: Qatar/Oman refuse new funds & New CEO
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While on the subject can someone tell me why these people (Hammer, Abu Baker and gang) are still trying to cause damage to the work our new professional PCE is doing? Could it be your last resort?
Lets state a few facts
Fact is that Hammer from his position of undersecretary of civil aviation became a Captain with GF within 3 years of starting flying, now if that is not abuse of power I don't know what is. This was obviously achieved with the help of his mate Abu Baker who bent every rule in the book.
Fact is that the DGCAM inspector who clearly identified a safety issue in Hammer flying the line with always the same junior F/O instructed Hammer to fly with TRE's only. Hammer not only totally disregarded this instruction and continued flying with the same F/O but did his utmost to get the DGCAM inspector fired. Going to extrems such as raiding the DGCAM inspectors office at night and stealing his personal files from his computer and e-mails.
Fact is when the Chief Pilot 767 resigned stating his reasons in a letter which was very damaging to Hammer, Abu Baker and gang they bullied him into withdrawing the letter or facing termination of his contract. They even went to the extent of calling his home anonymously and threatening his family.
This was the state of the Hammer regime.
Your desperate attempts to still damage this Airline and it's dedicated people will get you nowhere, it will just go to prove how right our Government was in it's decision to remove you. Face it you have only yourself to blame for becoming the laughing stock "Captain" of the community, that will not change however many tearfull "they took my toy away before I could play with it" letters you write to the GDN.
Lets state a few facts
Fact is that Hammer from his position of undersecretary of civil aviation became a Captain with GF within 3 years of starting flying, now if that is not abuse of power I don't know what is. This was obviously achieved with the help of his mate Abu Baker who bent every rule in the book.
Fact is that the DGCAM inspector who clearly identified a safety issue in Hammer flying the line with always the same junior F/O instructed Hammer to fly with TRE's only. Hammer not only totally disregarded this instruction and continued flying with the same F/O but did his utmost to get the DGCAM inspector fired. Going to extrems such as raiding the DGCAM inspectors office at night and stealing his personal files from his computer and e-mails.
Fact is when the Chief Pilot 767 resigned stating his reasons in a letter which was very damaging to Hammer, Abu Baker and gang they bullied him into withdrawing the letter or facing termination of his contract. They even went to the extent of calling his home anonymously and threatening his family.
This was the state of the Hammer regime.
Your desperate attempts to still damage this Airline and it's dedicated people will get you nowhere, it will just go to prove how right our Government was in it's decision to remove you. Face it you have only yourself to blame for becoming the laughing stock "Captain" of the community, that will not change however many tearfull "they took my toy away before I could play with it" letters you write to the GDN.
Last edited by SwordFish-GF; 31st May 2002 at 12:36.
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Swordfish-GF,
please do make more posting like that!
I think we all are very keen to know whats going on gefore and behind the screens at GF!
You would not happen to know anything about the DLR testing would you?
Greetz,
please do make more posting like that!
I think we all are very keen to know whats going on gefore and behind the screens at GF!
You would not happen to know anything about the DLR testing would you?
Greetz,
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Hogwash,
Yes you're right, it was the mgr. training 76 and I just heard today
from one of his closest friends that his family was anonimously
threatened by phone. I can hardly believe this sh#t, what kind of
uncivilised bas##rd would do this. He was (is) a good man and
hardworking expat (YES) manager. I think people who know him would agree with me. May be it's a good idea if people who do
know him give him a call for support.
Yes you're right, it was the mgr. training 76 and I just heard today
from one of his closest friends that his family was anonimously
threatened by phone. I can hardly believe this sh#t, what kind of
uncivilised bas##rd would do this. He was (is) a good man and
hardworking expat (YES) manager. I think people who know him would agree with me. May be it's a good idea if people who do
know him give him a call for support.
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gulfpilot76,
If it is the same person I am thinking of, this is very serious. Irrespective of his views of 1989, his proven work ethic and the professional way in which he has managed the job is beyond doubt.
GF should be begging him to stay. It is totally unacceptable if he and others are receiving phone threats.
I know it's easy to say it in this anonymous forum, but have you guys thought of approaching James Hogan directly. He should be made aware of what is happening.
If there is ANY hope for GF, this sort of behaviour (which has been going on for years) has to change.
Good luck.
If it is the same person I am thinking of, this is very serious. Irrespective of his views of 1989, his proven work ethic and the professional way in which he has managed the job is beyond doubt.
GF should be begging him to stay. It is totally unacceptable if he and others are receiving phone threats.
I know it's easy to say it in this anonymous forum, but have you guys thought of approaching James Hogan directly. He should be made aware of what is happening.
If there is ANY hope for GF, this sort of behaviour (which has been going on for years) has to change.
Good luck.
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Here is an article from Khallej Times
www.khaleejtimes.co.ae/lead.htm
Gulf Air set to survive crisis
MANAMA - Bahrain-based Gulf Air is likely to overcome its current financial troubles despite the pullout of major shareholder Qatar, which was announced this week, but it must act to restore its reputation as a strong regional airline, bankers and officials said.
They said Gulf Air's board of directors on Wednesday gave management until August to submit a rescue plan if much-needed additional cash is to be pumped into the company to help it compete with other airlines in the region.
"We are optimistic about the future of Gulf Air... No doubt the money which will be injected into the company will achieve a primary leap," Bahrain's Information Minister, Nabeel Yacoub Al Hamer, said on Thursday.
"The company and its new chief executive will draw up a new study aimed at increasing efficiency and shifting the company to profitability. There is seriousness among the three owners to support Gulf Air," Hamer told Reuters.
A Gulf Air official said new Chief Executive James Hogan, former head of defunct Australian carrier Ansett, would now submit a strategic plan to the board by August.
Gulf Air's board would then meet again in late August or early September to evaluate the restructuring plan and to decide on the remaining cash injection.
"The coming phase is crucial and needs the concerted efforts of all staff at different levels. Gulf Air will pursue the process of restructuring its organisation and move ahead rapidly with the changes," said Hogan, who was appointed earlier this month.
The owners - Bahrain, Oman and the Abu Dhabi emirate in the United Arab Emirates - agreed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to inject DH300 million ($82 million) into the 50-year-old troubled airline, which has a total debt of around $800 million.
The proposed injection is less than a third of the $272 million that owner states were considering to rescue the firm.
But Gulf Air Chairman Shaikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan said the three owners might make a fresh injection of another Dh700 million once they have seen the restructuring plan.
"The new cash will definitely help Gulf Air in the short term, but the company must act because it is overstaffed, its costs are out of control, has too many (unprofitable) routes and bought many new planes in the past few years," Bahraini analyst Jassim Ali told Reuters.
Gulf Air said last year it would cut up to 450 jobs to trim costs and reduce its fleet to 26 from 30 aircraft in 2002. - Reuters
www.khaleejtimes.co.ae/lead.htm
Gulf Air set to survive crisis
MANAMA - Bahrain-based Gulf Air is likely to overcome its current financial troubles despite the pullout of major shareholder Qatar, which was announced this week, but it must act to restore its reputation as a strong regional airline, bankers and officials said.
They said Gulf Air's board of directors on Wednesday gave management until August to submit a rescue plan if much-needed additional cash is to be pumped into the company to help it compete with other airlines in the region.
"We are optimistic about the future of Gulf Air... No doubt the money which will be injected into the company will achieve a primary leap," Bahrain's Information Minister, Nabeel Yacoub Al Hamer, said on Thursday.
"The company and its new chief executive will draw up a new study aimed at increasing efficiency and shifting the company to profitability. There is seriousness among the three owners to support Gulf Air," Hamer told Reuters.
A Gulf Air official said new Chief Executive James Hogan, former head of defunct Australian carrier Ansett, would now submit a strategic plan to the board by August.
Gulf Air's board would then meet again in late August or early September to evaluate the restructuring plan and to decide on the remaining cash injection.
"The coming phase is crucial and needs the concerted efforts of all staff at different levels. Gulf Air will pursue the process of restructuring its organisation and move ahead rapidly with the changes," said Hogan, who was appointed earlier this month.
The owners - Bahrain, Oman and the Abu Dhabi emirate in the United Arab Emirates - agreed in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to inject DH300 million ($82 million) into the 50-year-old troubled airline, which has a total debt of around $800 million.
The proposed injection is less than a third of the $272 million that owner states were considering to rescue the firm.
But Gulf Air Chairman Shaikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan said the three owners might make a fresh injection of another Dh700 million once they have seen the restructuring plan.
"The new cash will definitely help Gulf Air in the short term, but the company must act because it is overstaffed, its costs are out of control, has too many (unprofitable) routes and bought many new planes in the past few years," Bahraini analyst Jassim Ali told Reuters.
Gulf Air said last year it would cut up to 450 jobs to trim costs and reduce its fleet to 26 from 30 aircraft in 2002. - Reuters
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If Bahraini analyst Jassim Ali understands anything about airlines, he would know that just because a route is unprofitable does not mean that the route should be closed. A losing route (due to pro-rating revenue) could be causing other routes to be profitable. Already GF has closed SYD,MEL, ATH, FCO, and MXP. That is over 10% of its destinations. If GF keeps on closing routes, what will be left?
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boilermaker,I'm not sure what your game is anyway, but to me it seems a bit suspicious by now, the way you are trying to protect scheduling and a socalled 3rd floor. You don't even work for GF. Whether or not a route is loosing money to feed other routes is not the point,
unless you have to work with 4 (now 3) states that DEMAND certain routes to be flown. This is called politics and destroys profitability, just look in the former USSR. The main objective of a commercial airline is to aim for profits on ALL routes and let go of the ones that are definitely loosing. Like for instance FCO, I've never flown with more then 40 pax and some cargo, and I never heard different from my collegues. Another problem with this route was the stop in between. Passengers hate that, O.K. cargo
doesn't care, but still. We still have a long long way to go before
anything will really change, and that to my humble opinion has to do with the local culture. The gulf states still base their way of doing business on a give and take attitude. That was allright up to let's say 1950. But......, things have changed since then. This is the 21 century and the airline business is global so if you want to play ball with the real world you'd better sign in now and obey the big world rules or....... 3 states keep on paying untill kingdom
come. Well the kingdom just came, so who knows???
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GULFPILOT76,
I have no game whatsoever. If you read economic journals like I do, you will know that what I said was true. A certain route might be losing but still generate much more revenue for the other routes in the network. This is called Flow up/ Flow down revenue. You cannot immediately shut a route down if it is losing money unless it is not contributing anything to the network as a whole. Also, if you read any of my past posts, you will see that I have said time and time again that a lot of the routes were flown because of political pressure from the owner states (Such as GVA, FJR, RKT, etc...) and this was one of the problems at GF. So, I may not work for GF, but I am well informed and educated about things. I was just merely stating a fact and not defending anyone. All I am saying is that an airline business is much more complicated than a general statement by someone who was never in an airline business who says 'shut down a losing route'. That's all. So what exactly is your problem? I suggest you read my posts so you can get a general idea of the problems GF is having which is not just limited to scheduling.
I have no game whatsoever. If you read economic journals like I do, you will know that what I said was true. A certain route might be losing but still generate much more revenue for the other routes in the network. This is called Flow up/ Flow down revenue. You cannot immediately shut a route down if it is losing money unless it is not contributing anything to the network as a whole. Also, if you read any of my past posts, you will see that I have said time and time again that a lot of the routes were flown because of political pressure from the owner states (Such as GVA, FJR, RKT, etc...) and this was one of the problems at GF. So, I may not work for GF, but I am well informed and educated about things. I was just merely stating a fact and not defending anyone. All I am saying is that an airline business is much more complicated than a general statement by someone who was never in an airline business who says 'shut down a losing route'. That's all. So what exactly is your problem? I suggest you read my posts so you can get a general idea of the problems GF is having which is not just limited to scheduling.
Last edited by boiler; 1st Jun 2002 at 13:45.
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boilermaker,
Am I wrong in reading a bit of arrogance and hot air in your reply?
"I read economic journals" well....HURRAY for you!!
Anyway, now that you have maybe climbed down the ladder to earth, were I think (unless I'm fully mistaken) you belong, let's try to get into some practice.
First of all I agree that the total route structure is of a high value to the overall return of a company, but there is a lot more to it.
For instance the personals motivation to please the customer, now this is pure practice and you will find little of this in airline economic journals. Were does the chain start; just try to make a reservation with GF by calling to,... you name it, main office, airport, ANYWHERE. You are lucky if anybody answers the phone.
It happened to me several times. Then..if you find someone answering they are usually rude and don't know the answers to simple questions. And this is only were it starts. Then you get the people at the check-in, same s##t. Followed by the gate people
and then finally if you are really unlucky the cabin crew, although I must say they have improved since I started. Staff motivation is of a very high value to any company and this has to be dealt with
asap. A company that is on the brink of collapse every other half year is not a good motivator. If this happens in the real world it's over and done with. As I have experienced many times over the years. It's like an autoland, everything has to be right to get the
best result, all the pieces of the puzzle have to fit in. Economics in books is nice but does not give all the answers. I remember in my old company the PCE was changed because of financial problems and he put his hand on the wallet and at the same time tried to make the crews work to the maximum of FTL, then slowly small things were taken away from us in a very camouflaged way, hardly noticeable. After some time sickness went up, people left and the remaining staff was about to have a nervous breakdown,
end result was revolution and more losses due to staff moral.
Were GF is at this moment and time, it may be the start of something good or it is the start of bare economics and squeezing practices in order to get financial result on paper as soon as possible to please the customer. I truly hope for the first option. Economics or not.
Am I wrong in reading a bit of arrogance and hot air in your reply?
"I read economic journals" well....HURRAY for you!!
Anyway, now that you have maybe climbed down the ladder to earth, were I think (unless I'm fully mistaken) you belong, let's try to get into some practice.
First of all I agree that the total route structure is of a high value to the overall return of a company, but there is a lot more to it.
For instance the personals motivation to please the customer, now this is pure practice and you will find little of this in airline economic journals. Were does the chain start; just try to make a reservation with GF by calling to,... you name it, main office, airport, ANYWHERE. You are lucky if anybody answers the phone.
It happened to me several times. Then..if you find someone answering they are usually rude and don't know the answers to simple questions. And this is only were it starts. Then you get the people at the check-in, same s##t. Followed by the gate people
and then finally if you are really unlucky the cabin crew, although I must say they have improved since I started. Staff motivation is of a very high value to any company and this has to be dealt with
asap. A company that is on the brink of collapse every other half year is not a good motivator. If this happens in the real world it's over and done with. As I have experienced many times over the years. It's like an autoland, everything has to be right to get the
best result, all the pieces of the puzzle have to fit in. Economics in books is nice but does not give all the answers. I remember in my old company the PCE was changed because of financial problems and he put his hand on the wallet and at the same time tried to make the crews work to the maximum of FTL, then slowly small things were taken away from us in a very camouflaged way, hardly noticeable. After some time sickness went up, people left and the remaining staff was about to have a nervous breakdown,
end result was revolution and more losses due to staff moral.
Were GF is at this moment and time, it may be the start of something good or it is the start of bare economics and squeezing practices in order to get financial result on paper as soon as possible to please the customer. I truly hope for the first option. Economics or not.
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Actually, I believe Qatar is still a shareholder until an appropriate ‘exit strategy’ is decided upon. They may well have chosen to discontinue their support of GF financially but their responsibilities as a shareholder still remain until such time as a negotiated settlement and amicable departure is agreed.
Interesting meeting last Thursday with the Chief.
By all accounts GF can have a future and the remaining states have made it clear that they wish GF to continue and to get better and will (conditionally) support the business.
Not quite what was expected at the board meeting and SH&E seem to have had the wind taken out of their sails a bit. Well, pick yourselves up boys and girls, it’s not over until the fat lady sings and you’ll have been paid by then anyway; just make sure she does sing and loudly! Get back on track and quickly!
I understand that the most senior management has until August to at least come up with the goods on paper.
Those same people will become more accountable for their (individual/departmental?) performance and if they have not performed, may well be ‘out’.
Hmm, somehow I cannot see that happening quite as well as most people might like unfortunately.
PCE is (heavily) rumoured to be tough, but I think the likes of one or two up there are far too slippery to get caught out; most likely they will shine the torch of blame on those directly underneath, despite the fact that they did not allow their heads/managers to manage and they dictated to them who gets a job (cousin, bothers best mate etc) despite the fact that the head/manager clearly knew it was inappropriate and damaging for the company. (This is happening already!). Mr Hogan, I say, “pay them off and get rid of them, we surely cannot work happily ever after with people like this around”. I do not believe you can give them enough rope! Nor is it the right time to play that game.
Hogan is a determined ‘winner’ and I trust he will do all that he can and that it will be enough to “Turn the ship around” (his words not mine). Oh and by the way, on the off chance that you read this, please look at my earlier posts, you have to seriously stop using that horrible phrase “Move forward”, it’s just so corny and insincere these days.
Overall, more good than bad was conveyed so that’s a start. It’s in his hands (and ours as employees) to get to work to now. I suspect the first indication of redeployments and ‘redundancies’ will be this coming week (heads/senior managers down) with perhaps a ‘cabinet re-shuffle’ in late August. Lets hope he can spot our “Peter Mandleson(s)” by that time!
Interesting meeting last Thursday with the Chief.
By all accounts GF can have a future and the remaining states have made it clear that they wish GF to continue and to get better and will (conditionally) support the business.
Not quite what was expected at the board meeting and SH&E seem to have had the wind taken out of their sails a bit. Well, pick yourselves up boys and girls, it’s not over until the fat lady sings and you’ll have been paid by then anyway; just make sure she does sing and loudly! Get back on track and quickly!
I understand that the most senior management has until August to at least come up with the goods on paper.
Those same people will become more accountable for their (individual/departmental?) performance and if they have not performed, may well be ‘out’.
Hmm, somehow I cannot see that happening quite as well as most people might like unfortunately.
PCE is (heavily) rumoured to be tough, but I think the likes of one or two up there are far too slippery to get caught out; most likely they will shine the torch of blame on those directly underneath, despite the fact that they did not allow their heads/managers to manage and they dictated to them who gets a job (cousin, bothers best mate etc) despite the fact that the head/manager clearly knew it was inappropriate and damaging for the company. (This is happening already!). Mr Hogan, I say, “pay them off and get rid of them, we surely cannot work happily ever after with people like this around”. I do not believe you can give them enough rope! Nor is it the right time to play that game.
Hogan is a determined ‘winner’ and I trust he will do all that he can and that it will be enough to “Turn the ship around” (his words not mine). Oh and by the way, on the off chance that you read this, please look at my earlier posts, you have to seriously stop using that horrible phrase “Move forward”, it’s just so corny and insincere these days.
Overall, more good than bad was conveyed so that’s a start. It’s in his hands (and ours as employees) to get to work to now. I suspect the first indication of redeployments and ‘redundancies’ will be this coming week (heads/senior managers down) with perhaps a ‘cabinet re-shuffle’ in late August. Lets hope he can spot our “Peter Mandleson(s)” by that time!
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J.H.C. GULFPILOT76, are you on steroids or something? Calm down and come back to earth. All I did was state a fact that you can't just close down a route because it is losing money, and since I made that statement, you went off the wall, so I had to resort to something to show you that I know what I am talking about (ok, so I did not mention that I previously did have some working experience in the airlines as well). Maybe I should have said that instead. Keep your cool. Part of GF's problems are economic, and some are not. I cannot dissagree most of what you have said. So PLEASE do not take what I say out of context and calm down.
Last edited by boiler; 2nd Jun 2002 at 15:02.
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Does anyone have any updated info on whose schedule (SH&E or GF) will be flown in the Winter and whether or not the A340's have been leased out or not? The date for filing the schedules must be very near and if GF is going to get new planes, I think the decision on that should be finalized.
Thanks
Thanks
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Chill guys summer is here and it seems you both need a cold shower. Nobody seems to have any news with the A340 looks like they are still negotiating the lease. As we saw in the papers they were given a 3 month period to come up with a plan so I figure that route planning my play a part in this. What's the big deal anyway, figure we may just be doing a few less Dohas thats about the size of it. I'm more interested to see in if we will still have a job after the 3 months than where we'll be going, to be honest.