Highland Airways
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Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: USA
Age: 63
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I notice there is often a dark tendency to will the failure of an organisation whether you work for them or not.
I've been doing some stuff with HAL lately and they are a good bunch. Sure, things haven't been going right and the economic climate doesn't help but consider their potential failure from two aspects:
1) Mercenary: puts more aviation professionals on the market thereby increasing the number chasing too few jobs
2) Compassionate: affects the local economy (some at HAL cannot move) and those supplying HAL. Flying, maintenance, management and support roles must be few at INV or the rest of the highlands right now; chances of moving to other industries slim.
My vote - and I suspect that of the more reasoned among us - is more power to HAL's elbow and good luck.
I've been doing some stuff with HAL lately and they are a good bunch. Sure, things haven't been going right and the economic climate doesn't help but consider their potential failure from two aspects:
1) Mercenary: puts more aviation professionals on the market thereby increasing the number chasing too few jobs
2) Compassionate: affects the local economy (some at HAL cannot move) and those supplying HAL. Flying, maintenance, management and support roles must be few at INV or the rest of the highlands right now; chances of moving to other industries slim.
My vote - and I suspect that of the more reasoned among us - is more power to HAL's elbow and good luck.
Join Date: Jun 2003
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I am afraid there are some very serious rumours going around at the moment. Meeting has been called at 0900 on Monday morning in the hangar. I hope all is going to be well!
Navoff
Navoff
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: in a cardboard box if the rumours are true...
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Well yes, just lies also try looking at www.highlandairways.co.uk
nice technical difficulties
nice technical difficulties
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Dundee, Scotland
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I did it HWY, you would do well to take a few moments before you post crap like that. As a Loganair pilot I would very much like to see Highland continue as normal, even if there are a few problems to overcome on the way, and while I haven't been up to STN for a while I very much doubt the truth of what you have said about the ground staff. Banter maybe, not genuine malice. Think before you post - I'm sure your bosses are doing everything they can just now and your rubbish does not help them. And if the news is not good Mungo Man's point is very valid - a rare degree of integrity indeed (although I hope it is irrelevant).
Join Date: Feb 2004
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I did it HWY, the reason management aren't telling you anything is because they dont know!
They couldn't be more honest at the moment, do you want them to blow smoke up your arse and tell you everything is going to be rosy? do you want them to tell you you've all lost your jobs so don't come in tomorrow? All clients and suppliers would immediately stop trading with us and any chance of a take over would be blown out of the water.
What if they did tell you more? would it make any difference, would you suddenly realise NOW might be a good time to start sending out CVs?
Slagging off the company isn't going to help, the camera crews and photographers were already hovering around the hangar like vultures this morning, desperately waiting for another airline to die and a hundred jobs to be lost for their "story".
I notice also that you find it unfair that as an outstation you hear news an hour after the INV base... Trust me, you find out more on your conference calls than we do in the hangar meetings. The CEO cant talk to you and us at the same time! Between meetings with (rightfully so) worried staff, the guy has to desperately negotiate with potential backers, banks and clients in order to safe guard our jobs. I should imagine keeping staff completely in the picture is the last thing on his mind at the moment.
Lets just do our jobs and keep our fingers crossed!
They couldn't be more honest at the moment, do you want them to blow smoke up your arse and tell you everything is going to be rosy? do you want them to tell you you've all lost your jobs so don't come in tomorrow? All clients and suppliers would immediately stop trading with us and any chance of a take over would be blown out of the water.
What if they did tell you more? would it make any difference, would you suddenly realise NOW might be a good time to start sending out CVs?
Slagging off the company isn't going to help, the camera crews and photographers were already hovering around the hangar like vultures this morning, desperately waiting for another airline to die and a hundred jobs to be lost for their "story".
I notice also that you find it unfair that as an outstation you hear news an hour after the INV base... Trust me, you find out more on your conference calls than we do in the hangar meetings. The CEO cant talk to you and us at the same time! Between meetings with (rightfully so) worried staff, the guy has to desperately negotiate with potential backers, banks and clients in order to safe guard our jobs. I should imagine keeping staff completely in the picture is the last thing on his mind at the moment.
Lets just do our jobs and keep our fingers crossed!
Last edited by IDENTING; 25th Jan 2010 at 12:18.
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: Domaine de la Romanee-Conti
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Sounds like it's the real thing this time 
Best of luck to all the Hiway boys and girls, especially those of you who turned down bigger and better opportunities over the years for love of living in Inverness ... hope something can arise from the ashes
- HB
Best of luck to all the Hiway boys and girls, especially those of you who turned down bigger and better opportunities over the years for love of living in Inverness ... hope something can arise from the ashes
- HB
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Well said Identing. Maybe IDIH would like KW or AM to fly to wherever he/she is and personally spoon feed them all the info, whilst at the same time battling for our survival? Unfortunately in times of adversity some of our own guys seem intent on waging their own wee private battles and making their own petty points. There have already been one or two unfathomable examples of this. Perhaps they are just too thick to realise what is going on. Or so far up their own arses they can't see that there is enough to do without managing issues created by our own guys 
I can't fault the effort the company has made to keep us abreast of the situation. The briefings have been informative, with management always open to questions, be it over the phone, at the meetings, or indeed just over a coffee in our spacious kitchen facility. In fact having seen other examples of companies in troubled times I would say we have been treated very well.
H - yeah this is as bad as it's been mate. Hopefully a solution can be found - I can't see who's interests it would be in for us to end. Sad days for a small company who has quietly been operating for many years. It has always been a great place to work. Chaotic at times but rewarding, and surely one of the finest jobs in the country for those who enjoy flying. A lot of people have had a great start to their career here, and I hope this continues for a while yet! It has got a lot bigger since you departed Luke, and as that happens obviously some things lose the personal touch. But it still has a great feel about it at times, be it shooting the craic with Alan about Islanders while he is making the coffee in Sutherland, or going to SYY VFR through the hills on a cracking day with papers that can't complain about how low we look compared to the hills!
Lets keep everything crossed!
I can't fault the effort the company has made to keep us abreast of the situation. The briefings have been informative, with management always open to questions, be it over the phone, at the meetings, or indeed just over a coffee in our spacious kitchen facility. In fact having seen other examples of companies in troubled times I would say we have been treated very well.
H - yeah this is as bad as it's been mate. Hopefully a solution can be found - I can't see who's interests it would be in for us to end. Sad days for a small company who has quietly been operating for many years. It has always been a great place to work. Chaotic at times but rewarding, and surely one of the finest jobs in the country for those who enjoy flying. A lot of people have had a great start to their career here, and I hope this continues for a while yet! It has got a lot bigger since you departed Luke, and as that happens obviously some things lose the personal touch. But it still has a great feel about it at times, be it shooting the craic with Alan about Islanders while he is making the coffee in Sutherland, or going to SYY VFR through the hills on a cracking day with papers that can't complain about how low we look compared to the hills!
Lets keep everything crossed!
much for spares and give no Join Date: Mar 2000
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I'm wondering who handles the credit card transactions for their bookings- if it is the same company who did (it) for XL and Globespan, then suspending bookings while the agent is changed may be essential to save the company.
Good luck to all at Highland.
Good luck to all at Highland.
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Carlton, "that company" is no longer in business (forced into admin by the courts) so cannot be handling HAL's payments.
I've only spent a little while working around and managing J31s but my impression is that BAE aren't that interested in supporting it and charge accordingly.
I've only spent a little while working around and managing J31s but my impression is that BAE aren't that interested in supporting it and charge accordingly.
Join Date: May 2004
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I worked in Norway for Coast air and operated a fleet of J31s my experience of BAE was that they were very helpfull though their regional aircraft website was a bit torturous to navigate.
I worked in tech services and I can say the demise of coast was nothing to do with BAE and more to do with a lack of pax numbers.
I worked in tech services and I can say the demise of coast was nothing to do with BAE and more to do with a lack of pax numbers.
Join Date: Mar 2009
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Well gladly Highland Airways are still in talks as they are clearly teetering on the edge but have one or two interested parties talking to them.
Good luck Highway and everyone there, we're rooting for you
.
Danny
Good luck Highway and everyone there, we're rooting for you
.Danny
Last edited by Dan the weegie; 27th Jan 2010 at 19:45.
