Cardiff Wales Flying Club (CWFC) Bankrupt
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cardiff, UK
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Thanks to all for the information here. I started a PPL course with CWFC a couple of months ago; only 3.9 hours logged so far. I'm keen to continue, but I don't want to have to go to Swansea, Bristol or elsewhere to do it; that would be likely to kill my interest.
I feel most sorry for Mike Thompson really; he was a new instructor at the club, had just moved to Cardiff, and I guess now he's out of work. He seemed very good to me!
As I was so new to the club and knew virtually nobody there, forums such as this are my only source of news at the moment, so thanks once again for posting information. It is much appreciated.
David Thomas
I feel most sorry for Mike Thompson really; he was a new instructor at the club, had just moved to Cardiff, and I guess now he's out of work. He seemed very good to me!
As I was so new to the club and knew virtually nobody there, forums such as this are my only source of news at the moment, so thanks once again for posting information. It is much appreciated.
David Thomas
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Hey Stop bashing the CFI,
Is it annoying that the clubs gone done the swanny? yes, it is. I for one, like many who are posting instructed at CWFC not that long ago.
I feel sorry for Karen, Nikki, Mel & Debs as they worked hard and made vistors, members and instructors feel happy about flying out of South Side. It was a pleasure to be there and I wish you all the best of luck.
Good luck to AM he worked his a*se of for a long time. Grossly underpaid, grossly understaffed for little reward or thanks from many many people from what I saw. He like many of the other instructors took on roles and liabilites that they knew they frankly shouldn't have to. I've never seen a CFI drive the bowser anywhere else, or stand in a shopping mall selling trial lessons at Xmas.
The committee likewise did a lot for very little. The members decided that they wanted a club and a club is just that.
If you pay for a club u get one if u want a business then u need to get business minded people to run it and pay them for the job. This was offered numerous times by many people in my time there and not accepted because they couldn't afford it!!
The catch 22 if you can't afford to pay someone who can keep ure heads above water then it was already time to refinance or liqidate and start again from the ashes. Isn't that why they have limited companies.
The only schools/clubs that seem to stay above water are those which offer enough training to keep the revenue going, diversify into corporate and air/taxi work, etc.
A club can't really offer that unless it's members are willing to finance the expenditure necessary.
Trial lessons over the Millenium stadium were never going to sustain the outlay of a building or business that size and the committe were saddled with the incompetence of a nameless minority (yet again) that had run the place dry.
The committe inIMHO had been trying and try hard they did to keep that stable door closed when the horse had not only bolted but gone on holiday with the winnings on the equine lottery.
I'm not Welsh and I'm not from Cardiff but everyone I met was kind and helpful in my time there (one notable exception) Let's just hope for the sake of Cardiff avaition that someone arrives bank rolls it properly from the start and puts some air/taxi and CPL, etc work in with it to keep the flow going.
Good luck to the White Building and whoever sails in her next. I do hope that people aren't out of work for too long. I know what that was like and feel for you all.
Is it annoying that the clubs gone done the swanny? yes, it is. I for one, like many who are posting instructed at CWFC not that long ago.
I feel sorry for Karen, Nikki, Mel & Debs as they worked hard and made vistors, members and instructors feel happy about flying out of South Side. It was a pleasure to be there and I wish you all the best of luck.
Good luck to AM he worked his a*se of for a long time. Grossly underpaid, grossly understaffed for little reward or thanks from many many people from what I saw. He like many of the other instructors took on roles and liabilites that they knew they frankly shouldn't have to. I've never seen a CFI drive the bowser anywhere else, or stand in a shopping mall selling trial lessons at Xmas.
The committee likewise did a lot for very little. The members decided that they wanted a club and a club is just that.
If you pay for a club u get one if u want a business then u need to get business minded people to run it and pay them for the job. This was offered numerous times by many people in my time there and not accepted because they couldn't afford it!!
The catch 22 if you can't afford to pay someone who can keep ure heads above water then it was already time to refinance or liqidate and start again from the ashes. Isn't that why they have limited companies.
The only schools/clubs that seem to stay above water are those which offer enough training to keep the revenue going, diversify into corporate and air/taxi work, etc.
A club can't really offer that unless it's members are willing to finance the expenditure necessary.
Trial lessons over the Millenium stadium were never going to sustain the outlay of a building or business that size and the committe were saddled with the incompetence of a nameless minority (yet again) that had run the place dry.
The committe inIMHO had been trying and try hard they did to keep that stable door closed when the horse had not only bolted but gone on holiday with the winnings on the equine lottery.
I'm not Welsh and I'm not from Cardiff but everyone I met was kind and helpful in my time there (one notable exception) Let's just hope for the sake of Cardiff avaition that someone arrives bank rolls it properly from the start and puts some air/taxi and CPL, etc work in with it to keep the flow going.
Good luck to the White Building and whoever sails in her next. I do hope that people aren't out of work for too long. I know what that was like and feel for you all.
Join Date: Oct 2004
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the flying lip
did`nt mean to sound agressive to you personaly, what i meant was i belive they new what was going to happen weeks maybe months before it did, so they would have had time to contact members via letter or telephone before pc went missing. and there are paper copies of every member in the office. and the staff! there`s not that many off them, the cfi would have had all their numbers at hand, some instructors turned up for work the next day, with tl`s waiting outside, just think the way the whole thing has been handled is so wrong
did`nt mean to sound agressive to you personaly, what i meant was i belive they new what was going to happen weeks maybe months before it did, so they would have had time to contact members via letter or telephone before pc went missing. and there are paper copies of every member in the office. and the staff! there`s not that many off them, the cfi would have had all their numbers at hand, some instructors turned up for work the next day, with tl`s waiting outside, just think the way the whole thing has been handled is so wrong
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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Wrong, but as TFL said, typical. Most business failures result in some way from senior guys putting their heads in the sand and hoping their problems go away. Have you ever known any major company just announcing that they weren't going to make enough cash, and voluntarily throwing in the towel?
Consequently, when the end comes, it is sudden.
TA
Consequently, when the end comes, it is sudden.
TA
Agree with whats been said about the way the staff were treated, a phone call costs almost nothing and takes seconds, as for customers unfortunately they find out the hard way.
As has been discussed the club was run by a committee and as such all committee members were probably aware that the club was going to close on Tuesday, i do not believe AM shut the club on his own without the others knowing..
Various members of the committee have apparently gone to the airport with a package to re-open the flying club.... IF they were successful would they just expect or want the staff to walk back into the building to start up the operations again.. despite the lack of communication beforehand??
I loved my job more than anything i have done before.. I have had emails from my students concerned about their future flight training, exams, records etc.. and in such a professional industry it is somewhat embarrassing to say "i do not know"
begs some thought..
As has been discussed the club was run by a committee and as such all committee members were probably aware that the club was going to close on Tuesday, i do not believe AM shut the club on his own without the others knowing..
Various members of the committee have apparently gone to the airport with a package to re-open the flying club.... IF they were successful would they just expect or want the staff to walk back into the building to start up the operations again.. despite the lack of communication beforehand??
I loved my job more than anything i have done before.. I have had emails from my students concerned about their future flight training, exams, records etc.. and in such a professional industry it is somewhat embarrassing to say "i do not know"
begs some thought..
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I am one of those poor Instructors now without a job and minus two months flight pay.
Lets hope that CIAL make up their minds soon, as I am keen to get flying again.
I have also been a member of the club for years and the current financial problems that we find ourselves in are not due to any one person or Commitee. As we are all to aware there has been a huge down turn in both GA and Commercial flight training over the passed few years, it is also true that the management/Commitee should have reacted to this sooner and legislated for it, however, we in aviation are devoted optimists and we always hope that the future will be bright.
I would like to let all my fellow staff members how much I have enjoyed working with them, and hope that we may continue to work together in the near future.
WW
Lets hope that CIAL make up their minds soon, as I am keen to get flying again.
I have also been a member of the club for years and the current financial problems that we find ourselves in are not due to any one person or Commitee. As we are all to aware there has been a huge down turn in both GA and Commercial flight training over the passed few years, it is also true that the management/Commitee should have reacted to this sooner and legislated for it, however, we in aviation are devoted optimists and we always hope that the future will be bright.
I would like to let all my fellow staff members how much I have enjoyed working with them, and hope that we may continue to work together in the near future.
WW
The news is good and it is imminent...
new club
new shop
new planes
newly refurbished restaurant
newlt refurbished premises
spitty
new club
new shop
new planes
newly refurbished restaurant
newlt refurbished premises
spitty
Last edited by spitfire747; 14th Oct 2004 at 20:57.
Scourge of Bad Airline Management!
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I can confirm that, spitfire747. CIAL has spoken.
A manifesto for the new owner (peace and blessings be upon him!)
1. Re-employ Mel, Debbie, Karen.
2. Re-employ SOME of the instructors (PM me for suggestions!)
3. Get the place open again asap - I know a source of four very good, very overhauled and very familiar aircraft that the members would love to fly again, especially in their nice shiny new paint jobs.
4. Let the private owners have access to their aircraft asap.
Great to hear this news. Let's all rally behind the new owner and give him the support he deserves!
TA
A manifesto for the new owner (peace and blessings be upon him!)
1. Re-employ Mel, Debbie, Karen.
2. Re-employ SOME of the instructors (PM me for suggestions!)
3. Get the place open again asap - I know a source of four very good, very overhauled and very familiar aircraft that the members would love to fly again, especially in their nice shiny new paint jobs.
4. Let the private owners have access to their aircraft asap.
Great to hear this news. Let's all rally behind the new owner and give him the support he deserves!
TA
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Under normal circumstances, I would be delighted to let you know, but I am not 100% sure that all the bidders know yet, so it is right that I hold off until CIAL makes a public announcement I think.
Join Date: May 2004
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Excellent news !!!!!!!!! will be watching this space tomorrow.Glad to hear that the previous staff will be re-employed.What type of a/c? (not that i am to bothered aslong as they fly and are safe)does this mean the rental costs will be back to a flyable cost? slightly less cost per hour,more people fly more members,more money for the new club?
will be watching this space tomorrow.Glad to hear that the previous staff will be re-employed.What type of a/c? (not that i am to bothered aslong as they fly and are safe)does this mean the rental costs will be back to a flyable cost? slightly less cost per hour,more people fly more members,more money for the new club?
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I think I need to have lessons again, it's been so long. Believe it or not, I can't wait to see you lot again!!!!! Looking forward to finding out who is going to run it.
I feel as if I have just passed my skill's test again.
I feel as if I have just passed my skill's test again.
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Guess a few of us will require check outs?if its been over the 28 days rule ? and obviously if we have new a/c to fly! some work for you instructors!
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Whoa guys.... No-one has said that staff will be re-employed yet! My manifesto was a wish-list and CERTAINLY NOT a statement of policy... I have no connections with the new owner or his bid...
Let the announcement become official and let the new owners contact us. I can probably safely state that we won't be flying next week, perhaps even next month....
Take a chill pill people!
TA
Let the announcement become official and let the new owners contact us. I can probably safely state that we won't be flying next week, perhaps even next month....
Take a chill pill people!
TA
Because it will be a new club,I would imagine for insurance reasons, everyone will need to be checked out onto the aeroplanes,including me, which usually consists of a flight of about one hour to include some stalls, a PFL and then an return for a circuit or two. Some difference training will be required for some aeroplanes....
Last edited by spitfire747; 14th Oct 2004 at 20:55.