It’s official and it was goin to happen one day this year, you may remember I posted on here a few weeks ago discussing The Newcastle upon Tyne Aero Club. Sadly, last Tuesday Newcastle International Airport impounded 4 of the 5 aircraft belonging to the Aero Club. Because of this, they have ceased operations and there sadly is no longer a Newcastle Aero Club anymore. It was the oldest Aero Club in the country standing at 79 years old. It was only September that I recieved a letter confirming that they were in debt of £200,000. This has now shot up, to an astonishing £480,000 in just less than a month. It’s very upsetting and annoying, but sadly in my opinion, the best place in the whole world is now a piece of history. 🙁 Grounded Nov 23 2004
By Paul James, The Journal
The amateur flying enthusiasts who founded Newcastle’s booming international airport have been grounded with debts estimated at £200,000.
The 79-year-old Newcastle Aero Club is expected to go into administration next month after airport bosses impounded all but one of the club’s working planes.
Airport management want to recoup some of the £40,000 it is believed they are owed by the aviation group.
Other creditors, including the Inland Revenue, are also threatening action against the club, and its two full-time and six part-time instructors are now facing redundancy.
Flying groups last night blamed airport bosses for trying to force small-scale aviation out of their multi-million operation. Management hiked up landing fees from £1 to £25 earlier this year. But one member of the club, who had tried to put together a rescue package, said nobody outside the directors had seen its accounts and said a catalogue of bad decisions has left it on the brink of bankruptcy.
In a letter to its 450 members, which has been leaked to The Journal, acting club chairman Alan Coulson said the meeting on December 9 needs to see a financial recovery plan agreed – otherwise the club will go into administration.
Mr Coulson told members he is also set to resign as a director after “the last five very stressful and difficult months”.
Club member Aidan Ruff, of Ellingham Hall, Ellingham, Northumberland, said: “It looks like the airport is getting what it wanted, to get rid of the little airplanes from Newcastle. If it hadn’t been for the club, the airport wouldn’t exist. It’s short-sighted but predictable. If pilots aren’t being trained, it’s going to create a real problem for the industry. The North-East is going to be a desert as far as training is concerned.”
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association also blamed airport management. The club has trained hundreds of pilots who have gone on to careers in the RAF or working for commercial airlines, including former England rugby player Tony Underwood.
The association’s chief executive Martin Robinson said Newcastle International had no time any more for small-scale general aviation.
Newcastle General Hospital neurosurgeon Nick Todd, also a member of the club, looked into offering a financial lifeline. He offered to buy the aircraft and lease them back to the club – but said the debts were too high for members to trade out of trouble.
He said the money owed, at least £100,000, along with mortgages on planes of £80,000, meant the debts amounted to around half the club’s annual £480,000 turnover.
He said: “I crunched the numbers and I can’t make it work. I think that’s why they’re in trouble. It’s a £480,000 operation being run like the WI – but I think the WI would run it better. I think the local chip shop has better financial controls. The goodwill is there. Everybody wants it to work but my feeling is that it has gone too far. The only thing that can possibly happen now is that the club goes bankrupt and we start again.
“There’s a huge tradition and that’s a shame. But the flying club is an important part of the economic future of this part of the country.”
In a statement last night, airport management said they had no option but to impound the four planes, valued at between £15,000 and £75,000 each.
It said: “These aircraft are owned and operated by Newcastle Aero Club Limited, and have been detained pending settlement of outstanding charges due to be paid.
“The Aero Club has unfortunately built up a considerable and growing debt to Newcastle International over many months and regrettably, despite the efforts of both parties, including the airport allowing a lengthy period of time to help resolve the club’s difficulties, the detention of the above aircraft has become necessary.
“Newcastle International wish to emphasise that it remains committed to general aviation activities at Newcastle Airport, and is looking forward to working with the GA community in finding a way forward.”
The aero club declined to comment until after the meeting next month.
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th December 2004 at 16:23
So do I and every member at the club. There is a meeting tonight between the Aero Club and Newcastle Airport, and Elia Golfin is due to be there. We should know where they stand tomorrow hopefully 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 9th December 2004 at 16:23
So do I and every member at the club. There is a meeting tonight between the Aero Club and Newcastle Airport, and Elia Golfin is due to be there. We should know where they stand tomorrow hopefully 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th December 2004 at 20:18
Looks like I was wrong after all! 😮 🙂 This article was in the local paper yesterday: http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/thejournal/page.cfm?objectid=14948268&method=full&siteid=50081
A chance meeting between a teenager and an international entrepreneur could save Newcastle’s ailing Aero Club.
The 79-year-old club, the oldest in the country, was plunged into administration on Friday with debts of £200,000.
The 500 flying enthusiasts, whose club founded Newcastle International Airport, feared the worst last week after management impounded their planes.
But Australian flying school boss Elia Golfin, who lives and works in Florida, has made steps to take over the club.
Mr Golfin last night said that he was “95pc certain” of buying the club.
The 31-year-old, a retired commercial pilot who has schools across the world, heard about Newcastle Aero Club from teenager Mark Wright, of Stanley, County Durham.
The youngster, who trained to be a pilot with Mr Golfin in Florida, set out on his first solo flight on Saturday to mark his 16th birthday.
Mr Golfin’s legal team is due to visit the airport today to establish the club’s financial state.
He said: “I’m sending my team over, as well as my business partner from Ireland, and they will be trying to find out how bad the debt really is.
“Before I was interested in the club, I had several people from the North-East of England who came out here. One of them, Mark Wright, emailed me to tell me how bad the situation is and I thought `if a 15-year-old kid is passionate enough to do this, I’ll have to do something.’
“I want to keep the club for the members and give them the opportunity to fly again.
“We will revamp it and give it a paint job, but otherwise it will be the same.”
The news of Mr Golfin’s interest was greeted with approval by members who are fed up of being kept in the dark about what has been happening.
The club’s oldest member, 81-year-old Ken Doyle, said he hoped the sale would come off.
RAF veteran Mr Doyle, of Davenport Drive, Brunton Park, Gosforth, Newcastle, said: “He apparently has quite a lot of money in his pocket and if he wants to invest it in the club, we would all be delighted.
“I would welcome it and I think everyone would – all we are interested in is keeping this grand old club flying from Newcastle.
“I have flown in Florida and they are the most knowledgeable flyers in the world – I hope he comes.”
But flying instructor Keith Lister said: “I just don’t see how he can buy it – I really have my doubts.
“We have heard so many rumours and the amount of debt is so high.
“If he wants to inject £100,000, then we would all be delighted, but I really can’t see it happening.”
Aero Club secretary Barry Lawson refused to comment on any of the takeover rumours last night.
It’s the height of happiness
Most 16-year-olds celebrate their birthdays with a party.
But Mark Wright found himself 1,000ft in the air on his birthday on Saturday – on his first solo flight.
The Whickham Comprehensive pupil, of Treefoil Road, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, County Durham, is juggling his GCSE studies with learning to fly.
Parents Alison, 38, and Barry, 42, took him to Florida to learn to fly, where he was taught by Elia Golfin.
Elia, 31, is trying to take over Newcastle Aero Club after meeting Mark – a member of the club.
Mark’s father Barry, who works for a tyre company, said: “Mark’s interest in flying came from when he went into a cockpit when he was 13.
“Since then, he has been travelling to Florida to learn and rake up his hours. He asked Elia to save the club, so hopefully that will come off.
“We are all very disappointed about the club’s demise – Mark wants to fly from his local club.”
Mark is the youngest pilot at the club. The eldest, Ken Doyle, 81, said: “I think it is great that a 16-year-old is so interested in flying, and also to try and get the gentleman from Florida to help.”
Does anyone know much about Aussie Air of Florida? :confused:
By: Arabella-Cox - 8th December 2004 at 20:18
Looks like I was wrong after all! 😮 🙂 This article was in the local paper yesterday: http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/thejournal/page.cfm?objectid=14948268&method=full&siteid=50081
A chance meeting between a teenager and an international entrepreneur could save Newcastle’s ailing Aero Club.
The 79-year-old club, the oldest in the country, was plunged into administration on Friday with debts of £200,000.
The 500 flying enthusiasts, whose club founded Newcastle International Airport, feared the worst last week after management impounded their planes.
But Australian flying school boss Elia Golfin, who lives and works in Florida, has made steps to take over the club.
Mr Golfin last night said that he was “95pc certain” of buying the club.
The 31-year-old, a retired commercial pilot who has schools across the world, heard about Newcastle Aero Club from teenager Mark Wright, of Stanley, County Durham.
The youngster, who trained to be a pilot with Mr Golfin in Florida, set out on his first solo flight on Saturday to mark his 16th birthday.
Mr Golfin’s legal team is due to visit the airport today to establish the club’s financial state.
He said: “I’m sending my team over, as well as my business partner from Ireland, and they will be trying to find out how bad the debt really is.
“Before I was interested in the club, I had several people from the North-East of England who came out here. One of them, Mark Wright, emailed me to tell me how bad the situation is and I thought `if a 15-year-old kid is passionate enough to do this, I’ll have to do something.’
“I want to keep the club for the members and give them the opportunity to fly again.
“We will revamp it and give it a paint job, but otherwise it will be the same.”
The news of Mr Golfin’s interest was greeted with approval by members who are fed up of being kept in the dark about what has been happening.
The club’s oldest member, 81-year-old Ken Doyle, said he hoped the sale would come off.
RAF veteran Mr Doyle, of Davenport Drive, Brunton Park, Gosforth, Newcastle, said: “He apparently has quite a lot of money in his pocket and if he wants to invest it in the club, we would all be delighted.
“I would welcome it and I think everyone would – all we are interested in is keeping this grand old club flying from Newcastle.
“I have flown in Florida and they are the most knowledgeable flyers in the world – I hope he comes.”
But flying instructor Keith Lister said: “I just don’t see how he can buy it – I really have my doubts.
“We have heard so many rumours and the amount of debt is so high.
“If he wants to inject £100,000, then we would all be delighted, but I really can’t see it happening.”
Aero Club secretary Barry Lawson refused to comment on any of the takeover rumours last night.
It’s the height of happiness
Most 16-year-olds celebrate their birthdays with a party.
But Mark Wright found himself 1,000ft in the air on his birthday on Saturday – on his first solo flight.
The Whickham Comprehensive pupil, of Treefoil Road, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, County Durham, is juggling his GCSE studies with learning to fly.
Parents Alison, 38, and Barry, 42, took him to Florida to learn to fly, where he was taught by Elia Golfin.
Elia, 31, is trying to take over Newcastle Aero Club after meeting Mark – a member of the club.
Mark’s father Barry, who works for a tyre company, said: “Mark’s interest in flying came from when he went into a cockpit when he was 13.
“Since then, he has been travelling to Florida to learn and rake up his hours. He asked Elia to save the club, so hopefully that will come off.
“We are all very disappointed about the club’s demise – Mark wants to fly from his local club.”
Mark is the youngest pilot at the club. The eldest, Ken Doyle, 81, said: “I think it is great that a 16-year-old is so interested in flying, and also to try and get the gentleman from Florida to help.”
Does anyone know much about Aussie Air of Florida? :confused:
By: Duesseldwarf - 29th November 2004 at 22:37
Such a shame – so sad to see it go. 🙁
By: Duesseldwarf - 29th November 2004 at 22:37
Such a shame – so sad to see it go. 🙁
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November 29, 2004 at 8:51 pm