Sad, sad news. RIP Rob, always enjoyed your posts over the years.

TA – I’d have thought LH already have full access to the numbers, considering they are on the main bmi group board and had been effectively controlling the purse strings anyway.

Andy – re the conference, I presume Jim French didn’t mention Flybe’s hope for expansion via acquisition, that had previously been mentioned in the press several months ago?

Two other rumours doing the rounds at the moment re bmir…….

Buyout by Eastern or potentially a Management Buyout (in conjunction with some other ‘interested’ parties).

Must admit I’m glad I got out when I did and moved to the dark side (offshore helicopters). Its a bit sombre over at bmir HQ at the moment.

Ren,

The alcohol limits set out in the Railways and Transport Safety Act apply to cabin crew as well as pilots.

93 Prescribed limit
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) he performs an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit, or
(b) he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit.
(2) The prescribed limit of alcohol is (subject to subsection (3))—
(a) in the case of breath, 9 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,
(b) in the case of blood, 20 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres, and
(c) in the case of urine, 27 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.
(3) In relation to the aviation function specified in section 94(1)(h) the prescribed limit is—
(a) in the case of breath, 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres,
(b) in the case of blood, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres, and
(c) in the case of urine, 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres.
(4) The Secretary of State may make regulations amending subsection (2) or (3).
(5) Section 94 defines “aviation function” and “ancillary activity” for the purposes of this Part.

94 Aviation functions
(1) For the purposes of this Part the following (and only the following) are aviation functions—
(a) acting as a pilot of an aircraft during flight,
(b) acting as flight navigator of an aircraft during flight,
(c) acting as flight engineer of an aircraft during flight,
(d) acting as flight radio-telephony operator of an aircraft during flight,
(e) acting as a member of the cabin crew of an aircraft during flight,
(f) attending the flight deck of an aircraft during flight to give or supervise training, to administer a test, to observe a period of practice or to monitor or record the gaining of experience,
(g) acting as an air traffic controller in pursuance of a licence granted under or by virtue of an enactment (other than a licence granted to a student), and
(h) acting as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(h) a person acts as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer if—
(a) he issues a document relating to the maintenance, condition or use of an aircraft or equipment in reliance on a licence granted under or by virtue of an enactment relating to aviation, or
(b) he carries out or supervises work on an aircraft or equipment with a view to, or in connection with, the issue by him of a document of the kind specified in paragraph (a).
(3) For the purposes of this Part a reference to an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function is a reference to anything which falls to be treated as such by virtue of subsections (4) to (6).
(4) An activity shall be treated as ancillary to an aviation function if it is undertaken—
(a) by a person who has reported for a period of duty in respect of the function, and
(b) as a requirement of, for the purpose of or in connection with the performance of the function during that period of duty.
(5) A person who in accordance with the terms of an employment or undertaking holds himself ready to perform an aviation function if called upon shall be treated as carrying out an activity ancillary to the function.
(6) Where a person sets out to perform an aviation function, anything which he does by way of preparing to perform the function shall be treated as an activity ancillary to it.
(7) For the purposes of this Part it is immaterial whether a person performs a function or carries out an activity in the course of an employment or trade or otherwise.

Superb news on finishing the groundschool Dean. I am a bit surprised over the short time they are giving you guys for CPT, prior to the sim.

Good luck with the sim training!

Loose-Head – Agree cracking gig, shame about the venue though, a standing area was needed!!! The chairs were too small and cramped for the length of the gig. In saying that, it was great to see the proper visual show that went along with the music. The Music Hall was unfortunately too small.

Nice to see them play some different stuff – The Gunners Dream, Pigs, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, Nobody Home, On The Turning Away to name a few. Only wished they would play Echoes again, as they did in 2005.

If you like/love Pink Floyd – you won’t be disappointed with a TAPF gig.

The above list of mail routes brings back bad memories…lol

Business Air (GNT) used to operate the following many moons ago on the SF340.

ABZ-EDI-EMA-EDI
EDI-STN-EDI
NWI-STN-BRS-STN-NWI
ABZ-EDI-EMA-EDI-FSS (AKA the Kinloss Killer by the crews)
EMA-BFS-EMA

Does the NWI-STN-BRS run still operate?

Congrats Dean, was wondering how you were getting on!!

Still quite fluid in the industry, we seem to be constantly interview for our holding pool, although the resignations have slowed to a trickle. Mind you four additional aircraft are due over the summer.

Seems to be a few jobs out there, at the moment, considering the number of no-shows for interviews and courses.