Comments on: Dance of the Dinosaur http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/ Help for jet owners and air charter operators. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:41:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Aviation Marketing Intelligence » Blog Archive » Compliance Time http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5858 Aviation Marketing Intelligence » Blog Archive » Compliance Time Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:51:15 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5858 [...] the suspension of TAG’s certificate, this universe went upside down quickly and 80+ corporate jets were homeless [...] […] the suspension of TAG’s certificate, this universe went upside down quickly and 80+ corporate jets were homeless […]

]]> By: adam http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5626 adam Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:30:51 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5626 Hugo, thanks for the kind words. It is a real pleasure to see someone from my Part 135 New England past see that what all of us little guys have always known - many big guys aren't really running charter businesses. Get me the list of people who use the "subject to owner approval" b.s. and I'll get the list to the FSDO Swat Team right away!! - Adam Hugo, thanks for the kind words. It is a real pleasure to see someone from my Part 135 New England past see that what all of us little guys have always known - many big guys aren’t really running charter businesses. Get me the list of people who use the “subject to owner approval” b.s. and I’ll get the list to the FSDO Swat Team right away!! - Adam

]]> By: Hugo http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5624 Hugo Mon, 17 Dec 2007 07:11:03 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5624 Adam Great article... if I may add that even today, when I call an operator for a flight, I still get (9 out of 10 times) "Subject to owner approval". The operators have to realize that their owners cannot give approval anymore over a charter request, otherwise beware of the Fed's knock on the door. I hope every operator out there has learned from Tag/Ami's unfortunate demise. Adam
Great article… if I may add that even today, when I call an operator for a flight, I still get (9 out of 10 times) “Subject to owner approval”. The operators have to realize that their owners cannot give approval anymore over a charter request, otherwise beware of the Fed’s knock on the door. I hope every operator out there has learned from Tag/Ami’s unfortunate demise.

]]> By: adam http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5541 adam Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:39:47 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5541 Antonio, You are not the only one to feel this way. As the author, you can be assured I knew (and still know) that AMI operated to standards that can't even be compared with, for example, what was American Air Network (zero operational control and blatant rental of certificate) What probably peeved the Feds was two things: AMI not taking the allegations seriously and a pattern of the "jet owner" wearing the pants on what the airplane did on a day to day basis. I am not sure if I included the references to "oh yeah, we can do that flight for $34,567 ... you know.. subject to owner approval." That kind of lingo indicates that you really aren't in the charter business. TAG (and Privatair and Jet Aviation, etc.) face the additional problem of being de facto "controlled" by their European owners. So in a sense, the community (like yourself) is saying "wtf??" since you knew they were "safe enough" when compared with the rest of the industry - the FAA's counter claim is simply - "we don't care, they are not acting like the company they have represented to be and we're yanking their ticket." I disagree with your statement "what’s done its’ done and it’s not even wortwhile looking back" since it is worth looking.... THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY is now fair game. Sentient's extended certificates and many others are under going FAA review as we speak. --Adam (www.adamwebster.com) Antonio,

You are not the only one to feel this way. As the author, you can be assured I knew (and still know) that AMI operated to standards that can’t even be compared with, for example, what was American Air Network (zero operational control and blatant rental of certificate)

What probably peeved the Feds was two things: AMI not taking the allegations seriously and a pattern of the “jet owner” wearing the pants on what the airplane did on a day to day basis. I am not sure if I included the references to “oh yeah, we can do that flight for $34,567 … you know.. subject to owner approval.” That kind of lingo indicates that you really aren’t in the charter business. TAG (and Privatair and Jet Aviation, etc.) face the additional problem of being de facto “controlled” by their European owners. So in a sense, the community (like yourself) is saying “wtf??” since you knew they were “safe enough” when compared with the rest of the industry - the FAA’s counter claim is simply - “we don’t care, they are not acting like the company they have represented to be and we’re yanking their ticket.”

I disagree with your statement “what’s done its’ done and it’s not even wortwhile looking back” since it is worth looking…. THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY is now fair game. Sentient’s extended certificates and many others are under going FAA review as we speak.

–Adam (www.adamwebster.com)

]]> By: antonio http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5540 antonio Sat, 01 Dec 2007 04:59:27 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5540 I'm an ex- AMI pilot, ex airline and very proud to say so. What the FAA did was an injustice. AMI was the best (and I've been around a bit in the "fascinating world of aviation") outfit I've worked for. Safety and training where the utmost point in their mantra, the rest was secondary. I read the FAA "allegations" and to may eyes it was hogwash. The worst part is that when an answer by AMI (which I believe the author didn't read), and to my eyes, when the feds thought that their so called allegations where going to be ridiculed by the NTSB, which by the way always sides with them; they just pulled the plug. No fair trail, then got the DOJ involved to make whatever was left of TAG to caugh up $10 mill in "fines", threatening with prosecution (for what??) and basically obligated the TAG/AMI owners to sell to a new Company, (and ther is more to say about that, but I'll keep my trap shut to prevent further reprisals). NOT A SINGLE ACCIDENT/INCIDENTever for TAG/AMI. All I can say, this is not the american way. But what's done its' done and it's not even wortwhile looking back. :( I’m an ex- AMI pilot, ex airline and very proud to say so. What the FAA did was an injustice. AMI was the best (and I’ve been around a bit in the “fascinating world of aviation”) outfit I’ve worked for. Safety and training where the utmost point in their mantra, the rest was secondary. I read the FAA “allegations” and to may eyes it was hogwash. The worst part is that when an answer by AMI (which I believe the author didn’t read), and to my eyes, when the feds thought that their so called allegations where going to be ridiculed by the NTSB, which by the way always sides with them; they just pulled the plug. No fair trail, then got the DOJ involved to make whatever was left of TAG to caugh up $10 mill in “fines”, threatening with prosecution (for what??) and basically obligated the TAG/AMI owners to sell to a new Company, (and ther is more to say about that, but I’ll keep my trap shut to prevent further reprisals). NOT A SINGLE ACCIDENT/INCIDENTever for TAG/AMI. All I can say, this is not the american way. But what’s done its’ done and it’s not even wortwhile looking back. :(

]]> By: Aviation Marketing Intelligence » Blog Archive » All seeing Sentient being? http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5425 Aviation Marketing Intelligence » Blog Archive » All seeing Sentient being? Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:37:49 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5425 [...] The strangest thing about getting older is that at 36 you really shouldn’t feel or call yourself “old.” At that age, in most circles, you suffer sneers of derision from veterans that have seen it all, and now know it all. Not so in aviation - you can start at 20 and by 36 be an old man. That is why when journalists call The Air Charter Directory looking for answers as to what is going on in the industry, my voice grows hoarse and crabby at the same time, though I try to breathe hope into the line, knowing that each additional writer that pokes and diggs at the surface of the strange world of private air charter, increases the chances of its evolution. [...] […] The strangest thing about getting older is that at 36 you really shouldn’t feel or call yourself “old.” At that age, in most circles, you suffer sneers of derision from veterans that have seen it all, and now know it all. Not so in aviation - you can start at 20 and by 36 be an old man. That is why when journalists call The Air Charter Directory looking for answers as to what is going on in the industry, my voice grows hoarse and crabby at the same time, though I try to breathe hope into the line, knowing that each additional writer that pokes and diggs at the surface of the strange world of private air charter, increases the chances of its evolution. […]

]]> By: Jeff Perdue http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5351 Jeff Perdue Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:00:23 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5351 Great article, Adam! You may or may not remember my letter to the editor published in Business & Commercial Aviation Magazine a few years ago which essentially lambasted Wyvern's very existence, but your closing comments echo similar sentiments. I was also recently interviewed by B&CA regarding A-008 and my comments appeared in the September issue. Living in the glass house, one must be careful throwing stones, especially in full view of an international audience. That being said, my company is confident we are in full compliance with A-008 and, further, were in full compliance before A-008 even existed in its current form. I have always been shocked when "hangar flying" with other pilots in various FBO's around the country when I would compare our operation with theirs. I would ask simple questions, such as "How do you know your aircraft is airworthy for today's flight?" Or, for that matter, how do you know YOU are legal? You may be surprised at some of the answers I received. With regard to aircraft legality, the usual answer was "Because our 'maintenance guy' says it is." When I would attempt to explain my company's Part 121-style flightcrew and aircraft releasing procedures, I would literally be met with laughter. "You guys are experts in overkill!" Well, maybe so, but I question how any certificate holder that doesn't utilize a releasing procedure similar to ours will fare in the future. Not to mention the fact our managed aircraft owners have NO say in pilot selection, pay, benefits, training, etc. We control everything from A to Z. We control who is hired, we decide who is fired, we control their pay. Period. Again, leaving me to question how other operators who don't do it this way will be able to continue. I guess only time will tell. In the meantime, keep up the great work Adam! It's nice to have a voice representing the little guys. Jeff Perdue SP Aviation, Inc. Great article, Adam! You may or may not remember my letter to the editor published in Business & Commercial Aviation Magazine a few years ago which essentially lambasted Wyvern’s very existence, but your closing comments echo similar sentiments.

I was also recently interviewed by B&CA regarding A-008 and my comments appeared in the September issue. Living in the glass house, one must be careful throwing stones, especially in full view of an international audience. That being said, my company is confident we are in full compliance with A-008 and, further, were in full compliance before A-008 even existed in its current form. I have always been shocked when “hangar flying” with other pilots in various FBO’s around the country when I would compare our operation with theirs. I would ask simple questions, such as “How do you know your aircraft is airworthy for today’s flight?” Or, for that matter, how do you know YOU are legal? You may be surprised at some of the answers I received. With regard to aircraft legality, the usual answer was “Because our ‘maintenance guy’ says it is.” When I would attempt to explain my company’s Part 121-style flightcrew and aircraft releasing procedures, I would literally be met with laughter. “You guys are experts in overkill!” Well, maybe so, but I question how any certificate holder that doesn’t utilize a releasing procedure similar to ours will fare in the future. Not to mention the fact our managed aircraft owners have NO say in pilot selection, pay, benefits, training, etc. We control everything from A to Z. We control who is hired, we decide who is fired, we control their pay. Period. Again, leaving me to question how other operators who don’t do it this way will be able to continue. I guess only time will tell.

In the meantime, keep up the great work Adam! It’s nice to have a voice representing the little guys.

Jeff Perdue
SP Aviation, Inc.

]]> By: RSVPair: The Air Charter Directory » Blog Archive » FAA Operational Control Update http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5287 RSVPair: The Air Charter Directory » Blog Archive » FAA Operational Control Update Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:00:20 +0000 http://adamwebster.com/2007/10/19/dance-of-the-dinosaur-the-tag-aviation-ami-jet-charter-fiasco/#comment-5287 [...] Some feel this is not such a bad thing. Others feel that it is the beginning of a major dark period for on demand aviation. [...] […] Some feel this is not such a bad thing. Others feel that it is the beginning of a major dark period for on demand aviation. […]

]]>