FarangFlyer

I never have to worry about banking fraud because my bank account is always empty....

Do you think someone might scam me and deposit 400 million baht into my account?? (Calling Nigeria.....)

Simon

lol!!!! yep if someone does you will be able to join square face where ever he is!

have done the scan and nothing has come up on my report so looks like the info was creamed off going through the server(proxy)...Unless of course the scan cannot find the trojan....

DW,

Try scanning with Avast Anti Virus. I have tried most anti-virus programs, but Avast has always picked up where others have not. Its available in free 'home use', they will send you a free key to your email. You can try a regular scan, but I recommend doing a boot scan (as its done in DOS mode). Its available here:

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

As you have already been made aware, it is unwise to access bank accounts through the proxy, but I would also suggest 'clearing private data' from firefox or IE regularly. This will remove cookies (and passwords if required) from your hard drive. A reasonable program that does this automatically is called 'windows washer' although there are a number of others. Washer is available here:

http://www.webroot.com/En_US/consumer-prod...ndowwasher.html

I would recommend using foxy proxy program for setting up use of proxy servers, so that proxies are ONLY used for specified/desired web pages. This should reduce the likelyhood of fraud.

This certainly begs the question is it worth using proxies to stream internet TV, or is it a safer option to use a peer 2 peer programs like Emule/Vuze etc to download pre-saved TV shows in the form of torrents or ed2k files?

Thanks for sharing this info Dave.

FF

That firefox plug-in is just for if you're in the UK right ? I tried from LOS and it's just a scrambled screen.

With regard to Hide My IP, I thought they specifically checked that your IP was from the UK, so if it's just hidden you wouldn't be able to connect to the BBC iplayer ?

I used the Firefox plugin today in LOS. It worked perfectly, although that could be argued, since as a test, I was viewing constipation street!

The scrambled screen usually appears if:

1. You have not opened the ITV web page in your firefox browser, and selected the programme(s) that you want to view before using the TV icon shortcuts (its the programme name you select there, rather than the channel!).

2. If your default media player is not configured properly (as once you select the programme to view from the TV icon at the bottom right of screen, it should automatically open WMP and start streaming).

For the IP bit, some 'Hide IP' programs allow you to mask your IP address and show it as another from a selected country. I believe that 'Hide My IP' is one of those programs. Although I haven't had time to try it yet. Will let you know wether it works or not later.

Hope that helps.

Cheers

FF

The BBC iPlayer is now available as a cross-platform stand-alone application:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/labs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7787335.stm

Of course, you could already do all of that with an existing application, which had the added benefit of removing the DRM restriction for downloading, as well as allowing the use of proxy servers for watching from outside the UK:

http://www.lawrencedudley.co.uk/iplayer/

http://samair.ru/proxy/

... personally, I use a command line tool (old-fashion geek I suppose):

http://po-ru.com/projects/iplayer-downloader/

So amongst those links you have provided does one allow me to view BBCi player from Thailand !!

Not trying to be facetious at all but I for one am not technically minded and would be grateful for a single link if that exists ??

They seem to work fine!

Another way around this problem may be to use a program like 'Hide My IP 2009'. In theory, it should do much the same as the buying the proxy servers, but without annual fees (and probably a bit easier interface for use). Ive not had time to check it out fully yet.

With regard to BBC Iplayers etc, the ITV1,2,3,4 Channels can be viewed from the UK by installing the following plugin to FIREFOX:

http://chris.orr.me.uk/caughtup/xpi/caughtup-latest.xpi

Install it, then restart Firefox. Open ITV Player (at ITV.com), select the program you want to watch, then go to the TV icon at the bottom right hand corner of your firefox browser. Left Click and the program that you chose to view in the ITV page will be listed at the top. Click it, and your chosen program will be played on WMP or your default media player. Streaming is pretty fast!

I guess the IP hide apps would also allow functionality of BBC iPlayer, but I haven't tried it yet.

There is another thread (or 2) about the reasons for Maxnet's p1ss poor performance, but there is no excuse for it really. Reading this prompted me to check my speeds today - Indy 3Mb/512. Quite impressed with the domestic test:

Overseas is absolutely shocking :

Ive just done a number of speed tests (domestic) from Chiang Mai for my Maxinet Indy 3Mb, and speeds were varying considerably over a 5 minute period. varied from 1.2MB/s Download to an incredible 4.9MB/s!

The main problem that I have been having is with P2P networks. Particularly in connecting to servers with High IDs over the past 6 days. Before that, I was downloading at 1.6-1.8MB/s, but now it is down to 0.4-0.6MB/s!

DW

With regard to BBC Iplayers etc, the ITV1,2,3,4 Channels can be viewed from the UK by installing the following plugin to FIREFOX:

http://chris.orr.me.uk/caughtup/xpi/caughtup-latest.xpi

Install it, then restart Firefox. Open ITV Player (at ITV.com), select the program you want to watch, then go to the TV icon at the bottom right hand corner of your firefox browser. Left Click and the program that you chose to view in the ITV page will be listed at the top. Click it, and your chosen program will be played on WMP or your default media player. Streaming is pretty fast!

Another way around this problem may be to use a program called 'Hide My IP 2009'. In theory, it should do much the same as the buying the proxy servers, but without annual fees (and probably a bit easier interface for use). Ive not had time to check it out fully yet.

Just got set up with a proxy server( who ever posted the link thanks!) Hipe your ip address..£22 pounds for the year.Works well and can have a Uk IP address..So can watch the BBC Ip player and do the pools again! Some sort of normality has returned!lol.The net a little quicker tonight but don't hold out much hope for tomoz.

DW,

What sort of 'typical' download speeds are you obtaining with the UK IP via Proxy?

Also do you have the link to where this can be appropriated from?

Cheers

FF

About noon today, I saw what looked like a Diamond DA-42 Twin taking off from CNX. There aren't too many of these flying and am wondering if anyone else saw it or could clarify what it really was. There were a lot of aircraft flying today, but DA-42 with its T-tail is pretty distinctive.

Hi; Sorry for very late response. I was just checking my logbook and I was flying a Twin Star out of Chiang Mai on 20th Jan (at 1210).

It was the Platinum version, privately owned.

It was actually flying in and out of Chiang Mai throughout most of January and February this year.

Cheers

FF

Stil the question, how far, you think, can they go?

Probably as far as the Thai public will allow......

With a Prime Minister in power here who was educated in the UK during the Thatcher years, I am sure there is much more to come; sadly.

Lessons have certainly been learned from that era....'say one thing, do another' seems to be the flavour of the day at the moment in Thailand.

For example, we were told that hotels prices would be reduced throughout Thailand, yet during the past 2 weeks in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, I have not seen any significant reductions in hotel prices that would entice tourists into Thailand.

We were told that air fares with Thai Airways would be reduced significantly to improve the abysmal financial situation at the airline and encourage travel to Thailand. Last week a BA return trip from UK to Bangkok would have cost approx 50,000 Baht. The same trip with Thai Airways cost approx 89,000 Baht! And I know who I would rather fly with!

A number of other examples exist, but we can see that we are clearly being misled.

Being told that the country is doing its utmost to restore tourism to Thailand in one breath, and in the next being told that taxes are to be increased on tobacco, alcohol and gasoline. Three items that almost certainly will affect tourists.

Wouldn't a better system be to increase taxation significantly on incomes in excess of 150,000 Baht per month? This would certainly have no impact on tourism and it would be fair to 90% of Thai people. But the current political system here is following Thatchers ideas whereby the rich get richer and the poor get poorer!

Still for locals and expats located close to the Myanmar, Laos or Cambodian borders, it is becoming significantly more cost effective to shop accross the border, and it would indeed appear that the government is encouraging this practice by increasing taxation.

At the end of the day, one has to remember who is ultimately responsible for the dwindling numbers of tourists here in the first place!

an interesting question would be :"how much money IAC will lose in 2009???", and "how many children will finish in the streets due to this bunch of idiots of IAC manager?(give money for real education than paying Qatar students who eat and flies for cheap(120$ an hour when normal price is around 300$!!!)".

IAC is in my point of view, a bunch of criminals who should be jailed.

Buying an A320 simulator had no sense for a non existing course(MCC)...?what is the next surprise?

how long tax payers are going to continue to spend money in this little (french) game?

I heard that the (French) game is now over!

The powers that be are finally onto the Megalomaniac, and his end is near.

The numerous references that AF made to 'sacked flight instructors' has come back to haunt him after their sucessful legal persual for unfair dismissal within Thai courts.

I heard that AF may be finding himself in court in the very near future to justify a variety of questionalble decisions made by him during the course of his role within IAC.

I just hope that it is not to late for IAC to undo the damage done by this man, and wish IAC every sucess for the future.

One more point....

Local Carriers have inspected our set up and are generally very pleased, but it takes time to decide and also the current situation is not favourable. Each team has to report to its management, function of the expansion plan to decide about the recruitment and training. They have also current contracts to respect before switching to an other training institution: so it takes time....

And also, some opponents / competitors are actively lobbying against us in the Airlines boards; Farangflyer are you one of them? No, because they are not polemical, they use softer methods.

After reading your posts, taking into account some details, you can only be one of the sacked Farang Instructors....

QUOTE from link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Nakhon-Phano...ati-t98987.html

'Information about IAC (International Aviation College Nakhon Phanom University)

IAC is in the Budget 2007 and we expect to start the pilot training by the Ground phase around May for the first batch. Selection of students should take place in March/ April.

All the teaching will be done in English, IAC is going to be at the highest Pilot Training Standards (JAR-European Standards)

For the New Academic year (june 2007), a preparatory school system is under preparation: 2 years of studies after High School, with around 1/3 of time spent studying english (Basic and technical). This program will give the possibility to join the IAC for Pilot training or Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Training or some Bachelor degrees in Aviation or Aviation related science. This system will be run by NPU.

In parallel a "school hotel" is launched that IAC is going to use (partly) for its International cadets. In a next phase we will launch a training dedicated for preparation of Cabin Crew (Air hostesses).

To all Issan people, we are working on this project from more than one year and half, it is now entering in his realisation phase. The aim is to revitalisize the ISSAN region by offering some career prospects and a support for modern industries. The Commission on Higher Education, some politicians like General Chavalit are pushing this ambitious project which is not leaded by any personal interest but only by the good will of doing a positive action for ISSAN and its people.

If you are directly interested, we will be ready to collect candidacies and give more information by the end of January. We are very busy all January, so do not contact us before end of this January month.

The information will be forwarded by Newspapers in due time.

Happy New year to all of you

Asian Frog

This post has been edited by Asian Frog: 2006-12-30 09:17:40'

The above was posted over 2 years ago!

Has the Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Training commenced yet?

Has the Bachelor degrees in Aviation or Aviation related science training commenced yet?

Has the training dedicated for preparation of Cabin Crew (Air hostesses) commenced yet?

Has the Isaan region been revitalised yet by IAC?

Get real 'yourshoutmate'......how much time do they need?

Nobody is really interested by IAC except Qatar airline.

What some people don't know: Qatar rents the planes from IAC for a ridiculous price.

For each hour flown, the thai government is making a gift to Qatar.

From my source, the plane costs 150$/hour with a flight instructor at IAC. Other schools charge 200-300$/hour.

IAC has over 50 employees which cost over 100'000$/months.

At this rate, IAC can not and won't never make any money.

The sad thing is that Qatar students are not really learning to fly here, they do time building only(they need 150 hours before to come back to Qatar). It means the sit in the plane, and the flight instructor flies the planes.

Students are(during cruise) authorized to follow the movement of the flight controls.This give them a sens of flying, but IAC doesn't train airline pilots nor privat pilot.

They don't give ground school or flight briefings.

It has been known, as thai instructors don't know to read/ write/ speak english, they ask simply their "students" to grade themselves in their progress book.

I want to ad that Qatar students are not sent by Qatar airlines, but by the Qatar Academy.Qatar Academy has too many students so they send some of their guys to thailand to make time building.

If the school is still there, it's simply because the Thai governement is too ashamed to recognise their fiasco , and have decided to pursue in their mistake by continuing to throw money from the windows.

Their plan is to receive an airbus 320 simulator, then a Boeing 737 , and a MD80 as well for the cost of 45 millions US$.

This is really bad planed considering the actual crisis, but as long the governement want make fun of their Thai citizen, and instead give the money to a crazy french manager to persist in his dream, eh?why not?as long there is money, there is hope!

Thai people don't need to be educated anyway...they prefer to have nice little planes flying over their head so some frenchies can play behind their office as "aviation manager".

Interesting few posts THAISTUDENT2000

I myself would not be surprised if the end is near at Nakhon Phanom. However I doubt that the end will occur while the Qatari students remain there.

As regards the costing per hour, you quote $150 per hour with Instructor. The actual figure is much lower than that. The information that I had at the time was that Thai senior management set the target of 150 Euro per hour, however, the Megalo-managers negotiating skills were sadly lacking on the day, and the figure agreed was almost 40% lower than this (allegedly!)!

You state 'If the school is still there, it's simply because the Thai governement is too ashamed to recognise their fiasco , and have decided to pursue in their mistake by continuing to throw money from the windows.'

I doubt that this is the case at the moment. The new government in Thailand would appear to be taking great interest in costly projects created in the Taksin era. The Thai VIP card (1m Baht) which was recently scrapped by the government is an example of this. I expect the new goverment is going through the 'books' for these government funded projects with a fine toothcomb, as we type!

As regards the A320 simulator on-site. The IAC website claim that the A320 is used for 'Multi Crew Co-operation Training (MCC)' However, MCC is a uniquely European (JAA) course. Therefore this course can only be given by a flight training organisation approved by a JAA member state (which IAC is not), and the certificate can only be ussued on a JAA existing licence holder. Also, after examination of the Thai DCA regulations for licencing, it would appear that they do not recognise an MCC course! And since none of the current trainees at IAC neither hold or are in training for a JAA licence, seems like the A320 simulator was a huge waste of money! How much did it cost again Asian Frog???? Oh, and neither has it been approved for type rating training, so it can not be used for training new airbus pilots for airlines! I note that it is being run by 'experienced ex-airline training captain' Whom may this be?

Additionally I am told that the Extra 300 has been grounded since arriving in Nakhon Phanom almost 6 months ago! Again, another piece of expensive equipment that is not being utilised. The Extra 300 was made famous by aerobatic competition events, and the red bull air race! It is a huge overstep being used within an ab-initio training environment. And yet again, I find within the Thai DCA regualtions that aerobatic training is not a requirement for airline pilot training, nor for a Thai Commercial Pilots Licence to be issued! Seems to me to be yet another waste of money!

Anyway, I think I have given my fair share of information, and now I am looking for some information in return......! A local lawyer in Nakhon Phanom informed me today that there are 8 outstanding legal cases against IAC! I know 2 of the claimants, but that leaves 6! Aparently its a mix of Thai and Farang claimants! The suspense is killing me.....I am sure I must know some of those involved.....can anyone shed some light.......??????

All seems to be quiet there recently.

Is that due to the court summons that they have just been issued with?

Or perhaps due to rumours that no money to pay November salary to staff due to current political crisis in Thailand?

I have been told that only 3 aircraft are flying at the moment, the rest have all been grounded. Anyone know why?

Also that a new aircraft (Extra) has just been bought! Wonder where the money came from to buy that. But more importantly is it going to be used? Or will it join the other 10 aircraft at the Nakhon Phanom Static aircraft display!???

The controversy is set by a bunch of young guys more interested by Udon Thani Night Clubs and Karaoke than by training their students and they are very good flyers on the white board, but it is another thing in real conditions in the rainy season!

has Mr Principal something to hide in Udon Thani?.

we have eared that all "sacked" flight instructors have found jobs in very good flight schools with much better standards than IAC.

I didnt see any reference to Udon Thani in IAC's new advert appearing on You Tube......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZWtqe3mA6M

Maybe it would have made the clip too lively!

(Is this your work Jonny BS? or perhaps another?....Anyway, rather amusing!)

Farang Flyer, recently I have met two of your previous employers; you are classified as a notorious troublemaker: unfortunately we do not have get this information before hiring you.

I must admit to the fact you are an artist in twisting events.

Sorry for the delay in full response to this post of yours old chap!

However, today I had emails from two of my ex-employers, who told me that they had recently spoken to a raving idiot intent on bad mouthing me! I will not post here the other comments that were made by them!!! I will leave it to your vivid imagination!

You should really be more careful who you talk to and what you say mi ami!

It would be interesting to see how many postings this topic would receive if it was t/fd to the general forum which must have a bigger audience. Not a lot of members are interested in Isaan events except for those who are live there.

Well NAMKONG789, looks like you have just volunteered to add a link to this discussion on the main forum! Cheers!

Screamingdemond, perhaps you should change your username to 'Nixon'! I wonder who should be nominated as Edgar Hoover! lol

It really seems a case of 'Big Brother is watching' over there! But is there a Watergate scandal on the horizon too???

Shouldn't someone suggest that less time spying on peoples personal lives, and more time spend on actual management should produce better results?

toptuan you are probably right there in most situations! However, if two managers were to agree with certain conditions and standards in the presence of a customer, one would expect them to honour this agreement, not simply pay lip service to it. Personally speaking, I am a man of my word.

JohnnyBS, interesting posts. If I am down in your neck of the woods, I will be sure to PM you.

NEWS UPDATE: I heard from some contacts in Qatar today that they are sending one of their senior managers to visit IAC to investigate various allegations. There were mutterings about safety concerns, lack of English language skills from certain flight instructors, and even bribery (something to do with mobile phones and mopeds believe it or not!) Are any of the current IAC pilots able to shed any light on this, or is this just malicious rumour?

Also heard that captains were been pulled up my the flt engineer recently and told not to discuss ANYTHING from IAC with outsiders! Is this true? If so, what is he trying to hide?

Farangflyer,

Opinion(s) is one thing, accusation is another....

Forum(s) have rules up to a certain point, over ....LAW prevails.

Game is over, G.....: you overpass the limit.

To quote you 'Reaction....(Continued) .'

There is no game, we are adults here discussing our own perspective on this issue.

I did not post to play any 'game'.

I posted my personal views, as you have done, and indeed as others have done.

I am happy to continue posting in this topic in any informative ways that I can.

What I WILL NOT DO is turn a respectable forum topic into a personal vendetta. So please do whatever you feel that you have to do. We don't need to hear about it here.

In my opinion, if you put half as much effort as you do slandering me, into managing IAC, they would not be in the situation they are in now with so few students.

I feel no need to turn this (what has been so far, an interesting discussion) into a you vs me contest. I am over that!

Therefore I will not respond to any further personal threats or attacks that you make about me on this topic. Feel free to continue to do so as you wish. It is your right, but I will not engage in that sort of teenage mud slinging!

Sorry to disappoint!

Farangflyer,

Thank you for fueling your file, suing you in (criminal) court for defamation will be easier.

Do not think anonymity will protect you, your nonfunded accusations are going too far....

Sorry to disappoint. But this is a forum, and you may wish to check the rules when you register! ('Your use and browsing of this Site is at your own risk. If you are dissatisfied with any of the information contained in the Site, or with any of these Forum Rules, your sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue accessing and using the Site.')

You really have lost the plot! Is your previous comment about me stating 'you are classified as a notorious troublemaker' any less than defamation? Yet I am gentleman enough to defend your accusations, without making empty threats!

I am in the fortunate position to have a number of witnesses to back up the facts that I have stated on this forum. And in some cases, I have used the words 'I have been told'. It would appear to be a pretty desperate measure on your part to post such absurd remarks!

We are all entitled to express our opinions here, and your threats not only show you in the true light to all those reading this topic, but also strongly reinforce the points made by a number of parties.

As members of the Thai visa forum, surely we have the right to express ourselves and/or our opinions to the readers of this forum. Asian Frog, I may not agree with a number of your statements, but that doesn't mean I wish to sue you for making statements that I do not agree with! I respect your right to express yourself freely, and I would appreciate if you would respect the right of others.

In short....GROW UP, and be a man for once!

I have been following this thread with a lot of interest. In a few years I will retire with my Thai wife to Thailand. Currently I am a Senior Instructor for Boeing. Hence very familiar with aviation training.

I have been in Thailand conducting classes for both Orient Thai and Bangkok Airways. In Malaysia training for Transmile, and various Singapore organizations. I spent January this year in TinJin, China at the Aviation University teaching 4 rounds of classes.

In sort, in the past 12 years, I have been at a lot of airlines and MRO's on 6 continents as well as numerous classes in the USA.

It is always difficult for a new organization to establish a reputation and a student base. Just look at the the mess that Boeing caused with the branding of "Alteon" of the official training organization for Boeing.

People will make judgments based upon trying to bring similarities from other types of business. This is not the case in Aviation training. It takes some time and successes to establish a reputation. Looking at the "sour grapes" I see posted by some of the terminated instructors, one should remember that many pilots are made of egos and insecurity's. I personally have had many cases of pilot checks that failed to meet standards, go to my management, complaining, I was unfair, too demanding, unrealistic in the scenario's...etc. Fortunately we do record flight tracks in the simulators, and a simple print out resolves the problem. I have never been over-ruled, but have sure created some internet chatter about "avoid that instructor".

In my world there is simply no substitute for excellence.

I wish the school all the best, and once I move to Thailand I hope it is up and running, and I will certainly pay it a visit.

Ciao

Bob

MBA

FAA ATP MEL, SELS Rotocraft-Helicoper

FAA A&P

FCC GROL

Hi old wanderer, I agree with you post completely. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE, nor for high standard, professionalism and quality within the flight training environment.

However, I can vouch for the fact, as can other contributors to this forum, that these points are only given lip service by IAC management, who have no understanding whatsoever of what they mean.

VFR training flights are being conducted outside VFR weather minimums, flight are being conducted around Thunderstorm activity, which is prohibited in the aircraft flight manuals, etc etc. As regards standardisation, when Instructors failed standardisation checks, the person conducting these check was told that his standard was too high, and that all the new instructors needed was a maximum of 5 hours with one of the Thai Instructors before being put on the line (I was told that these Instructors did not even know the maximum fuel capacity of the aircraft, let alone comprehend the complexities of common rail injection diesel engines). It was not only rediculous, but dangerous. International Flight Training Organisations like British Aerospace, Flight Safety Intl, Oxford Aviation Training etc all insist on a bear minimum standardisation package of 15 hours for new instructors. Why are similar methods not being employed at IAC? Perhaps time constraints, perhaps financial constraints? I cannot comment. But whatever the reason it is down to poor management.

If you don't believe me, you WILL once you go there, even just for a day or two for a look around, all will become clearly evident.

Dont get me wrong, should the management change, IAC still has the potential to be a great school.

Good luck with your future retirement in Thailand.

Farang Flyer, recently I have met two of your previous employers; you are classified as a notorious troublemaker: unfortunately we do not have get this information before hiring you.

I must admit to the fact you are an artist in twisting events.

If you classify a 'troublemaker' as someone who:

1) Stands up for what is right for the company, its students and employees

2) Maintains a high standard in contrary to directives from above

3) Is professional enough to maintain the correct stance on important issues and continue to offer advice and support in the face of a raving dillusional lunatic

4) Operates in accordance with the legal requirements (and refuses to break the law when ordered to do so by ignorant management)

Then I would have to agree that I am a 'trouble maker' Unfortunately, you are someone who believes a troublemaker is someone who does not agree with your 1940s antiquated methods, and openly states so. I call this doing my job.

I notice that a number of other current and ex-employees have made posts on this forum topic. None of them would appear to have any positive things to say about you.

Perhaps you confuse me with your little French/Syrian 'friend', who was the ONLY troublemaker at IAC. So much so that all of the Thai staff refused to deal with his arrogant and rude manner. None of his multi-national co-worker Instructors would even talk to him. And in the end, I was told he has been grounded, as all students have refused to fly with him, and he is now in the 'IAC internet cafe waiting room' waiting out his 3 months paid notice period before he walks away! Sounds like more bad decisions being made, all adding to your mounting wastage of Thai Government money and resources.

I could also go into much depth about you as regards troublemaking at your previous posts both in Malaysia and farther afield, but I feel that it would be unprofessional for me to do so (perhaps JonnyBS will elaborate on this).

I would much prefer to stick to the issue at hand, and the facts here; a number of people on this website are concerned about high spending and the current management (or lack of) at IAC. Issues of corruption, and matters of personal gain combined with POOR management cannot be good for IAC, nor Thailand. WE ARE ALL HOPING FOR THE SUCCESS OF IAC, make NO mistake.

In addition, I have recently been told by a number of sources, that for various reasons, you have failed to keep your current customers happy (through breach of contract), and they are about to cancel their training agreement with IAC. This of course is speculation on my part, but lets wait and see if any more cadets arrive there from the Middle East ( I would REALLY hate to see IAC lose their only airline customer at this stage, I hope that management there can do all things possible to prevent this)...........

You are very welcome Old Wanderer.

The controversy is set by a bunch of young guys more interested by Udon Thani Night Clubs and Karaoke than by training their students and they are very good flyers on the white board, but it is another thing in real conditions in the rainy season!

We have been oblige to clean our stable.

We have now top guys joining and everything is coming back to normal.

I understand the frustration of those guys: no more week end in Udon Thani!!!

I always remember a saying 'People is glass houses should not throw bricks!'

One could quite easily argue that you Asian Frog, are more interested in running your restaurant than in running the flight operation. The fact is that in the last agreement you made to train students, you also gained a personal income for your restaurant by making a deal to provide food for these students at your premises. With recent political events in Thailand, I should have though the message being sent out is a clear one 'CORRUPTION, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN THIS COUNTRY!' You have clearly used the influence afforded by your position as Head Teacher for personal gain.

You also state that 'everything is coming back to normal'. What exactly is the normal there, I wonder? As I do recall a French colleague of yours making the party EVERY night in Nakhon Phanom, then arriving to work with alcohol breath! Despite remarks and advice from your middle management, you REFUSED to sack him, because 'eee iz A young frensh guy, I talk to 'im'. In the end he actually resigned as he was not doing any flying.

As regards udon thani clubs, perhaps you should give due consideration to your employees. What ever they wish to do in their free time is entirely their choice. Thats why its called 'free time'!

In your free time, you work in your restaurant until close on a daily basis. I should imagine that working 2 full time jobs does not allow you the required rest in order to perform these jobs to the best of your ability. I also recall the IAC manuals prohibiting additional employment (as does the Thai work permit!)

Perhaps your staff may just be professional enough to appreciate the fact that it if they want to have an evening out, better to do it away from the watchful eyes of students, other staff, and the general population of the small town in which they work.

These remarks are not being made to the detriment of IAC, to which I wish every success; but instead to a so called 'executive' who would appear to be entirely incapable of running this operation successfully!

I do not know where Bangkok Post has found its figures but they are fully wrong and do not correspond to real investments far from those figures. Please telll to Bangkok Post to check its source....

Bangkok Post

Quote ' Sky Hight Costs'

Quote ' Source: Nakhon Phanom University'

I was only working with the figures provided by the Nakhon Phanom University. If they are wrong, I suggest that you may want to contact the Bangkok Post to request a retraction or a reprint.

Asian Frog, you appear very paranoid with regard to 'sacked farang instructors'. You have mensioned this term in a number of posts already. In my experience, people who are over paraniod about certain issues, usually have their reason. Any comments that I have made are personal observations given the information at hand in both this forum and the PPRUNE forum. For your information, I am a farang living and working in Thailand, and therefore a Thai tax payer. All of us living in Thailand realise how much assistance from the government that many poor thai communities could do with. I feel that the money that has been seemingly 'wasted' could have bought much assistance for those in need.

Finally, you quote 'Before making some rough assessments on the profitability and development of IAC, should you not wait at least one year of operation before?'

If you look at some of your earlier posts regarding IAC, they date back to 2006. So it would appear to me that IAC has been around much longer than June 2008....

Additionally I gave figures to reinforce my idea and position. I see that you continue to make statements without backing them up with hard evidence and fact.

And Pilot Training is a profitable industry (UK= more than 20 schools, USA, and close to us, Malaysia 7 schools and 1000 students, Australia)

Instead to be negative the question is:

how Thailand, ideally located between two huge markets (Namely India and China) can benefit of its location?

This a a non neglectible source of foreign currencies.....

'PROFITABLE INDUSTRY' ? Lets entertain that idea for a moment.....

Definition of profitable:

'Pure economic profit is the increase in wealth that an investor has from making an investment, taking into consideration all costs associated with that investment including the opportunity cost of capital. Accounting profit is the difference between price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise (whether by harvest, extraction, manufacture, or purchase) in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.'

So, in accordance with the expenses report as shown in the Bangkok Post, IAC has invested 1,205,100,000 Baht in their business. That figure does not include salary costs, fuel costs, aircraft maintenance costs, airport fees etc etc.

Therefore, at 2.3 million Baht per person, per course, it would require approximately 524 students to take up the course just to recover the initial investment. To put that in another way, based on your plan of 60 students per year, it will take approximately 9 years to recover the initial investment!

As I said this calculation does not take into account a number of IACs operating costs like salaries, aircraft maintenance, student accommodation and food etc (and depreciation of assets, which at the moment are very high given the bankruptcy of Theilert, the aircraft engine manufacturer). So a more realistic forecast would be approximately 12-15 years to recover this investment! And then profit? hmmmm......Since the average life expectancy in terms of operational efficiency for a training aircraft is on average 20 years, I DON'T THINK SO!

That does not sound like a profitable (industry) proposition to me, and I certainly would not invest in IAC from a business perspective!

I am amazed that these figures were not taken into account at the planning stages. Perhaps then tax payers money could have been put to better use.

You also mention that IAC is ideally located between two large markets: India and China, yet you do not claim to have any students from either of these countries. I agree that China is a large market, however most of their training is done within China, and the remainder is sub-contracted to various flight training organisations in Australia (a fact that the Bangkok Post article supports). As regards India, the aviation market there is entering recession; Non-Indian National Pilots are being made redundant, and Indian Nationals are having their working rosters reduced, as aircraft are being grounded, and routes cancelled due to soaring fuel costs in India. Previous to the recession, most Indian carriers already had active training agreements mainly with USA based flight training organisations (and some Australia based).

Sorry to steal your thunder old chap, but making statements without basing them on hard fact and evidence has to be hitting the Thai tax payer hard.

I notice in the article in the Bangkok Post, it states that 'Students practise on Airbus A320 simulators, which are not available anywhere else in Thailand' and allocates 98 Million Baht of the budget having been used for the purchase of this simulator.

I have just spoken to some friends at IAC, and they have told me that there is no A320 simulator in Nakhon Phanom!

Additionally, the spending report allocates 15 million Baht for hangars. Again, no hangars have been built at Nakhon Phanom Airport!

It would appear that a certain amount of misuse of funds may have taken place here.

I wonder how long before any investigation reveals the truth of what has happened to the Thai tax payers money?

Reaction....(Continued) .

I hardly think the editor of the Bangkok Post can be categorised as ' reaction ' , unless of course he was sacked by IAC!

Simply stating facts, and providing various sources of reference links should allow everyone to form their own opinions.....

Yes, we have sacked some farang flight instructors for various reasons. I understand the previous post as part of their reaction ...

No more comments

Fortunately, in Thailand when you 'sack' a government officer, certain detailed processes must be followed. I have heard that these processes were not followed, and as a result some of these ex-employees are commencing a group (civil) legal action against IAC for unfair dismissal. I also head a criminal case is being filed against the Principal of IAC for fraud, as although monies had been deducted from employees for Thai Social Security contributions, most of these monies were not paid to the Thai authorities. I wonder if IAC will have to 'borrow' more money from the nursing college in Nakhon Phanom to cover any costs of this legal action. Apparently, salaries were paid late yet again this month. Must be embarrasing for some people there having had 4 Multi-Engine aircraft on the ground, not earning revenue for the past 6 months (except for 1 course of 20 hours flying a few months ago). Just as well they have a token farang manager there; should help the other (Thai) management to save face when the sh1t hits the fan!

As regards Thaistudent2000's comments, looks like the editor at the Bangkok Post agrees with the comments he made about 'bad management' :bkk post

Also more information on IAC here :pprune

To top it, the current course of Middle Eastern students look set to walk, as many students have been 'shook up' to say the least after being sent solo by their instructors in Thai monsoon weather conditions that were clearly unsuitable for student pilots. More recently I heard that this resulted in infringement of Laos airspace, as the students had entered cloud and became disorientated.

Lets hope they walk before something much more serious occurs......