Peninsulair locked out at CYHM by Tradeport!

[bluestar277]

Let's get it straight, Tradeport, and City of Hamilton in general, has no interest in supporting small or medium sized business.
Tradeport's only interest is to generate revenue for it's shareholders, and although this would initially appear to be the basis of all private corporate enterprises, the real world for small/medium sized business is quite different. Businesses such as this are intimately tied to both the community they serve and other business enterprises around them.
As any business owner know, cash flow is the life-blood of small/medium sized business.
Thus, as a multi-national corporation with deep pockets, Tradeport can afford to sit back and collect $0 ground rent instead of collecting $1200, or whatever the numbers are.
Unless of course, Tradeport has a high-value tenant waiting in the wings, (or parked on the apron as may well be the case here).
Rather than use the airport business zone as an incubator for small business, (the so-called "Aerotropolis" plan), the City of Hamilton has essentially relinquished all responsibility, and allowed Tradeport carte-blanche to generate profit.
Given that the reponse from City Councillers exhibits a complete lack of business acumen, and a peculiar lack of understanding of things aviation, expect them to do what they always do; bury their heads in the sand until the storm blows over and then they can get back to the real business of the City, that is of course, worrying about how many leaf bags you can put out on each particular garbage day....
In essence the city of Hamilton has been in a 'non-recoverable-spin' for some time, and it's only a matter of time before the City catches that final glimpse of green grass.....

Anyway my question is simple; when and how can i get my Log Book and Traing Records?

Tradeport blames Peninsulair saying that they have possesion of them, but I fail to see how this is true if they cannot access them.
Will somebody from Peninsulair please provide some clarification on this issue as I don't like the feeling of being a hostage between the two parties!

Good Luck.......

[xsbank]

Read the previous posts.............................

[StillFlyin]

Tradeport and the city have a habit of ignoring most anything sent to them. Scremin doesn't hold any authority in my opinion it's Richard Koroscil, President and CEO you want to get to. rkoroscil@flyhi.ca
Interesting how a company demands removal of items in an impossibly short timeframe yet when staff show up to do just that they are not allowed in the hangar because "there are too many people in there already". Peninsulair is still operating albeit on a substantially reduced basis and hope reason will soon prevail and they will be back in their hangar. Tradeport kicked Peninsulair out for no valid reason and some would say used extortion tactics to do so. Yes the 20 year lease was up however when that lease was signed a 20 year renewal was promised by the city and last week I understand that the person who drew up the leases stated they were for 40 years minimum but Tradeport used an out that the city had put in the current lease and many leases before to move Peninsulair out. The legality of what they have and are doing is in question and is being looked at. Hopefully all will turn out in Peninsulairs favour soon.

[Instructor Bob]

Regarding logbooks and PTRs, I have most of them at my place. They can be picked up by appointment by either calling me at 905 679 6992 or email at rwmav8@porchlight.ca . Ground school is continuing despite a lack of facilities. Last Tuesday I took it upon myself to not allow any further delays, and converted my recroom into a classroom for 19 faithful students. It was very heartwarming to see the dedication in 100% of the class to continue on against the wishes of Tradeport. It just reinforced my cause to carry on as well. So thankyou one and all for attending and I hope this mess gets resolved quickly. In the meantime, several other options are opening up for facilities and I will contact you all personally by phone in the next few days. Let's stay optimistic and continue your studies.
Hey Haza! Thanks for the name, Instructor Bob

[yem]

A previous post mentioned getting the logbooks "certified".
Is it a requirement for anything ?

[PVR]

I sure hope every company at every airport helps support Peninsulair (and I hope it is not too late). This fiasco starts a precedence. It could be you next time everyone! Aren't most aviation companies on leased land?

[WingsUpWheelsDown]

Instructor Bob! Now that's an alias..good choice Haza...lol

I have my fingers crossed that the Courts will look towards PenAir with compassion today and we'll all be flying at YHM much sooner than later! Bob, you have to be commended on your leadership and dedication on continuing the ground school classes. PenAir is more than a flight school, it's one of the founding fathers of YHM and truly deserves to be there as long as they want to. Without all of the blood, sweat and tears of the small operators over the past decades, Tradeport would have nothing to manage today. Yes, all small operators should be paying close attention to this issue, because it could very well be them next.

GOOD LUCK PENINSULAIR!!

[hazatude]

Article from today's Hamilton Spectator:

http://www.thespec.com/News/Business/article/465692



Locked out ... and looking for help
TheSpec.com - Business - Locked out ... and looking for help
Flying school boss 'in shock' as he fights to get airplanes back

Steve Arnold
The Hamilton Spectator

(Nov 13, 2008)
The owner of Hamilton's only flying school is struggling today to make sense of his future after the business he grew up with was shut down earlier this month.

Rick White, who with his brother Marty operated Peninsulair, faces a bleak future after he was locked out of his hangar at Hamilton airport in the final chapter of a 10-month lease dispute with the airport's operating company.

"I'm trying to get a lawyer now to fight this, but frankly cash has been a real problem over the last six months," he said.

"Right now, I think I'm still in shock.

"I never expected they would just come in and lock us out."

Peninsulair was started by White's father, Glenn, in 1946 when Hamilton airport was still located in the east end. When that field was closed to make way for post-war housing, Glenn White moved his school to the former RCAF station at Mount Hope, where he also served as part-time airport manager.

The company operated from a hangar it bought from the federal government in 1975 when the building was declared surplus -- the ground that hangar sits on, however, is owned by the city.

Operation of the airport was contracted to a private company in 1996.

Peninsulair had been operating under a long-term lease it signed with the city in 1988.

That agreement expired March 31 and when Peninsulair asked for a 20-year renewal, airport operator TradePort International Corp. refused on the grounds it needs the space for expansion.

It offered a renewal of only five years, with the right to end the deal on six months' notice.

White has accused TradePort of driving out small businesses with rocket-powered rent increases that took Peninsulair's lease cost from $443 a month in 1988 to more than $4,400 a month this year.

A TradePort spokesperson has said Peninsulair has the option to move its hangar to another property, sell the business or sell the hangar to TradePort at a "fair market value" that reflects TradePort's assessment the building needs $100,000 in improvements.

Moving his operation to another site "is possible," White said, "but very expensive and time-consuming."

"The last six months have taken a real toll on my health and my family," White said.

"All we want now is to get our airplanes out of that hangar and to find a new location."

sarnold@thespec.com

905-526-3496

[StillFlyin]

All we want now is to get our airplanes out of that hangar and to find a new location. Heard that was a misquote..just want to get back in the hangar and get back to work.
Good article but there's a lot more to the story. The 20 year renewal was guarenteed by the city as was another 10. The city have stated they would renew for 20 years no question. Scremin himself originally suggested 10. The problem is that Tradeport won't renew. They wanted a new lease that gave them the hangar if they kicked Peninsulair out. They claimed they couldn't go longer than 5 years because they needed the space for terminal expansion. BS. Then in July they needed a business plan just to renew the lease, a business plan had never been needed or discussed prior to July 10. Tradeport were given a number of counter offers that they ignored. One was a 20 year renewal with a new clause allowing them to cancel on 18 months notice, but only for terminal expantion and only if the Hangars between Peninsulair and the terminal were going as well. Never got a reply to that one. They never offered Peninsulair any lease at all to consider. They claim that Peninsulair never brought any prospective buyers to the table. That's untrue, there were 4 in total 2 of whom Peninsulair brought in. Tradeport says they weren't real because they didn't bring a business plan. They were there for initial meetings not to finalize the deal. Tradeport tells the Spec Peninsulair can sell the business, move the hangar or sell it to Tradeport, but don't say they can stay. Sounds fair???? Yet in letters to Peninsulair it's move your stuff now...or we will...and tear down the hangar. It's a confusing mess and Tradeport has made it that way from day one. The City/Region with whom the original lease was signed won't do a thing to help. All Peninsulair wants is a fair lease and to keep operating.

[Masters Off]

I was just wondering, after reading all the facts and speculations;

I have some money sitting in my account at Peninsulair, will I ever see it again, and if so, how would I get my money out of the company?

[flyingdan]

A previous post mentioned getting the logbooks "certified".
Is it a requirement for anything ?

As far as I understood it, if you want/need to continue at another school the logbook has to have the hours certified.

I think if already have your license you might need someone to sign off on the type (my log book has this near the front).

I could be way off though.

[PA31 Driver]

Any new updates ?

[bluestar277]

Extract from email from Tradeport;

"As an update to my recent phone or email discussion with you in which I notified you that Frank Scremin has asked Peninsulair to make arrangements to remove all the training records and documents from the building and establish a process for you to recover your records, unfortunately, Peninsulair has not yet contacted Frank Scremin in this regard.

However, be assured that Frank is [/i]working diligently on your behalf to press for a response to get a process established for document retrieval in a timely manner and I am confident that you will get your records.

In addition to Frank’s persistence, you may wish to email Peninsulair Limited directly requesting your files etc to: penair@peninsulair.com or you can put your request in writing and mail to: Peninsulair Limited, Hamilton International Airport, PO Box 100, Mount Hope, ON L0R 1W0 as this may help in expediting a retrieval process.

Frank and I are aware that the wait is frustrating, please try to be patient and cooperative by working with us and not against us as we try to solve this issue."

So then; WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM PENINSULAIR??
Two and a half weeks and waiting.....

[hazatude]

Regarding logbooks and PTRs, I have most of them at my place. They can be picked up by appointment by either calling me at 905 679 6992 or email at rwmav8@porchlight.ca . Ground school is continuing despite a lack of facilities. Last Tuesday I took it upon myself to not allow any further delays, and converted my recroom into a classroom for 19 faithful students. It was very heartwarming to see the dedication in 100% of the class to continue on against the wishes of Tradeport. It just reinforced my cause to carry on as well. So thankyou one and all for attending and I hope this mess gets resolved quickly. In the meantime, several other options are opening up for facilities and I will contact you all personally by phone in the next few days. Let's stay optimistic and continue your studies.
Hey Haza! Thanks for the name, Instructor Bob

I hope this helps you, Bluestar.

[Carrier]

There are lots of complaints on this forum but what effect do you think they will have? This forum is very interesting to those in aviation but the general public and the business and political communities probably do not know of its existence let alone bother to read what is posted here. The matter needs to be publicised as widely as possible, with the downside to the community and individual Canadian citizens being made prominent.

Did anyone bother to contact the open line shows as suggested above? Threeway conversations with open line show hosts and the CEO of Tradeport and the mayor of Hamilton might help. I suggest you get together and pick a day and time to start making these calls. Numerous calls made as part of a concerted campaign will have more effect than one call from one person - or none at all. Plan a series of follow up calls to keep the pressure on.

Has anyone filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau? Get on with it and give Tradeport more paper to answer.

Has anyone contacted federal politicians? They "privatised" the airport. Was it their intention to close it or drive out all local businesses? If not, what are they going to do to help?

How about getting the Ontario politicians involved? Do they want the province's links with the world to be closed and do they want recognised and successful training institutions in Ontario to be closed and jobs sent to other jurisdictions?

Has anyone asked Hamilton City Council to include an item on the agenda of its next meeting: “That Tradeport’s licences and business permits be suspended until it concludes a satisfactory lease renewal with Peninsulair and any other tenants at the airport”? Make the politicians work for you - that’s what they are paid for. If they will not then ask them why on the open line shows.

You also have to play hardball against bullies! If you just complain to each other then they will walk all over you.

[gonfly'n]

They have been talking about expanding the main terminal for a long time. Correct me if i'm wrong but the main terminal is going to be expanded from the snow plow hangar through/past shell and cargojet and past peninsulair? That would be a really big terminal. What a bunch of dicks, oh well i guess it made sense in someone's mind to remove flight training from CYHM.

[Dr.Piper]

Well you see. One needs a terminal that huge. I mean, ALL of those Westjets that are in there each day! How can they keep up. Its like a madhouse!
Sorry, forgot about the one a day flights for Flyglobespan in the summer.

I still remember the poster of the "YHM Terminal of the FUTURE!" What ever happened to that?

[flyincanuck]

The one that was supposed to be built by 2005?











But ended up being this:







Typical Hamilton...

[jacquesti]

Too bad,
Nobody from Tradeport showed up at 10.00 this morning. Apparently, they were not aware off that and they couldn't reach the boss to allow us in........

[Dr.Piper]

Holy friggin Westjets Batman!

They built it! They just tore it down awfully quickly!

I especially like the nondescript 747 at the last gate.

Thanks Flyin.

[gonfly'n]

but they will put pearson out of business....

[hazatude]

New owners on the horizon? Just a rumour at this point...

[flyincanuck]

Haz, that's been a rumour for years now dude.

When will the planes be back in the air? Are they gonna relocate on the field, or head over to Tony Creek or another strip?

[hazatude]

Haz, that's been a rumour for years now dude.

When will the planes be back in the air? Are they gonna relocate on the field, or head over to Tony Creek or another strip?

All of the above are possibilities.

[...]

All of the above are possibilities.

So also is the fact you may never return to work. My concern is for you. How are YOU doing through all of this Hazman?

Do you need cash until EI kicks in?