What an ambition for this man.. er.. boy.

[Katahu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hamp ... 413370.stm

[BFMF]

Didn't Doug bring this this up just recently in an off-topic thread?

[C]

Yes. Despite the press publicity it seems he talks better than he does business...

On his airlines proposed route to Blackpool starting the following week...

Mr Whelan Blackpool's Exec Chairman said: "I was only told about the possibility of Alpha One coming here on Wednesday so it is all fresh news to me.

Mmm, interesting history I found on another forum...

Virtual Airline sounds more realistic, and has apparently been mentioned...

14th November - our virtual airline boss has been advertising for pilots, with a link in the job ad to a careers page on the Alpha 1 website... the careers page, of course, does not exist.

ANyway, here the Alpha1 site...

http://www.flyalpha1.com/

It went offline a week or two back with a phone number obscuring everything for "routine maintenance" and has now reappeared in a completely new format...

[Woodlouse2002]

Either was I don't think he'll go that far. I recall hearing Branson himself saying that the only way to become a millionare through airlines is to start of as a billionare.

[Hagar]

Didn't Doug bring this this up just recently in an off-topic thread?

Indeed I did. At least this proves that someone noticed it. Thanks Andrew.

the only way to become a millionare through airlines is to start of as a billionare.

I would say that's about right. After working in the industry for over 35 years & knowing the cost of spares & maintenance alone I never understood how anyone can make a profit from running an airline - never mind a 19 year-old with no previous experience or contacts in the business. I wish him well but don't hold out much hope for his chances.

[Tweek]

"Mr Halstead gave up his A-levels in 2003 to pursue a pilot's career."

Tempting

[Hagar]

"Mr Halstead gave up his A-levels in 2003 to pursue a pilot's career."

Tempting

You would need to be wealthy or have wealthy parents to contemplate that. Read on:

He funded the project by selling his first business, airline simulation software company EMAtch, which he launched at the age of 15.

[C]

19 May 2003 - he was starting his ATPL in August 2003

15 June 2003 - he started his own 'flight sim company' (making crap scenery)

21 August 2003 - his ATPL is now starting in July 2004

27 August 2003 - he claims to be a professional scenery designer for Flight Sim (not bad going for a month's work)

28 August 2003 - he mentions getting a date for his pyschometric tests for his ATPL, despite having previously said he had already done them

2 September 2003 - first time he mentions having flown an aeroplane ( PA28 )

17 September 2003 - claims St Joseph is patron saint of aviation and exams. As far as I can find out, he is neither

25 September 2003 - says he has a date of October 8th for his medical

25 September 2003 - an hour later, says it cost him 411 quid. Obviously got it rushed through as well?!

17 November 2003 - says he is now training for his ATPL

3 December 2003 - this is a good un - he posts a news story about Oxford getting its own airline, nicknamed 'Don Air' as it will be flying between Oxford and... you guessed it... Cambridge. He later rewords this story to use for his own press release of the launch of Alpha One

5 December 2003 - says his ATPL training starts on January 16th, bit at odds with his 17 November statement and 21 August statement

6 December 2003 - says he'll set up a web diary for his training. He doesn't.

16 January 2004 - says his training has started (again), groundschool only though

25 April 2004 - pulls out of his training

2 May 2004 - decides to start again from scratch in July

19 May 2004 - claims friends and family gave him an MR2 roadster for his birthday

27 July 2004 - says his training will now be starting on August 31 and hints at a 'little project' on the way

[C]

[quote]
9 August 2004 - mentions he has PPL hours. Unsure if this is a claim that he has a PPL (he does not) or just has a few hours towards one.

1 October 2004 - says he will start flying 'next week' for his CPL which he will take in March 2005. Says he will have to hour build, thus once again intimating he has a PPL already. He doesn't.

5 October 2004 - says tomorrow he will finally start actually flying and will have his PPL in four weeks. Ah... not a PPL holder after all then! Also mentions starting a web diary again, which he doesn't

5 October 2004 - a bit later - says he has bought superflyboy.com for his diary site - he didn't. It's still available.

7 October 2004 - finally admits he has only 'about' 2.5 hours flying experience (I think he means 2). And throws up during a lesson.

7 January 2005 - mentions losing a friend in a spinning accident 8 months prior. Can't find any record of such a crash during the month in question.

8 January 2005 - says he is in the last stages of his ATPL course. He isn't. Also says he has secured his first airline job! Starting in March, flying PA31s. Claims to have added extra ratings and studying to his ATPL. Not bad going when he doesn't actually have an ATPL at this point. Says he has flown a PA31 'one or two' times, and has trained on the 737 too. Says keeping a PA28 straight and level in cloud is challenging! Later in the day says outright "I'm an airline pilot" - yet he isn't.

9 January 2005 - says he flies six sectors a day, 8 hours on average.

10 January 2005 - says he flies the PA31. Only two days previously said he had only flown it once or twice...

21 March 2005 - announces Alpha One, using the recyled Don Air press release.

9 April 2005 - intro to service delayed. Web site collapses and reverts to a Geocities bandwidth exceeded message. When it comes back up a relaunch is promised for May.

13 April 2005 - says he has secured substantial investment from the USA to secure Alpha1's long term future.

12 May 2005 - says he has got some new investment (what, more?) and their first Jetstream will be delivered shortly, with the first batch of pilots going to BAe for their type rating course. Launch postponed to beyond May.

3 June 2005 - says one or two weeks before an announcement, red tape over investment is the problem (not 'secured' then?). Claims to have consultants, pilots, cabin crew and 'countless other' staff working for him. Mentions two additional UK destinations will be added. Claims his web site costs

[C]

[quote]21 July 2005 - again claims to have an MEP, but not an ATPL, or Instrument Rating, just a Commercial Pilot's Licence, which he claims is enough to fly passengers on a UK scheduled service. Well, when it's sunny, yeah... and of course he still has no licence of any kind let alone a CPL. Goaded into posting further he then inadvertently admits he has no CPL and won't have until 'mid October'. Also claims August will see announcement of new services, mid August tickets go on sale, 5th or 19th September first flight of Alpha1. Stops participating in the KP forums. (Info) KP = Key Publishing of FlyPast, Airliners, Air Forces Monthly fame

24 September 2005 - news story - Martin claims airline will now launch on October 31, flying PA31s (ah, back to plan A eh!) to 10 UK destinations, four from Oxford and including IOW, London, Bristol and Birmingham. The airline's web site remains unchanged offering only a promise of news by the end of... er... August.

27 September 2005 - news story - Martin claims to once again launch by end of October, he will be one of the pilots, and the services will be between Oxford and Cambridge and Oxford and either Liverpool or Manchester. Claims funding is 70% provided by profits of selling his 'simulations software company' (10,000 quid according to Martin) and 30% from an Oxford-based investor (what no USA investor?). Claims website will re-launch in a week.

29 September 2005 – tv story – Martin says London airport will be Luton, and Shoreham is also involved. Has gone on a

[Hagar]

14th November - our virtual airline boss has been advertising for pilots, with a link in the job ad to a careers page on the Alpha 1 website... the careers page, of course, does not exist.

LMAO I just knew something didn't sound right about this.

Well done Charlie.

[Woodlouse2002]

Is it me or does something in that lot not quite add up?

[C]

The fact he's launched the same airline 3 times in 3 different places doesn't add up!

I think the 7th January 2005 comment sums it up...

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

Rich kid...

[Hagar]

Rich kid...

I very much doubt that. Read Charlie's quotes. It's all in his head.