Jersey Aero Club goes into administration

Jersey Aero Club goes into administration

According to a letter sent to all members by chairman Jim Buckley, the organisation has been trying to come up with a plan to restructure itself in recent months. However, it has been deprived of any income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘It is with regret that the board of directors of our subsidiary company, Channel Island Aero Club (Jersey) Ltd, took the decision on Friday 22 May that the company be formally wound up and all employees made redundant,’ Mr Buckley said.

‘The lack of any general aviation activity for the foreseeable future, at commercially viable levels, has deprived us of any income, whether from flight training, catering or otherwise.

‘The immediate effect will be our contract with Ports of Jersey for the administration of General Aviation handling will cease and also that flight training will cease.’

However, Mr Buckley added that work was under way to try to find a way for the club to continue in a ‘social’ function and that it would provide members with an update on this at the end of June.

‘The committee intends to work for the club to continue as a social focus for general aviation,’ he said.

The details of how and when this might happen were a work in progress, but it was the intention of the club to work with Ports of Jersey on the process of relinquishing the lease on the club’s premises, he added.

‘With your continued support, it is hoped that the club will have a viable and growing presence at the heart of general aviation in Jersey.’

Jonathan Crick, chief commercial officer for Ports of Jersey, said that ‘new arrangements’ for the club would be announced in due course.

‘It would be inappropriate for us to speculate at this stage as to the future structure and operations at Jersey Aero Club but we would like to offer our reassurance that Ports of Jersey will continue to work closely with its management committee and administrators to ensure the best possible outcome for all as a result of this very difficult period,’ he said. ‘Further details on what these new arrangements are will be announced in due course.’

He added: ‘We are very saddened by this news and the impact it has on staff and members.

‘The club is one of the oldest established aero clubs in the British Isles and is held in great affection by many people within the aviation world, both locally and further afield.’

Aircraft parked at Jersey Airport’s airfield – which is owned by Ports of Jersey – can still be accessed by their locally-based owners.

Ports of Jersey has made temporary arrangements with Gama Aviation to handle any visiting light aircraft when border restrictions are eased.

Meanwhile, Skydive Jersey – which moved out of the Jersey Aero Club in September last year – is unaffected.

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