New Float Plane Service to Lough Derg

Ald · 20-09-2011 4:57pm #1

Just saw on TV3 that there's to be a new service. Think it'll be viable? The fares seem attractive enough for tourists ranging from €50 to €120 according to the report...

Quick question: Why does Kieran O'Connor refer to himself as Capt. Kieran O'Connor??? Is he not permanently associated with NFC now? I know he was a Captain at some stage but I presume no longer? Does anybody know who he flew with?

FlutterinBantam · 20-09-2011 5:56pm

Ald wrote: »

Just saw on TV3 that there's to be a new service. Think it'll be viable? The fares seem attractive enough for tourists ranging from €50 to €120 according to the report...

Quick question: Why does Kieran O'Connor refer to himself as Capt. Kieran O'Connor??? Is he not permanently associated with NFC now? I know he was a Captain at some stage but I presume no longer? Does anybody know who he flew with?

Like the president of the United States, once a captain always a captain.

xflyer · 20-09-2011 5:59pm

KoC doesn't refer to himself as Captain generally. But for media purposes it's useful for the NFC. He is the NFC. He flew with Clubair on 727s a long time ago. He also flew 707s in Africa. Did a couple of movies too, I recall. During all that he managed to keep on his career as an Air Traffic Controller. One day, he'd be in the right seat giving you a hard time as an Instructor and telling you to carry out a certain exercise. The next day you'd call Dublin and he would ask your intentions as if he didn't know. There was no escape!:D

As for the seaplane operation my own opinion is that there is market there. It isn't really KOC's party. He is just providing a consulting and expertise for them. Particularly on the west coast. I think scheduled services might be a bit ambitious but there is strong tourist potential if it's marketed right. That'll be the key. I'm not sure about the Mountshannon base. Who'll want to go there? The key bases will be Limerick and Galway, Galway particularly. The Dublin routes don't make too much sense particularly in a sea plane. But with an AOC they can add landplanes.

It'll be interesting. Might be a job there for one or two pilots.

mikemac · 20-09-2011 6:04pm

Is this the business that wanted to run a service between Galway docks to Limerick harbour?
But they were getting opposition from one of the Limerick rowing clubs?

I think such a service could work. And be great for tourism if you flew up the West coast of Clare.

Ald · 20-09-2011 6:05pm

Did a quick google image search on Clubair there and this is what I got... Enjoy! http://www.zimbio.com/The+Joy+Fit+Club/articles/5/Saucy+Mile+High+Club+Air+Hostess

KO'C you auld dog!

Bearcat · 20-09-2011 11:01pm

Very fond of Kieran..... Tells it as it is.....

xflyer · 20-09-2011 11:14pm

Ald, charming as they are, this is not the Clubair I knew. Ireland in the eighties was not quite so...............well not quite so. It was all a bit Catholic and lacking in condoms.

No it was just a charter airline.

Quaderno · 21-09-2011 3:17pm

Short piece on RTE: http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2011/0920/media-3057898.html#

el tel · 21-09-2011 3:23pm

[QUOTE=FlutterinBantam

;74507114]Like the president of the United States, once a captain always a captain.[/QUOTE]

Obama will become a permanent captain? :pac:

finbarrk · 22-09-2011 1:56am

Have this crowd got a website?

Su Campu · 22-09-2011 8:09am

finbarrk wrote: »

Have this crowd got a website?

http://www.harbourflights.com/

Beats me why they can't get somebody to proofread the information on their site. It's littered with grammatical and spelling errors! :rolleyes:

Tabnabs · 22-09-2011 8:11am

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Like the president of the United States, once a captain always a captain.

Incorrect, the only people allowed to use the title are military personnel. Just the same as a ships captain, once you leave the plane/ship your title reverts to Mr.

Stovepipe · 22-09-2011 8:40am

As far as I know, Kieran O'Connor is a current ATPL-holding Captain on multi-crew aircraft and is entitled to call himself Captain. Other people will use other nouns....

regards
Stovepipe

cavanman112 · 22-09-2011 6:27pm

Tabnabs when you say "not allowed" who exactly is to allow or not allow a title ?

FlutterinBantam · 22-09-2011 6:38pm

Yeah, what exactly are you on about?

Tabnabs · 22-09-2011 6:53pm

cavanman112 wrote: »

Tabnabs when you say "not allowed" who exactly is to allow or not allow a title ?

The same people who recognise titles such as Minister, President, Sir, Lord, etc. etc. - The State.

He can call himself what ever he likes, but entitlement is a different thing. There also is protocol relating to when you can use your official title and under what conditions it's inappropriate.

I've seen people called out on using Captain as a title when not directly related to their job. The British are usually the best for trying it on and challenging its use.

xflyer · 22-09-2011 9:25pm

Look I already explained, KOC does not use the title in general. It's only for media and publicity purposes for the sake of the business. Darby Kennedy did the same thing. Although in fact he often was referred to as 'Captain' by those around him. He was Chief pilot in Aer Lingus at one point.

In terms of protocol etc, I think only ranks above Major are allowed to be retained as a title after service in Britain. A Captain in the naval sense is allowed but not an army Captain which is a much lower rank. An airline Captain is equivalent to the naval rank. Thus allowable.

But no one calls KOC, 'Captain' on a day to day basis. So let's not get carried away.

Tabnabs · 23-09-2011 8:01am

xflyer wrote: »

In terms of protocol etc, I think only ranks above Major are allowed to be retained as a title after service in Britain. A Captain in the naval sense is allowed but not an army Captain which is a much lower rank. An airline Captain is equivalent to the naval rank. Thus allowable.

I can confirm that this is untrue too

Unless of course they have actually achieved the rank of Captain. I know quite a few former INS officers who served as "Captain"/Master but had the rank of lieutenant-commander. In the Merchant Navy, as soon as you walk down the gangway, it's mister again and this is the same as commercial aviation. All of this is protocol of course and can stretch into the realm of banal. I know a retired pilot who was a very senior BA pilot and if you called him Capt X, he'd be none too impressed.

xflyer · 23-09-2011 1:54pm

Sigh, look we both know what we're getting at. Darby Kennedy was almost always referred to as Captain. He had, as you say no formal right to do so. But it was common.

foxtrot hotel · 27-09-2011 1:37am

Tabnabs wrote: »

I can confirm that this is untrue too

Unless of course they have actually achieved the rank of Captain. I know quite a few former INS officers who served as "Captain"/Master but had the rank of lieutenant-commander. In the Merchant Navy, as soon as you walk down the gangway, it's mister again and this is the same as commercial aviation. All of this is protocol of course and can stretch into the realm of banal. I know a retired pilot who was a very senior BA pilot and if you called him Capt X, he'd be none too impressed.

He is a human being(KOC), can call himself, or be called what ever suit's the situation.

Titles only apply to a Person which is just a legal fictional identity in the corporation societys.

Tea 1000 · 28-09-2011 8:42am

Every time I come in to this thread looking for updates when I see a new post all I get is a new post bickering about some guy and the use of the word Captain.
Can we give it a rest now and use this thread for title related updates please? :cool:

New Float Plane Service to Lough Derg

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