A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Soaring
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 11th 17, 04:30 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
SF
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 214
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF
  #2  
Old June 11th 17, 08:44 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Duster
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 161
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

http://www.cbs8.com/story/34643123/h...off-the-ground
  #3  
Old June 12th 17, 02:53 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
AS
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 653
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 11:30:27 AM UTC-4, SF wrote:
It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF


Should we start a running bet on how long it will take for that guy to re-incorporate under a slightly different name and continue his practice?
Uli
'AS'
  #4  
Old June 12th 17, 05:04 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Frank Whiteley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,099
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 7:53:56 PM UTC-6, AS wrote:
On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 11:30:27 AM UTC-4, SF wrote:
It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF


Should we start a running bet on how long it will take for that guy to re-incorporate under a slightly different name and continue his practice?
Uli
'AS'


That is highly unlikely. Soaring Adventures of America AKA Robert Wilkinson, was an SSA Business Member for over twenty years. He did not renew his SSA Business Membership last year. I reached out to him in 2014 over some slow pay issues that came to the attention of the SSA (not from a gliding operation). The SSA also reached out again after a soaring operation complained of slow pay. That operation never told the SSA that they were paid, but we did follow up to find that they were. Up until that time, they were happy with redeeming the ride certificates. Robert had also been active on Yelp and other review sites and actively resolved complaints, including offering refunds to purchasers.

When business was good, he apparently donated rides to charitable organizations for their fundraising efforts and paid the providers. In his day, Robert personally logged over 6,000 gliders rides. He is 81 and blind in one eye. IIRC, his wife had some health challenges 2-3 years ago. I've never met him, but did discuss his slow pay issues a couple of years ago. His business model was to advertise nationally in major newspaper markets. That model started faltering about three years ago as people are now getting their news online. He appeared to dabble with Facebook without much success. The offerings besides glider rides were balloon rides and skydiving jumps. SSA received a complaint from a skydiving operation in Texas a few months ago. The matter is apparently now out of Robert's hands and is a matter for the court and his trustee. Creditors have until 8/23/17 to file proof of claim. It appears that notifications are being made to his creditors that proof of claim will be required.

One can argue that selling gift certificates for others to redeem is a questionable model. The SSA and it's business members have run into less scrupulous operators (those that churn companies) and have acted against them. Until the first slow pay report appeared on RAS (again, not a glider operation), as far as I know, the SSA had not received a complaint about SAA. I had enough difficulty in reaching Robert Wilkinson directly, I reached out to the listed Registered Agent on the CT SOS records, only to find he was retired and SAA was not a client of the succeeding law firm. When I did finally reach Robert Wilkinson, I advised him and requested he correct this, which he did.

Since the Wilkinson's co-mingled their personal and business dealings, they will lose their home in settlement with their creditors (and any litigants) and the business is shuttered. I suspect any goodwill that might have existed 3-4 years ago is sullied.

Robert Wilkinson did not reply to SSA attempts to contact him about the situation over the past 18 months or so. I had discussed not renewing his SSA Business Membership with staff last year, but it was moot as he did not renew.

Frank Whiteley
970-330-2050





  #5  
Old March 13th 18, 04:14 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
SSnyder
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 10:30:27 AM UTC-5, SF wrote:
It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF


Here it is March 12 2018 and apparently the case drags on. Our club just received a notice, the first one I might add,about a hearing on March 20th.
  #6  
Old March 15th 18, 05:34 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Frank Whiteley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,099
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

On Monday, March 12, 2018 at 9:14:44 PM UTC-6, SSnyder wrote:
On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 10:30:27 AM UTC-5, SF wrote:
It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF


Here it is March 12 2018 and apparently the case drags on. Our club just received a notice, the first one I might add,about a hearing on March 20th.


Robert Wilkinson passed away last year, so it's an estate matter as well.

Frank Whiteley
  #7  
Old March 15th 18, 05:36 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Frank Whiteley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,099
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

On Monday, March 12, 2018 at 9:14:44 PM UTC-6, SSnyder wrote:
On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 10:30:27 AM UTC-5, SF wrote:
It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF


Here it is March 12 2018 and apparently the case drags on. Our club just received a notice, the first one I might add,about a hearing on March 20th.


https://www.open-public-records.com/...t-15072795.htm
  #8  
Old March 15th 18, 09:09 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Darryl Ramm
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,403
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at 9:34:09 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
On Monday, March 12, 2018 at 9:14:44 PM UTC-6, SSnyder wrote:
On Sunday, June 11, 2017 at 10:30:27 AM UTC-5, SF wrote:
It's highly probable that Soaring Adventures has filed Chapter 7. We received a notice of filing from the US bankruptcy court for a Robert Wilkinson, in CT. No mention of Soaring Adventures in the filing, however Soaring Adventures is the only connection between our club and Robert that we can come up. It looks like there was no separation between his personal finances and the business, Ouch.

So for those operators out there that still accept their ride vouchers, you might want to reconsider continuing to do so. We got stuck holding the bag on one of them, and have received phone calls from other customers wanting to use their ride vouchers with us.

SF


Here it is March 12 2018 and apparently the case drags on. Our club just received a notice, the first one I might add,about a hearing on March 20th.


Robert Wilkinson passed away last year, so it's an estate matter as well.

Frank Whiteley


Wait, I've got a great ticket for a discount funeral service...

  #9  
Old March 15th 18, 07:32 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
SoaringXCellence
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 385
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7

bad form Darryl ;-(
  #10  
Old March 15th 18, 11:03 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 77
Default FYI Soaring adventures may have filed Chapter 7


Wait, I've got a great ticket for a discount funeral service...


Are gift certificates available, Darryl?



 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Lawsuit filed over AFA towpilot fatality Stewart Kissel Soaring 20 June 11th 17 02:58 PM
Soaring Adventures Difficulties, Anyone Else? SF Soaring 12 January 11th 17 08:28 PM
soaring adventures [email protected] Soaring 1 October 2nd 14 08:33 PM
Ultimate soaring challenges or adventures nimbusgb Soaring 26 November 15th 09 07:06 AM
First NASA form filed Paul Folbrecht Piloting 38 August 24th 04 05:39 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.