Frank Magazine Issue 600.pdf - Besthostingplanever.com

WHEN PILOTS FLY
BY NEAL OZANO
EAST COAST AIRWAYS MAY BE OFF THE GROUND, BUT FRANK
MAGAZINE HAS LEARNED THAT BEHIND THE SCENES TURMOIL IS
CAUSING MAJOR HEADACHES, TO SAY THE LEAST, FOR COMPANY
BOSS JAY HASSON.
The new regional carrier launched its first bird on November 29 following
a four-week delay connected to regulatory issues with Transport
Canada.
Sources tell Frank that in the days leading up to its maiden flight, two
pilots, Troy Rennie and Jeremy Keyes, along with marketing manager
Sarah MacKinnon - the daughter of Pictou East MLA Clarrie MacKinnon
- all walked away from the company. Troy, I understand, submitted his
notice after the airline didn’t launch on its pre-announced date in the first
week of November. Marketing thingy Sarah bailed the week of Nov. 21,
with Jeremy close on her heels.
In addition, Al Abraham, Jr. left his post as ECA director earlier this fall.
The Registry of Joint Stocks website shows there was a change of
directors on October 26, the same day CBC News reporter Jack Julian
broke the story that creditors in the U.S. are chasing Jay and his CTV
weathergal wife Tina Simpkin.
Former Halifax Port Authority chair Al, whose namesake dad is the
former Lieutenant Governor, denies any connection between the two
events.
“I was never meant to stay on permanently, just for the setup phase,” Al
tells me, adding: “It was never my intent to stay on as director once it was
up and running.”
Al is quick to assure me he remains an investor in the firm. Another
investor could well be Al’s Halifamous brother-in-law, MBS owner Robert
Pace. In the past Jay ferried the great man from place to place, as Robert’s
personal helicopter pilot.
As for the fleeing employees, I’m advised that certain company quirks
added up to make their overall working experiences less than enjoyable.
For example, paycheques were known to come in the form of TD Canada
Trust money orders, without reference to Jay, Tina, or East Coast Airways.
No pay stubs either.
“You have no idea what you’ve grossed, so if you’re trying to get a car
loan, you’ve got nothing to prove what you’re being paid,” complains a
former employee.
A cheque for one recent pay period did come on an East Coast Airways
cheque, and was signed by Jay.
Jay hung up on me the first time I called, but dialled me back after I sent
a detailed list of questions by fax.
“You’re wasting your time trying to contact me by email or fax. I won’t be
talking to you from now on,” he sputtered.
Without additional action from my end, Jay called back a few hours later
with more potent quotables.
“I’m going to shoot a warning shot over your head. You are writing
stories that are untrue, and if you continue to talk to my directors, or
employees, I am going to get a lawyer,” he told me, before hanging up
again.
Jay and Tina are currently the sole directors of East Coast Airways.
Frank has previously reported that, in addition to the nearly $750,000
creditors are screaming for in the U.S., a former landlord is suing Jay and
Tina for $8,604.64, claiming the couple broke a lease on their $3,125/
month Hammonds Plains Road pile, when they left and moved into a
newly purchased Lake Mist Drive abode earlier this year.
In September, landlords Aziz and Margaret David, of Cucina
Moderna fame, won a judgement against them in Small Claims Court.
Jay is in the process of appealing (Frank 598).
12 ATLANTIC CANADA FRANK DECEMBER 21, 2010
Jay Hasson
& wiferoo
Tina Simpkin.