Silverstate Helicopter Students Taking Action EVERYWHERE!!! Not just CA

[fry]

To all you Silver Staters,

My name is Sean Wood and I'm a reporter with the San Antonio Express-News in San Antonio, Texas. I did a story on Silver State in November. They were planning to move their headquarters to New Braunfels which is just north of town.

They stranded students and some employees who moved her from Nevada. I'm looking to talk to anyone who has a story to tell about their experience with Silver State. Students, employees, creditors, anyone.

Interestingly, they listed only $50,000 as assets with up to $50 million in liabilities. Yet they have 218 aircraft registered with the FAA. Something is wacky there.

Regardless, I'm trying to unravel this huge ball of string and could use as much help as possible. You can send me an e-mail at swood@express-news.net.

 

Thanks and good luck,

Sean

 

It appears that in the bankruptcy filing they calculated the assets net of the security interest held by Orix on the aircraft and did not include the Orix line of credit on the liability side. The remaining assets would be office equipment and such and the liabilities would be primarily amounts owed to vendors and the students unearned advance payments.

 

A question, didn't the city fathers of New Braunfels look at a SSH financial statement before getting into bed with them? If so, they should have seen a huge liability for future student training and little cash available. That should have raised a question as to where the cash was going to come from in the future.

[Mr. Will Hellme]

ATTN SD MOVE YOUR ASS> FOX SIX wants to interview us. GILLESPIE FIELD @ 4:30!!!!!!!

[tattooed]

BTW. What kind of cookies do you serve on the dark side? Do you serve milk with them?

 

 

Whatever kind of cookies you want. No milk.....we serve whiskey. Sounds like yah'll need some.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milk is for the weak.

 

 

 

Hey, a girl's gotta have her standards, right?

[Mr. Will Hellme]

Good evening my second family,

 

First off. If it's not past 10, turn on the TV and watch the news. Myself, Lina, Brandy, Calvin and Mike were interviewed. We tried to keep it as professional as possible. (I said all the CFI"s were out of control! Just kidding) They spent a good while interviewing us. But we will see what happens when they take our interviews and condense each of them down to a minute and twenty seconds.

 

Hats off to Larry for calling the media! Larry did some ground work and as a result local media got involved. I wrote a statement to 10 news. but they never responded. Fox news ended up being the only station to show up. The news anchor Jim said that this was going to be a national story tomorrow. It just makes sense. Too many people have been effected by SSH and this investment firm EOS. I was also interviewed by a reporter for the Union Tribune.

 

SD Meeting is on for tomorrow @ 7:00PM @ 1205 Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego CA 92101.

DON"T USE GOOGLE TO FIND IT. GOOGLE COULDN"T FIND IT FOR ME

USE YAHOO

 

http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=32.71...20CA%2C%2092101

 

Our goddess of the office (Paulina) was able to supply us with a big list of SD students. there are about 200 students on the list. We need help calling these students tomorrow!!! Anyone who can help Please contact me, Calvin: calvinrcollins@gmail.com, or Brandy: brandy_154@msn.com. We need at least 10 people to make this process quick. We want to make sure everyone is aware of what is going on and know that something is being done. I don't want anyone left out in the cold.

 

Keep your heads up. I did some research tonight about Microskills. (Local SD Company) Same thing happened they got a bunch of people's money and then went belly up. It appears that the state of California did in fact refund everyone's money. Sucks the state had to do it, but at least those people were helped. Lets hope for such a good resolution for us!!! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions/concerns/ideas with regards to tomorrows meeting!!!!

 

Best Regards,

Kevin

[K-38]

(Local SD Company) Same thing happened they got a bunch of people's money and then went belly up. It appears that the state of California did in fact refund everyone's money. Sucks the state had to do it, but at least those people were helped. Lets hope for such a good resolution for us!!!

 

I hope everything works out for all of you, however I do not think the taxpayers of CA owe you a single penny.

[RockyMountainPilot]

I have an idea. Since those of you who signed a contract didn't do your homework, why not punish someone else who didn't do their homework like the banks that loaned you the money. Most people probably used Key Bank or Sallie Mae I am guessing? They loaned you a large sum of money and didn't trust you enough to manage it and gave it all to SSH. They obviously didn't do their homework in finding out that many past students were screwed out of their money without ratings, so why should you have to pay them back? They are the ones who can hire high priced lawyers to do research on companies and they obviously did none. If 1,000 students don't pay back 70,000K to one of these institutions, I am guessing they will put one of those high priced lawyers to work real fast.

 

K-38,

 

You know as well as I do that in the long run, the taxpayers will be the ones to pay. It is ridiculous to think that people who get scammed out of their money because they didn't do their homework should have to pay it back, right?

[Mr. Will Hellme]

I have an idea. Since those of you who signed a contract didn't do your homework, why not punish someone else who didn't do their homework like the banks that loaned you the money. Most people probably used Key Bank or Sallie Mae I am guessing? They loaned you a large sum of money and didn't trust you enough to manage it and gave it all to SSH. They obviously didn't do their homework in finding out that many past students were screwed out of their money without ratings, so why should you have to pay them back? They are the ones who can hire high priced lawyers to do research on companies and they obviously did none. If 1,000 students don't pay back 70,000K to one of these institutions, I am guessing they will put one of those high priced lawyers to work real fast.

 

K-38,

 

You know as well as I do that in the long run, the taxpayers will be the ones to pay. It is ridiculous to think that people who get scammed out of their money because they didn't do their homework should have to pay it back, right?

 

When I joined SSH they were listed as one of the fastest growing privately held companies. They claimed to own all of their helicopters. With more than 30 operations they seemed quite legitimate. Myself and 2700 other suckers thought these facts alone made this outfit a reputable operation.

 

It's sad that this pyramid scam was able to grow this large in the first place. I think it would be great if we could get some high powered attorneys at the banks expense. Most of the student loans were actually facilitated by companies like Citi Financial and Student Loan Express. SSH was working with these companies. They were in bed together!! In fact some students had portions of their loans taken out by SSH on monday when they declared bankruptcy. That's FRAUD

[wannabe heli pilot]

"You know as well as I do that in the long run, the taxpayers will be the ones to pay. It is ridiculous to think that people who get scammed out of their money because they didn't do their homework should have to pay it back, right?"

 

 

Rocky Mountain pilot, how are tax payers going to pay for student and investors losses?

[Fiasco]

"You know as well as I do that in the long run, the taxpayers will be the ones to pay. It is ridiculous to think that people who get scammed out of their money because they didn't do their homework should have to pay it back, right?"

 

 

Rocky Mountain pilot, how are tax payers going to pay for student and investors losses?

 

government bailout....

[flopper]

government bailout....

 

The government had an obligation to look into the matter before it spiraled out of control. They were contacted via the FTC and BBB numerous times over the past few years. The people elected the officials, the officials run the FTC and to a limited degree also run the BBB. The city managers and council and chambers of commerce provided incentives for Silver State to exist while all the facts were available to do some basic research and find this was a less than realistic business model and that the owner has been less than forthcoming about himself and his previous dealings.

 

Yes it would only be appropriate that the taxpayers bail the students out at least for the money they did not use in training.

[fry]

http://www.lasvegascitylife.com/articles/2...iq_19566440.txt

 

The horror stories continue to pour in from around the country now that Silver State has closed up shop altogether. These students will be paying off their loans for decades, while Airola will waltz off into the sunset with the $30 million he received from selling most of his company just months ago to a New York investment outfit. Thirty million can soothe even the most agitated conscience -- that is, unless angry former students hire lawyers and come after the dough.

[fry]

The government had an obligation to look into the matter before it spiraled out of control. They were contacted via the FTC and BBB numerous times over the past few years. The people elected the officials, the officials run the FTC and to a limited degree also run the BBB. The city managers and council and chambers of commerce provided incentives for Silver State to exist while all the facts were available to do some basic research and find this was a less than realistic business model and that the owner has been less than forthcoming about himself and his previous dealings.

 

Yes it would only be appropriate that the taxpayers bail the students out at least for the money they did not use in training.

 

Yeah right, good luck selling that! There's not going to be any bailout for sub-prime mortgage borrowers who are losing their homes because they got loans that they could not afford so there sure won't be any taxpayers picking up the check for a couple of thousand vocational school borrowers who didn't read the contract they signed.

 

The lenders will tap dance and make sympathetic noises about helping out...they may even offer to restruture the loan terms slightly...but in the end the borrowers and their co-signors will either make the payments or file personal bankruptcy.

[Fiasco]

The government had an obligation to look into the matter before it spiraled out of control. They were contacted via the FTC and BBB numerous times over the past few years. The people elected the officials, the officials run the FTC and to a limited degree also run the BBB. The city managers and council and chambers of commerce provided incentives for Silver State to exist while all the facts were available to do some basic research and find this was a less than realistic business model and that the owner has been less than forthcoming about himself and his previous dealings.

 

Yes it would only be appropriate that the taxpayers bail the students out at least for the money they did not use in training.

 

That's the american way these days I guess... to avoid accepting responsiblity (even partially) for one's own situation and expecting to be bailed out for mistakes.

 

It's beyond rediculous to believe that the taxpayers owe you money because you fell victim to a scam.

 

In doing research Silver State was the first Helicopter training school crossed off my list for exactly the reasons that unfolded. I didn't even bother visiting their St. Louis facility when I inspected Midwest Helicopter which was right nearby.

 

If the information has been available to the FTC and BBB for several years it's been available to you as well.

 

Your beef is with SSH, not with the American taxpayer.

Edited February 7, 2008 by Fiasco

[Spierman]

Silver State Helicopters is gone. Do not do business with anyone associated with SSH. Do not hire their, now out of work, employees for any aviation job. Secure your watch if you are found near anyone that worked for SSH.

 

I question the integrity of anyone who has helped "build" SSH. This includes all former employees, they new the truth. They were just as willing to take your money and profit from questionable practices.

 

Modification: The signs were very clear to customers, up to a year ago. The signs should have been more clear to CFIs/Employees even sooner. There were 3 types of people at ssh: CFIs/Employees lacking integrity, CFIs/Employees lacking situational awareness, and students who wanted to get as much training as possible and get out. In either of the first two cases, would you want them operating your machines?

 

Call the student loan programs you are in and cancel any future disbursements.

 

Do not pay more than 50% of going rate for any "fire sale" assetts you may be able to acquire from SSH. Get a clean bill of sale for anything you do pick up and use banking sources as independent as possible from SSH.

 

Do not resume flight training with any spin-offs from ssh. The same people with the same values and integrity will be running them.

 

Do not accept any "deals" from them to complete training. Do not let them burn us twice!

[K-38]

That's the american way these days I guess... to avoid accepting responsiblity (even partially) for one's own situation and expecting to be bailed out for mistakes.

 

It's beyond rediculous to believe that the taxpayers owe you money because you fell victim to a scam.

 

In doing research Silver State was the first Helicopter training school crossed off my list for exactly the reasons that unfolded. I didn't even bother visiting their St. Louis facility when I inspected Midwest Helicopter which was right nearby.

 

If the information has been available to the FTC and BBB for several years it's been available to you as well.

 

Your beef is with SSH, not with the American taxpayer.

Well said.

[fry]

Posted at JH:

 

http://originalforum.justhelicopters.com/D...9588&page=1

 

Students and parents who take out loans to pay for college deserve a College Consumer’s Bill of Rights, said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) today.

Tomorrow, the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on legislation (H.R. 4137) to make college more affordable and accessible for all qualified students. The legislation includes a number of key consumer protections for student and parent borrowers. Together these protections form a Bill of Rights for college consumers, said Miller, the chairman of the House education committee and sponsor of the legislation.

 

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/edla.../rel020608.html

 

Contact him. Our country needs an educated workforce and that includes vocational training as well as traditional college programs. But people trying to do better for themselves and their families should not be preyed upon by unscrupulous school operators and greedy lenders. Contact him and tell him your story. Ask him to urge the US Bankruptcy Trustee to appoint an attorney to represent the students as a creditor class in Silver State Helicopter bankruptcy proceedings. Here's his contact information:

 

Honorable George Miller

U.S. House of Representatives

2205 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

If you're in Southern California drop it off personally at one of his District offices:

 

http://georgemiller.house.gov/contactus/

[RockyMountainPilot]

The taxpayers will pay in the end because many of these students will default on the loans and the government will bail out the banks, not the students.

[flopper]

The taxpayers will pay in the end because many of these students will default on the loans and the government will bail out the banks, not the students.

 

Had the tax payers elected and pressured the right officials to set up an effective consumer protection agency, then the taxpayers wouldn't have to bail out anyone. Note: I am conservative, anti-liberal, anti-big government, anti-corruption, but not Republican. However, the people are who make the system and the people are the ones who pay for it. Its is a relevant statement regarding all countries of this world.

[John Nelson]

Silver State Helicopters is gone. Do not do business with anyone associated with SSH. Do not hire their, now out of work, employees for any aviation job. Secure your watch if you are found near anyone that worked for SSH.

 

I question the integrity of anyone who has helped "build" SSH. This includes all former employees, they new the truth. They were just as willing to take your money and profit from questionable practices.

 

I don't really understand this mentality. I'm a (now former) SSH student and our instructors did everything they could for us. They sure as hell didn't know what was going on in the upper echelons of the company. How could they? All they knew was that more and more changes were being handed down from corporate. All they knew is what they were told. And let me tell you, it wasn't much. Sure, they saw the changes and suspected some possible instability, but to infer that they had a hand in this whole calamity is utterly ridiculous.

 

Obviously the students are going to feel the most hurt from this situation. But in a close second are all the instructors who were unexpectedly unemployed the day after the Super Bowl. To add them to some sort of black list because they were doing what anyone else would have done in their situation is completely unfair and totally narrow-minded.

 

It's really easy to comment on something from the outside when you're not affected. Here people are genuinely in need of advice and direction. Why don't you save your opinions for another time or place when they might actually be helpful?

[Mr. Will Hellme]

This forum has gone way off topic. You should not be making comments with regards to the integrity of anyone who you do not know (Spierman!!!) By your rationality the everyday employees of Enron should be bared from employment because of the actions of the executives involved. You do not know enough about the situation to say anything

 

 

VR Admin and community,

Everything regards to the dissemination of information is now being handled on another forum. We greatly appreciate you allowing us to organize on this forum. I do not want to taint the wonderful experience of learning to fly helicopters with the drama that has unloaded in this forum. The effects of SSH is going to be felt very deeply within the helicopter community. I am sure there will be more discussions of problems that everyone will experience because of this travesty. The conversation's and comments have gone way off topic and do not help the people involved get organized. Please close this forum.

 

If you are a SSH Student or employee, please go to silverstatefamily.com We are doing everything we can to band together.

Edited February 8, 2008 by Mr. Will Hellme

[67november]

Please close this forum

 

After rereading the entire thread and deleting 2 school promotions ads, I find this thread for the most part has stayed near topic. At this time I will not close it

 

PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC EVERYONE

[joepilotcfi]

I have been in aviation for quite some time and I found it amazing how this company was able to get ordinary people to sign on the dotted line for a private loan that was paid directly to the LLC.

I still remember the day when a good friend of mine told me he was going to this SSH to be a pilot. I heard the bogus claims and nifty radio ads and shook my head everytime I heard them. No matter how hard I tried to explain to him that I would mentor him and find a good instructor and teach him about flight schools SSH was the only thing he could think about.

I explained he was not being accepted into any acadamy and that he was a recruit only because he had the loan. he did not listen. I tried to explain that it was just a 61 operation and til this day he does not know what that means.

I dont think he ever looked at the FARs or any other schools in regards to FAA pilot experience required, 141 FAA curriculum and federal loans vs private funding. He did not ever look into other schools. He really thought that he was going to get all his ratings in 200 hours and his private in 40 hours.

 

the Student pilots who trained at SS are still regarding the SSH llc as a flight school. They were just a bunch of FBOs that had a snakeoil business plan to rope in joe smo the painter driving down the highway in a PU truck. My wife even wanted to be a pilot when she heard the ads (serious) nothing against woman but she cant even park in the driveway straight.

I am so pissed at this an feel so bad for my buddy and other student pilots. Hes about 75 hours in and just about ready for his PVT and now he has nothing except a 70K loan to pay.

He should not get bailed out it was a dumb move and he was making a carrer change without doing any homework on the industry

 

My free flight lesson advice to every prospective student new in aviation is

1. Always fly like your a 747 captain with 3oo passengers and your wife and kid on board.

2. Never pay in advance for flight training under 61 and be very very careful with a 141 college or University.

3. It will be harder and longer than you think to finish everything up.

There is not a job waiting for you that will make paying for a loan a piece of cake.

especialy when there are alot more pilots than their are helicopters and airplanes.

[500E]

MAKE SURE YOU CANCEL THE LOAN you are the one responsible !! YOU signed, do it in writing with proof of delivery.

Every one knows SSH are in chapter 7 BUT the piece of paper saying you don't want your loan drawn down any longer due to C7 means there is a paper trail and it is much easier to claim any Inadvertent payments back + loan Co cant say they were not informed

[Investigate Silver State]

I am F'n livid right now!!! To be honest I didn't do enough research about SSH before I joined. Once I started finding things out it was too late. I had already signed on the dotted line.

 

Besides I wasn't experiencing any of the issues that other people experienced with regards to lack of helicopters etc. So I decided to not focus on such things and keep my eye on the prize. I was going so well. Now here I sit my dream exploded in front of my face! Now I am destined to stay in my crappy day job longer than I want.

 

Anyways long story short (Too Late)

I am looking for people who want to take action. I am working with another SD student to find out what our options are.... If you are a California and are in finding out what your options are for taking class action against this rotten orifice of a company please contact me.

 

 

Mr_Will_Hellme@cox.net

619.990.5558

 

Best regards,

Kevin

 

PS,

A copy of the company letter is available here. http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.as...p;nav=menu102_2

I especially like point number 7. Yea I was notified by some stranger in the parking lot as I showed up to class tonight. Thanks for the ******* notification via stranger system. It works damn good *********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is what happens when the people at the top of a corporation get too greedy. They **** EVERYONE OVER!!!!!

 

I know what you and the other students and creditors are going through. Nearly every creditor including students will be considered "unsecured" and will probably get nothing but a loan payment or a bad debt to write off. There will only be a couple of secured creditors and they will get everything. There is an old saying in bankruptcy practice: "Woe be it the unsecured creditors, for they will get nothing"

 

There is possibly a way to get "made whole" and that is to show criminal acts. Bankruptcy does not protect against criminal acts.

 

There is one company with a lot of information already and they are looking for creditors,students and attorneys who need help.

 

www.investigatesilverstate.com

 

Good Luck. Fight Back!