558s Future plans

[Mayfly]

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/126/82/2012-and-beyond.html


http://www.vulcantothesky.org/news/127/82/A-review-of-2010.html

[Xplumberlives]

Nice to see they have FINALLY realised the following!



The ‘Butterfly’ Appeal (66% of the gap)
You may already be familiar with the ‘butterfly effect’ – where an apparently small & insignificant action results in something happening that is massively disproportionate? (The common example is of a butterfly flapping its wings in one place & resulting in a storm somewhere else).

Well this is exactly what has kept XH558 flying these past few years – lots of relatively small actions that resulted in something quite staggering – something unmatched anywhere else on this planet & something we should all be jointly proud of.

This is not to trivialise the valued contributions made by supporters over the years – but ‘£100 in isolation’ would never have saved XH558 whereas many times ‘£100 in isolation’ has – time and again…

We are looking to sign-up 10,000 new Standing Orders of at least £5.58 per month. With Gift Aid, these will cover two thirds of the ‘gap’ until XH558 is expected to run out of airframe and/or engine life around 2013/14.

This campaign will be launched next week – once the database to manage it has been completed.

When the time comes, please remember to opt in for Gift Aid if you are able – only 56% of the ‘gap;’ needs to come from your pocket because the Government will donate the balance via Gift Aid.

(Of course, if you would rather give your money to the tax-man than to XH558 then please feel free not to complete the Gift Aid details!)

Auctions & Raffles (8% of the gap)

The law in respect of online ‘gambling’ is understandably complex.

As a result, it was only very recently that we found we were able to operate online auctions & raffles within the law.

Our first offering was the opportunity to fly in formation with XH558. This alone raised around £11,000 in less than one week.

Further auctions and raffles will take place regularly – and the prize won’t always be Vulcan-related… Many companies recognise that donating a free prize to a high-profile organisation like ours is actually


Shame they have already PISSED OFF so many donors!




And in Ian Homers review of the year he states;

Targeted Advertising

This was something we had often been told we should try.

So it was that this year, we finally invested in targeted adverts in various magazines & corporate publications.

We selected publications that should have reached interested readerships – motoring, lifestyle, etc.

Suffice to say that the effect was negligible compared to the costs. It is extremely unlikely that we will pursue this in future.
Corporate Chalet at Farnborough

If there is one place on the planet where you can meet & build relationships with the heads of the aviation-industry, then it is the biannual Farnborough International Airshow.

We knew that we would need to use the right bait to attract the high-value individuals & senior executives we wanted to interest in the potential of sponsoring XH558.

The right bait was an executive chalet which we sub-let for the opening day of the Farnborough Week.

Many new relationships were created – some on the day and some, indirectly and after the event. We are still actively pursuing several leads as a result.

However, given the current financial climate we don’t expect any ‘quick fixes’ in this area which is why we have moved to a ‘self-sufficient’ business model.

[Spitfire]

Well well ..... overall I like both of those articles... very well written and very informative...

However ...

in the first article is this tiny sentence....

That large sponsor has never arrived

What - you mean nobody has come knocking on the doors of the ivory towers
Wouldn't it have been better to say 'We have never FOUND that large sponsor' We've been looking - really hard - honest ...and this is where we looked and this is who we asked .....

Then in the second article is this ....

With our reluctant acceptance that the corporate ‘knight in shining armour’ may never arrive, we knew it was time to massively increase the number of people we were in contact with.

As above - this knight will not just suddenly turn up then

AND there is a sudden realisation - albeit reluctantly - that we need more supporters
BLIMEY - I would never have thought of that .... Clever idea someone

All in all though nice to see very little doom and gloom and threats - and lots of positivity.

But I'm sticking with just the one text donation for now - I am that butterfly

[PhantomAviator]

I like this Butterfly Effect.

However, lets be truthful here, over the past years it has not been the Butterfly effect that has kept her going.

It has been the last minute saviour.

Last Year I understand it was due to a supporter passing away and leaving the money in their will.
Or was this information incorrect?

Who will be the saviour this year?

Bear in mind it is an 82 million bumper payout on the Euromillions tonight.

If I win I will at least give it a few minutes thought when the excitment of winning has passed.



I await the next thing which is normally the follow on to the announcements.

The Pledges.

Will people please form an orderly queue and await for the announcement to be made asking for these.
I estimate that it will be sometime around about the 14th when the request will appear.

[Mayfly]

I like this Butterfly Effect.

However, lets be truthful here, over the past years it has not been the Butterfly effect that has kept her going.

It has been the last minute saviour.

Last Year I understand it was due to a supporter passing away and leaving the money in their will.
Or was this information incorrect?

Who will be the saviour this year?

Bear in mind it is an 82 million bumper payout on the Euromillions tonight.

If I win I will at least give it a few minutes thought when the excitment of winning has passed.



I await the next thing which is normally the follow on to the announcements.

The Pledges.

Will people please form an orderly queue and await for the announcement to be made asking for these.
I estimate that it will be sometime around about the 14th when the request will appear.

No that is correct it's documented in the Charity Commissions Accounts
Here

[Crew chief]

At last they seem to have taken their heads out of the sand and realised whats going on.As for 558's new home i bet some where in the midlands would be good,close to all their spares and handy for most to travel and visit.

cc.

[PhantomAviator]

At last they seem to have taken their heads out of the sand and realised whats going on.As for 558's new home i bet some where in the midlands would be good,close to all their spares and handy for most to travel and visit.

cc.

I wouldn't bet on it.

Let's look at the past.

I imagine that she will complete her last flight, which is due to be with the Blades, she will then land at either Brize or Lyneham and she will be deemed unserviceable to fly until a rectification has been done.
Hence MOD hangar space again.

But only time will tell.

Also does anyone know where the pie charts are which shows what they forecast the costs for 2010?

Would be interesting to see how they actually panned out.

[Mayfly]

here you go PA

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/how-to-help/financials.html

[PhantomAviator]

here you go PA

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/how-to-help/financials.html

Thanks Mayfly.

I was just wondering how they got on with the projected figures and what they actually recieved.

Also looking at the staff cost.
£394,565 for the year.
With only 15 actual employees.
Average at £26,305 per employee.
But I am sure the one's on 10K less would love to have been paid more.

This also does not take into account the amount for Management and Admin salaries and other overheads as they are listed seperately as £111,538.

I have only based it on figures readily available though so my calculations may be a fair bit out.

Also the above figures used are the one's given by VTST as Staff costs exc Aircrew.
Bear in mind that the projected and the actual for these were different, in the plus side for the actual.
The hangar, Office rental and relocation amounted to £120,070, which was again on the plus side against the projected.

Wonder what next years projections will be?

[Mayfly]

I think personally think the pie charts are ambiguous - is that the word I'm looking for? Tho' I don't understand the world of finance or accounts!!

It states staff costs, not 'salaries' so does that include other things like accommodation for when they are away or overalls/flying suits or does that all come in 'operational costs'?

TBH honest I don't wish to know what the engineers earn that's their business, but would like know what these 'costs' include and what segment they are in.

[PhantomAviator]

I think personally think the pie charts are ambiguous - is that the word I'm looking for? Tho' I don't understand the world of finance or accounts!!

It states staff costs, not 'salaries' so does that include other things like accommodation for when they are away or overalls/flying suits or does that all come in 'operational costs'?

TBH honest I don't wish to know what the engineers earn that's their business, but would like know what these 'costs' include and what segment they are in.

I understand were you are comming from.
The way that they have set things out isn't in plain English.
most people would read the part of employees and include all people who are employed by them.
But no they have listed it as Employees exc Aircrew.
So on reading that one would imagine that it is as stated but no, up springs another which states Management, Admin and overheads.
So we have 2 seperate entries for actual employees.
Admin comes under the management costs listing.

I honestly am not interested in what the engineers earn, I have a rough idea being an engineer myself, I have a rough idea as to what the admin are paid so using that as a basis I can also get a rough idea as to the high salaries the managers and directors <sic> are being paid.

As per a lot of charities, the wages structure isn't as plain as it is made out to be. (stays polite about this).

One normally finds that at the end of the day they are paid way too high a figure for what they actually do.

As to what the aircrew is paid I am sure they do earn every penny considering the task they perform, as I said before I did hear tell that they do give their pown time also.
I would not want ot be responsible for flying an aircraft that could develop as such a fault as to warrant evacuating the aircraft. As I feel sure that the aircrew would such a situation arise think of others safety first. That is the calibre of such people.


But back on track, I think that we can if all follows normal plans see the request for pledges again.

Also I note that the life expectancy has risen to 2012/2013.

[Xplumberlives]

here you go PA

http://www.vulcantothesky.org/how-to-help/financials.html

Thanks Mayfly.

I was just wondering how they got on with the projected figures and what they actually recieved.

Also looking at the staff cost.
£394,565 for the year.
With only 15 actual employees.
Average at £26,305 per employee.
But I am sure the one's on 10K less would love to have been paid more.

This also does not take into account the amount for Management and Admin salaries and other overheads as they are listed seperately as £111,538.

I have only based it on figures readily available though so my calculations may be a fair bit out.

Also the above figures used are the one's given by VTST as Staff costs exc Aircrew.
Bear in mind that the projected and the actual for these were different, in the plus side for the actual.
The hangar, Office rental and relocation amounted to £120,070, which was again on the plus side against the projected.

Wonder what next years projections will be?

ANSWER - A NON flying Vulcan!

[Mayfly]

Having just read the two statements in full - there are a number of things that bother me & I can't work out the logic of.

I make no secret of the fact that I think the decision not to do Northern air shows was wrong - I understand the reason they took that decision but personally think they should have not booked so many southern ones & used those flying hours [FI] not used up north, and before anyone says they can't afford her up North - how do they expect airshows to pay more for her then? ALL saleable goods have a ceiling price I think by stating they will play hard ball there will be even less venues open to them!! 558 is the most expensive popular display aircraft on the circuit now.

The other thing that I wonder about is the statement that...

If there is one place on the planet where you can meet & build relationships with the heads of the aviation-industry, then it is the biannual Farnborough International Airshow.

This year conflicted with East Fortune, Sunderland, & Windermere, does that mean every other year those venues will miss out because they think FAB is the place to be? [assuming they conflict again of course] The weekends at FAB are for the public with an attendance of 30,000 [Trusts own figures] as opposed to showing her to what 250,000? combined at the other 3 events? [not sure what Sunderland spectators figures are].

Sorry just surmising out loud really....

[Jigsaw]

I didn't here a thing Pam

I do, however agree with you (god help me)

[Mayfly]

*faints* ...*thud*

That's 3 times now Jiggy!!!! you been drinking again?

[Jigsaw]

*faints* ...*thud*

That's 3 times now Jiggy!!!! you been drinking again?

No. I have been drinking lager

[Hungry Haggis]

Reading that newsletter/statement on TVOC I see the words playing hardball in relation to air show fees ,now being a layman and also not being in possession of what they have charged or negotiated in the past does that mean they are now going to ask for a higher set figure? I can see the logic for that "BUT" I can also hear the groan as several current shows say sorry we can't afford or justify paying that for 1 aircraft 1 display 1 anything etc etc. So to me that will mean several smaller budget organizations and many people missing out .The no fly to Up north shows seems also to be very hard nosed apart from past displays at Leuchars.Unless I'm mistaken the furthest north she displays is Waddington .To raise the fees to a set figure could well be far outside what other places can afford without them dropping other aircraft = not fair on the air show punter who pays a large gate fee up front who want to see a variety of displays. OK 558 is turning out to be a show stopper but then we all knew she would be.But without knowing or even wanting to know I will guess that she has to be the most expensive item on the list .They of course have to try to make her pay/break even etc. But and I do mean but what happened to the new guy at the top saying earlier this year that the boom & bust times were over?They would get the funds sorted during the season for the closed time and next year .Has that happened or was it just so much smoke in the wind again?

Rant over

Edited to fix Punctuation and remove Error in judgement.

[Mayfly]

No HH the chairman is still adamant that they will not have this hand to mouth exhistance any more........

[Xplumberlives]

Not long till he has to eat his words then!

[Sooty655]

It states staff costs, not 'salaries' so does that include other things like accommodation for when they are away or overalls/flying suits or does that all come in 'operational costs'?

Don't know about expenses for accommodation, etc. Where that is shown would depend how they have broken up the accounts. However, it is important to remember that "Staff costs" will definitely include things like employers national insurance contributions.

My guess is that if you want to work out average salaries, you need to take off somewhere around 15%.

We are looking to sign-up 10,000 new Standing Orders of at least £5.58 per month. With Gift Aid, these will cover two thirds of the ‘gap’ until XH558 is expected to run out of airframe and/or engine life around 2013/14.

My worry with this, as with previous initiatives, is that the target of 10,000 new standing order has been chosen because it produces the income they want, not because there is any reason to believe the number is possible.

Targets are only worthwhile if there is a realistic chance of achieving them. A less serious example of the same thinking is the "World record birthday card". The ridiculous target was 558,000 signatures - from all of this year they have achieved 10701, or less than 2%.

The suggestion now seems to be that there are as many people prepared to commit money every month as there are people prepared to post one birthday message (at no cost) on the website.

[Mayfly]

I see where you are coming from with the 10,000 figure - they have said on their forum it was a way to increase the email data base they knew there was no chance of getting 558,000 signatures. I agree that getting people to sign up to something that is free is very different to getting people to part with their cash.

Regards the salaries - it would be nice to be able to point out on other fora that there are other costs included - but I'm not sure if/what they are....

[PhantomAviator]

It states staff costs, not 'salaries' so does that include other things like accommodation for when they are away or overalls/flying suits or does that all come in 'operational costs'?

Don't know about expenses for accommodation, etc. Where that is shown would depend how they have broken up the accounts. However, it is important to remember that "Staff costs" will definitely include things like employers national insurance contributions.

I would suggest that the away costs are included in this part of the equation.

This also does not take into account the amount for Management and Admin salaries and other overheads as they are listed seperately as £111,538.

As it definitately states 'Other Overheads'.

Insurance is as it shows under Operational costs.

With regards to NI contributions.
Extract from .Gov.org

LEL Lower Earnings Limit
PT & ST Primary and Secondary thresholds
UAP Upper Accrual Point
UEL Upper Earnings Limit
Primary earnings threshold, and upper and lower earnings limits 2010/11

2010/11 LEL PT and ST UAP UEL
Weekly £97 110 770 844
Monthly £421 476 3337 3656
Annual £5044 5715 40040 43875

The UEL is aligned with the starting rate for the higher level income tax rate (40%).

[Sooty655]

Sorry, PA, but the figures you are quoting from the direct.gov website are the thresh-holds for application of various rates, not the rates to be paid. If you check the hmrc website, you will find the rate for most types/bands is 12.8%

[Xplumberlives]

It states staff costs, not 'salaries' so does that include other things like accommodation for when they are away or overalls/flying suits or does that all come in 'operational costs'?

Don't know about expenses for accommodation, etc. Where that is shown would depend how they have broken up the accounts. However, it is important to remember that "Staff costs" will definitely include things like employers national insurance contributions.

My guess is that if you want to work out average salaries, you need to take off somewhere around 15%.

We are looking to sign-up 10,000 new Standing Orders of at least £5.58 per month. With Gift Aid, these will cover two thirds of the ‘gap’ until XH558 is expected to run out of airframe and/or engine life around 2013/14.

My worry with this, as with previous initiatives, is that the target of 10,000 new standing order has been chosen because it produces the income they want, not because there is any reason to believe the number is possible.

Targets are only worthwhile if there is a realistic chance of achieving them. A less serious example of the same thinking is the "World record birthday card". The ridiculous target was 558,000 signatures - from all of this year they have achieved 10701, or less than 2%.

The suggestion now seems to be that there are as many people prepared to commit money every month as there are people prepared to post one birthday message (at no cost) on the website.

I wonder if they can even comprehend the meaning of the word REALISTIC?


Oh and just for the fun of it, HOW LONG until someone comes along and posts KEEP THE FAITH?

[PhantomAviator]

Sorry, PA, but the figures you are quoting from the direct.gov website are the thresh-holds for application of various rates, not the rates to be paid. If you check the hmrc website, you will find the rate for most types/bands is 12.8%

Apologies, but without knowing the exact wage structure they have the easiest way was to show what the current years figures can be worked upon.

I understand what you are saying by the average of 15% but it does all change when we hit the upper management levels, then a very big difference when we hit the company director level as they can be classed as non-employees for the purpose of the Revenue and Customs so they then use different figures entirely.

I think a lot is caused by the ambiguous way the charts are done.
To list not just one section as employees and then another as admin and management.

I suppose we will never know without the full actual figures becoming available in the public domain as to how they are actually made up.
I do know that when I had my own business the Taxman was not aparty to just getting a figure listed as tools, machinery electric and pnuematic.
He wanted it as a complete breakdown.