Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

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Boeing767copilot
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Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by Boeing767copilot »

Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night. he was 79 years old. :(

teach
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM past away last night

Post by teach »

Sad to read. Condolences to his family.

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travellover
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM past away last night

Post by travellover »

RIP.
Also founder of VG Airlines rebranded Delsey Airlines (in August, Tony Gram became the only owner).
Airline that flew with three A330-200 (ex Sabena) from 24 May to 5 November 2002.
They operated flights from Brussels to Boston, New York JFK, Los Angeles and Yerevan, but transatlantic competition was too fierce and Delsey Airlines went bankrupt.
This happened during the worst crisis that happened in the belgian civil aviation until today (Sabena bankruptcy).
Last edited by travellover on 15 Dec 2017, 11:55, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers

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luchtzak
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM past away last night

Post by luchtzak »

Last night entrepreneur and politician Freddy Van Gaever passed away from cancer. Freddy (79) built a long career in the tourism industry.

He helped to launch Delta Air Transport (which later became a subsidiary of Sabena and survived its demise as SN Brussels Airlines, then Brussels Airlines), VLM Airlines, European Air Transport (flying for DHL) and VG Airlines (later Delsey Airlines). His brainchild VG Airlines – from his initials Van Gaever – lasted only for one year.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/found ... age-of-79/

Bird
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by Bird »

Rip Freddy

jan_olieslagers
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by jan_olieslagers »

RIP indeed, Freddy, blue skies forever!

However, history merits respect: Freddy was NOT the founder of DAT; he did realise its big growth though.

And wasn't he involved in one FreVaG Airlines, too?
Last edited by jan_olieslagers on 15 Dec 2017, 18:13, edited 1 time in total.

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travellover
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by travellover »

jan_olieslagers wrote: 15 Dec 2017, 18:06 And wasn't he involed in one FreVaG Airlines, too?
travellover wrote: 15 Dec 2017, 11:45 RIP.
Also founder of VG Airlines rebranded Delsey Airlines (in August, Tony Gram became the only owner).
Airline that flew with three A330-200 (ex Sabena) from 24 May to 5 November 2002.
They operated flights from Brussels to Boston, New York JFK, Los Angeles and Yerevan, but transatlantic competition was too fierce and Delsey Airlines went bankrupt.
This happened during the worst crisis that happened in the belgian civil aviation until today (Sabena bankruptcy).
Yes, in 2002.
Cheers

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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by jan_olieslagers »

Yes yes, but Frevag was quite a different company, operating small twin turboprops, in the 1980's. Check http://www.skystef.be/airlines/frevag-airlines.htm Ah, this wonderful Freddy VG, he always saw opportunities!

saratoga
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by saratoga »

RIP.

Another Antwerp Flemish aviation pioneer has gone.

Passenger
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Re: Freddy Van Gaever, founder of DAT and VLM passed away last night

Post by Passenger »

Freddy Van Gaever (1938-2017) qualified as licentiaat Handels- en maritieme wetenschappen at UFSIA – and as master in Tourism at the Limburgs Universitair Centrum.

He started his first business in 1963: Freddytrans. Via this company, he got in contact with cargo and general aviation business. And on 1st June 1966 he became director at Delta Air Transport. DAT had a good and close collaboration with Sabena. But in 1974, the Société Générale and CMB demanded that Sabena took over at DAT. Freddy Van Gaever was furious, and he quit. After Sabena’s bankruptcy (Nov 2001), DAT became SN Brussels Airlines...

He then became director and/or manager at Onatra, DHL, EAT, IPEC, Transavia and others. Few decades ago, he lobbied with the government for the implementation of “langesnuit vrachtwagens” – old style trucks with engine in front of the driver. FVG expected that these trucks would almost exclude deadly accidents with pedestrians and cyclists. FVG even asked every government (including the actual one) to implement the old style trucks, but without result.

He also was asked by the PMU (legal gambling on horse races) to clean up their house – and he did. He discovered fraud and he exposed it.

In March 1989 he founded Frevag Airlines, but was tackeled a first time by the Belgian CAA. He had more success in February 1992, with Vlaamse Luchtvaartmaatschappij (VLM). In June 1993, Jaap Rosen Jacobson took over ownership and management. Also in 1989, FVG took over Jumbo Travel, a travel agency in Deurne. He sold Jumbo Travel in 1998 to Jaap Jacob Jacobson (cfr VLM Airlines).

After 9/11 (11/09/2001) and Sabena’s bankruptcy (07/11/2001), his son-in-law (a Sabena captain) told him that aircraft could be leased at extremely cheap conditions. So FVG founded VG Airlines: two leased A332’s and a third one leased “paid by the hour”. However, the AOC was delayed, though the business plan was approved by the bank from day one (just like Air Belgium now faces). And when the AOG was finally granted, FVG had invested already so much money, that he had to sell the airline to Tony Gram, a business relative with more financial means. Gram’s overpaid managers saw an opportunity with one of Gram’s other businesses: Delsey (suitcases). Hence VG Airlines became Delsey Airlines. Only a few months before Delsey Airlines bankruptcy (on 2 Nov 2002), Gram reimbursed FVG’s investment in VG Airlines. To much relief of mrs VG…

But more important then the above businesses, Freddy Van Gaever was a family man. He had a good marriage, he was extremely proud on his children and he was extremely happy with his grandchildren (hence their names on the VG A332’s).

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