Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

Alyssum Holdings has filed for administration two years after the owner of online charter platform Fly Victor completed its acquisition of RocketRoute, which was founded in 2010 as an online flight planning platform and app. Both the subsidiary companies are for sale by the administrators.&nbsp;

 


Fly Victor was founded in 2010 by Clive Jackson, who wanted to offer flight-sharing having seen wasted empty legs and seats on business jets. Alyssum was created as a holding company for Fly Victor when the RocketRoute takeover was structured, with $18 million of financing led by BBA Aviation and BP Ventures.

 


The administrators have set February 28 as the deadline for offers for the companies.

 


London-based David Rubin and Partners is overseeing the administration of Alyssum, and Hilco Streambank was&nbsp;retained to manage offers for Alyssum’s shareholdings in Fly Victor Limited and RocketRoute, which&nbsp;Jackson claims will carry on business as usual. Fly Victor says it recorded charter bookings of $74 million in 2018.

 


According to a statement from Fly Victor, "The Board of Alyssum Group have placed our holding company into administration to ensure both RocketRoute and Victor, which are both fully trading going concerns, are able to pursue separate paths and seek new investment through a process managed by Hilco Global and administered by David Rubin and Partners."

 


Two lawsuits in Florida, one for $30 million, may have driven the decision to wind up Alyssum. Both were reportedly from Louis David Spagnuolo, over the use of the URL privatejet.com.

 


Delaware-based Don’t Look Media, LLC apparently launched the lawsuit based on a 2015 licensing agreement that enabled it to use the privatejet.com to generate leads it would then convert to bookings. The lawsuit was filed on June 21, 2019, in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida. The lawsuit names both Jackson and Alyssum Group as defendants while Spagnuolo, who says he owns privatejet.com, claims Victor never paid any fees from licensing the website.

 


Defendants Alyssum, Fly Victor, Clive Jackson, et al filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on February 5, and this was granted "without prejudice for Plaintiff to file suit in the forum agreed to by the parties," according to the motion. "The Clerk of Court is directed to close&nbsp;this case and deny as moot&nbsp;any pending motions."

Fly Victor, RocketRoute Parent Files for Administration

Bringing together Fly Victor and RocketRoute has failed and both companies are now for sale.

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