Word: freelandia
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...behind Freelandia is Ken Moss, 31, a Syracuse University dropout who claimed to have made millions in Wall Street by helping entrepreneurs get financing. After dropping out again-this time to Katmandu -Moss dreamed up a plan that seemed to to be irresistible: for an initial fee of $50, anyone could enlist in a quasi commune called Freelandia and cash in on the cheap air fares that maximum capacity, low overhead and Moss's brains would make possible...
Flashing a beatific smile, the soft-spoken Moss promoted his idea to newsmen. Paeans to Freelandia appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. By November, the exposure had attracted 2,000 members. Moss had leased a used DC-8 from National Airlines and, with certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, the club was offering flights across the country, to Honolulu and even to Europe...
Daily Alibis. There were early signs of trouble in Freelandia. Employees grumbled about mismanagement, and 85% of the flights were canceled. Nonetheless, in late November, Moss landed a guest spot on the Johnny Carson show, after which membership jumped...
...line continued to slide, and in February, Moss slipped an interesting item into the club newsletter: while Freelandia was nonprofit, it said, a Moss-controlled company called Transmar was not. In fact, Transmar was leasing Freelandia the DC-8 as well as providing management services for a fee. More disgruntled employees complained of having to invent daily alibis for club members who demanded refunds for canceled flights. Aggrieved members could be repaid only when cash came in from sales of tickets for future flights, and the amounts owed piled higher and higher. Though 45 coast-to-coast flights were made...
...April, Freelandia lost its DC-8. Moss contends that he returned it to the owner because it was a lemon, but others say that it was repossessed. Moss now admits that he lied when he claimed he was not into Freelandia for the money. The FAA is challenging Freelandia's certification as an air club allowed to woo passengers by charging low fares. In the courts, Moss's lawyers so far have battled the FAA to a standoff, and he has managed to lease a Convair 880 to replace the DC-8. Though there have been no Freelandia...