Brown Force One update?

[0497]

What has become of Brown-Blair Force One?

About a year ago plans for a new VIP fleet was big news then ... seemingly nothing. Is is still in the works? (There was talk of 2 jets, 1 for short haul and another for transcontinental)

Closest news of late was the Royals and S-76s.

(edit) - question remains
found an old thread: http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=275897

[minigundiplomat]

It would make me laugh if manpower shortages grounded them!

[chevvron]

It is supposed to be contractorised, so there'll be no shortage of crews, what with all the commercial pilots from eastern europe available.

[Spiro]

ah you mean the gershon report - big pile of wrong assumptions made by a bloke who knew nothing about aircraft leasing/management.

Its dead - may be something else along in a few years time.;)

[Guzlin Adnams]

Brown can bl00dy well walk!

[Green Flash]

Buy another C-17 with a VIP pod. At least it can be of some use when it's not VIP'ing.

[TOPBUNKER]

Perhaps that VIP pod could be air-dispatched. Without a parachute!

[Flyingblind]

Hmmmmmm your idea has merit TB, however, general elections consume a vast amount of money that could be put to better use else where, may i suggest the leader of the Labour party be inserted via LAPES?

[Early Stacker]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7315126.stm

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has scrapped plans to buy two private jets to fly him and the Royal Family around the world, the government has said.
Instead, only a small plane for use around the UK will be purchased.

Funny that this should come out when the MPs are under scrutiny about their expenses!:rolleyes:

[Ray Dahvectac]

From the newswires
The Government has shelved plans to buy two private jets to carry the Prime Minister and the Royal Family around the world.

The proposals were made by former premier Tony Blair and expected to cost the taxpayer as much as £100 million.

A decision to abandon plans for the jets - nicknamed "Blair Force One" - was disclosed in a written statement to MPs by the Department for Transport.

The Government is expected to buy a small plane for trips around the UK.

Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said the department had worked closely with the Royal Household, No 10 and the Foreign Office to reach the decision.

He said: "I am today recommending that the needs of the users of this service can best be met through procuring a small aircraft for official travel within the UK, chartered air services for longer journeys involving small parties, and a continuation of existing arrangements with UK airlines for journeys involving large parties.

"This approach ensures better value for money for the taxpayer whilst also minimising the environmental impact of royal and ministerial air travel, producing an estimated 10 per cent saving on O2 emissions."

[minigundiplomat]

Im sure us ppruners can have a whip round. We need enough to launch the cabinet on a junket aboard Brown Force 1. Dig deep, we need enough fuel to get them to the surface of the sun!

[airborne_artist]

There was no way that Brown would have got away with this, and he's smart enough to have worked it out. Chartering makes more sense anyway.

[VictorWatcher]

Even 3rd world tin pot nations have a 737 dedicated for the transport of the President/Prime Minister etc etc.

While turning up on a BA 777 is fine I do think there is a case for a dedicated transport including enough telephones, faxes yadda yadda.

Since the RAF (should) be getting the A330's soon it seems to me to make alot of sense to order 2 more non tankers or even better a couple of A340s and really do a proper job on them like the US has in their air force ones.

Done properly these can be used for 25 years and I'd also go so far as suggesting getting a couple of 320/319s for the mini trips or lesser lights going on long trips. These people are supposed to be representing Britain at least let them travel with some privacy so they can do a reasonable job when they get there.

[mystic_meg]

Currently ministers and the Royal Family use 32 (The Royal) Squadron, but this will be unavailable from April 1 next year.

Does this mean 32 (TR) Sqn are disbanding?

[Razor61]

Prime Minister scraps plans for 'Brown Force One'
Sam Coates, Chief Political Correspondent

26-03-2008

Gordon Brown is risking the wrath of the Queen by scrapping plans for a new
"Brown Force One" to take ministers and members of the Royal Family on
overseas trips.
Jim Fitzpatrick, a junior transport minister, slipped out the surprise
announcement earlier this afternoon. He said the Government had abandoned
the £100 million plans to lease two new aircraft because of the rising
running costs and Mr Brown's new guidelines insisting ministers take
scheduled flights where possible.
Instead the Government and Royal Family will be allowed to buy a smaller
jet, with between 10 and 15 seats, to be used only inside the United
Kingdom. This could anger the Queen, who is long understood to have been
pressing for a new aircraft, but Mr Fitzpatrick insisted his department had
worked closely with the Royal Household, No 10 and the Foreign Office to
reach the decision.
He said: “I am today recommending that the needs of the users of this
service can best be met through procuring a small aircraft for official
travel within the UK, chartered air services for longer journeys involving
small parties, and a continuation of existing arrangements with UK airlines
for journeys involving large parties.

“This approach ensures better value for money for the taxpayer whilst also
minimising the environmental impact of royal and ministerial air travel,
producing an estimated 10 per cent saving on O2 emissions.”
The statement to MPs said there had been “substantial increases in the cost
of buying and operating commercial aircraft” since the idea was first raised
in 2006. It also pointed out that the new Ministerial Code - introduced by
Mr Brown when he entered No 10 last summer - sets out that scheduled flights
should be used wherever possible.
“An increasing proportion of overseas journeys, including a number of those
undertaken by the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, are now routinely
made on scheduled flights,” said Mr Fitzpatrick
For overseas trips, both ministers and members of the Royal Family will use
either scheduled flights or charter commercial aircraft. The jet will be
paid for by the Department for Transport and ministers will be allowed
access for British flights. Currently ministers and the Royal Family use 32
(The Royal) Squadron, but this will be unavailable from April 1 next year.
The Gershon Review in 2004 recommended that the Government buy two dedicated
aircraft: an Airbus seating 70 to 80 and a smaller executive jet for 15 to
20 passengers, to be used for European travel.
The idea of a "Blair Force One", along the lines of the US President's Air
Force One, had been considered at different times throughout Tony Blair's
premiership. Mr Blair agreed to the plans, which would have cost around £100
million, last May as one of his last acts as Prime Minister.
He approved the decision after, in 2006, he was put in the awkward position
of having to fly to a European summit in Brussels on a carrier displaying
Austrian livery. Before Christmas, Mr Brown travelled to the Middle East in
a private Swiss jet.

-end-

I see Sarkozy arrived on his dedicated A319 along with another A319 in tow for support for his state visit.
Are we the only major government without dedicated long haul transport for the Queen and Cabinet having to rely upon British Airways (And the Swiss)?

[Guzlin Adnams]

:E Brown in a PA 28.......

[mystic_meg]

..already covered in this thread:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=304350

[Razor61]

Just seen thanks
I did look on the first page to see if it was 'active' but it wasn't and i only spotted it upon coming back to have a look at this thread.

Thanks for highlighting.

Mods can you delete this thread please.

[Razor61]

More info on it here:-

Prime Minister scraps plans for 'Brown Force One'
Sam Coates, Chief Political Correspondent

26-03-2008

Gordon Brown is risking the wrath of the Queen by scrapping plans for a new
"Brown Force One" to take ministers and members of the Royal Family on
overseas trips.
Jim Fitzpatrick, a junior transport minister, slipped out the surprise
announcement earlier this afternoon. He said the Government had abandoned
the £100 million plans to lease two new aircraft because of the rising
running costs and Mr Brown's new guidelines insisting ministers take
scheduled flights where possible.
Instead the Government and Royal Family will be allowed to buy a smaller
jet, with between 10 and 15 seats, to be used only inside the United
Kingdom. This could anger the Queen, who is long understood to have been
pressing for a new aircraft, but Mr Fitzpatrick insisted his department had
worked closely with the Royal Household, No 10 and the Foreign Office to
reach the decision.
He said: “I am today recommending that the needs of the users of this
service can best be met through procuring a small aircraft for official
travel within the UK, chartered air services for longer journeys involving
small parties, and a continuation of existing arrangements with UK airlines
for journeys involving large parties.

“This approach ensures better value for money for the taxpayer whilst also
minimising the environmental impact of royal and ministerial air travel,
producing an estimated 10 per cent saving on O2 emissions.”
The statement to MPs said there had been “substantial increases in the cost
of buying and operating commercial aircraft” since the idea was first raised
in 2006. It also pointed out that the new Ministerial Code - introduced by
Mr Brown when he entered No 10 last summer - sets out that scheduled flights
should be used wherever possible.
“An increasing proportion of overseas journeys, including a number of those
undertaken by the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, are now routinely
made on scheduled flights,” said Mr Fitzpatrick
For overseas trips, both ministers and members of the Royal Family will use
either scheduled flights or charter commercial aircraft. The jet will be
paid for by the Department for Transport and ministers will be allowed
access for British flights. Currently ministers and the Royal Family use 32
(The Royal) Squadron, but this will be unavailable from April 1 next year.
The Gershon Review in 2004 recommended that the Government buy two dedicated
aircraft: an Airbus seating 70 to 80 and a smaller executive jet for 15 to
20 passengers, to be used for European travel.
The idea of a "Blair Force One", along the lines of the US President's Air
Force One, had been considered at different times throughout Tony Blair's
premiership. Mr Blair agreed to the plans, which would have cost around £100
million, last May as one of his last acts as Prime Minister.
He approved the decision after, in 2006, he was put in the awkward position
of having to fly to a European summit in Brussels on a carrier displaying
Austrian livery. Before Christmas, Mr Brown travelled to the Middle East in
a private Swiss jet.

-end-

[bayete]

Perhaps a share in a certain fractional ownership company.
They would be able to fly with lots of ex mil pilots:}

[Evanelpus]

Even 3rd world tin pot nations have a 737 dedicated for the transport of the President/Prime Minister etc etc.

.....and that's why the poor sods who live in those countries can't get decent schooling, health care and food because of their corrupt leaders. I've been involved in the sale of corporate jets to said countries and was sickened by what I saw. By the way, I'm no longer doing this!

[CHINOOKER]

Whilst i am not surprised by this move,i would have thought it more "cost-efficient" to have announced this cancellation,BEFORE the new south-side hangars had been constructed at Northolt! I suppose now we will gradually see the "creeping civilianisation" of yet another RAF station.
What's the betting that Heathrows new 3rd runway will "magically appear" just north of the A40!!

[gar170]

Are you not sure he said "One Air force to be scrapped":eek:

[Spiro]

Quote:
Currently ministers and the Royal Family use 32 (The Royal) Squadron, but this will be unavailable from April 1 next year.

Does this mean 32 (TR) Sqn are disbanding?

Nope.

Only 10-20% of what 32 does involves royals/ministers, most of our tasking is now iraq/afghan theatre based.

Don't believe everything you read, the papers saying we will stop flying royals in 12 months time is misleading. Yes it will come to an end eventually but more likely in the 2-3 year timescale. Hopefully i will be working for 32's successor by then ;)

[Hill Walker]

http://www.prints-online.com/pictures_619136/LOADING-A-V2-ROCKET.jpg

[skua]

But don't forget Bliar. When he is crowned President of the new Superpower, sorry the EU, he will have to create his own little AT fleet to ferry him + postbox gob + retinue around his empire. May be he will then lend the odd asset to his old mate.....

Skua