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Sunday Times: Royals fly free of cuts to get new jets
THE RAF is planning to spend millions of pounds on a new fleet of executive jets dedicated to flying the royal family, government ministers and military top brass on trips overseas.
Overlooked in last week’s defence review is a controversial plan to replace four BAe 146 jets that make up the so-called “royal flight”, which is provided by the RAF’s 32 (the Royal) Squadron. RAF sources say that with a range of only 1,800 miles, the existing four-engined aircraft are unable to fly across the Atlantic and need to be refuelled too often when flying beyond Europe. A trip to Dubai needs one refuelling stop, while a trip to Delhi requires two.
Officials are looking for a modern corporate jet with a longer range, but such a move could come with a hefty price tag — a jet such as the Bombardier Global 6000, which has a range of 7,000 miles, costs £40m.
Replacing 32 Squadron’s jets is in addition to a £10m plan to refit an RAF Voyager refuelling aircraft so it can be used by David Cameron on official overseas trips. The government said that this would ultimately save taxpayers £735,000 a year......
A cheaper alternative to buying new business jets could be to lease extra aircraft under the same private finance initiative deal that has delivered 14 Voyagers to the RAF. The Voyager is based on a standard Airbus A330, and aviation sources suggest a number of Airbus’s ACJ319 or ACJ320 corporate jets could be leased to 32 Squadron.
The royal family has scaled back its use of 32 Squadron to a handful of trips a year after criticism over the cost of using the military aircraft. The Queen and the Prince of Wales use commercial charter companies for their official tours. But 32 Squadron, which is based at RAF Northolt, west London, is regularly used by senior military officers and government ministers. Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, was flown by the squadron 11 times between July 2014 and March 2015.
The BAe 146 can accommodate around 30 VIPs with four crew and has a series of countermeasures to protect it from being shot down. As well as VIP travel, the jets have moved key commanders and reconnaissance teams to war zones, flown war criminals to the Hague and helped evacuate British civilians from Libya in 2011.
The Ministry of Defence said the department’s air defence board would decide how and when to replace the jets. “The BAe 146 has not been manufactured since 2002 and a timescale has not been given for this decision. It may be a one-for-one replacement of aircraft, but another option might be better value for money.”.....
THE RAF is planning to spend millions of pounds on a new fleet of executive jets dedicated to flying the royal family, government ministers and military top brass on trips overseas.
Overlooked in last week’s defence review is a controversial plan to replace four BAe 146 jets that make up the so-called “royal flight”, which is provided by the RAF’s 32 (the Royal) Squadron. RAF sources say that with a range of only 1,800 miles, the existing four-engined aircraft are unable to fly across the Atlantic and need to be refuelled too often when flying beyond Europe. A trip to Dubai needs one refuelling stop, while a trip to Delhi requires two.
Officials are looking for a modern corporate jet with a longer range, but such a move could come with a hefty price tag — a jet such as the Bombardier Global 6000, which has a range of 7,000 miles, costs £40m.
Replacing 32 Squadron’s jets is in addition to a £10m plan to refit an RAF Voyager refuelling aircraft so it can be used by David Cameron on official overseas trips. The government said that this would ultimately save taxpayers £735,000 a year......
A cheaper alternative to buying new business jets could be to lease extra aircraft under the same private finance initiative deal that has delivered 14 Voyagers to the RAF. The Voyager is based on a standard Airbus A330, and aviation sources suggest a number of Airbus’s ACJ319 or ACJ320 corporate jets could be leased to 32 Squadron.
The royal family has scaled back its use of 32 Squadron to a handful of trips a year after criticism over the cost of using the military aircraft. The Queen and the Prince of Wales use commercial charter companies for their official tours. But 32 Squadron, which is based at RAF Northolt, west London, is regularly used by senior military officers and government ministers. Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, was flown by the squadron 11 times between July 2014 and March 2015.
The BAe 146 can accommodate around 30 VIPs with four crew and has a series of countermeasures to protect it from being shot down. As well as VIP travel, the jets have moved key commanders and reconnaissance teams to war zones, flown war criminals to the Hague and helped evacuate British civilians from Libya in 2011.
The Ministry of Defence said the department’s air defence board would decide how and when to replace the jets. “The BAe 146 has not been manufactured since 2002 and a timescale has not been given for this decision. It may be a one-for-one replacement of aircraft, but another option might be better value for money.”.....
Germany's Flugbereitschaft at Köln/Wahn uses 2 x A340-300, 2 x A319CJ and 4 GX-5000s for VIP work, operated by the Luftwaffe.
Very smart they are too!
An A319CJ might be a bit tight for VVIP use, with all the necessary supporting staff/clothes/uniforms/food etc.
But a couple of A321neoLR in a VIP fit would doubtless make very fine intercontinental VVIP aircraft.
A brace of A319CJ and another of A321neoLR would supplement the VIP Voyager quite nicely - no doubt there's no money though and the nation would be obliged to use PFI Rent-a-Jet for such purposes, flying either from London Airport or Brize Norton?
Very smart they are too!
An A319CJ might be a bit tight for VVIP use, with all the necessary supporting staff/clothes/uniforms/food etc.
But a couple of A321neoLR in a VIP fit would doubtless make very fine intercontinental VVIP aircraft.
A brace of A319CJ and another of A321neoLR would supplement the VIP Voyager quite nicely - no doubt there's no money though and the nation would be obliged to use PFI Rent-a-Jet for such purposes, flying either from London Airport or Brize Norton?
Last edited by BEagle; 29th Nov 2015 at 16:13.
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Airbus crew training
In the civil world the Airbus types are a common type rating, with the A330 already in service using an Airbus type could save money with crew training and crew flexibility.
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Why couldn't they use BA like us mere mortals ???
Ministers and seniors use commercial airlines a lot when they can. Unfortunately the reality of their programmes is that they need to move about a lot, need to be in multiple countries, often in the same day (thinking some gulf programmes here) and a commercial airline simply cant do that for them.
There is an enormous amount of value in having a small number of discrete jets to enable the UK to get senior officers and Ministers in and out of some locations quickly and quietly.
There is an enormous amount of value in having a small number of discrete jets to enable the UK to get senior officers and Ministers in and out of some locations quickly and quietly.
The recent CHOGM in Malta had The Queen and Prince Philip travelling in a Titan A320 and Charles and Camilla in an Embraer Legacy. The TV coverage I saw also clearly showed one of the 32(TR) 146's parked on the ramp at Luqa (maybe this was Cameron's transport?).
Meanwhile various Commonwealth Nations sent their leaders in Govt. Boeings, Airbusses, Globals and Gulfstreams (checking this spotters list from the last few days http://www.maltaspotting.com/aviationinmalta.htm).
We lead the Commonwealth, but not in aviation provision for our VVIPs it would seem :-(
Meanwhile various Commonwealth Nations sent their leaders in Govt. Boeings, Airbusses, Globals and Gulfstreams (checking this spotters list from the last few days http://www.maltaspotting.com/aviationinmalta.htm).
We lead the Commonwealth, but not in aviation provision for our VVIPs it would seem :-(
It seems that we cannot afford it now, but the service we gave Royalty and senior politicians in our two VVIP VC10s was unparalleled anywhere. I was once asked what I did and said I flew the British equivalent of Air Force One. Except it was more like the Orient Express. The only high-tec stuff we had was the secure comms and the anti missile system. The rest was mahogany and silver service. Still, we could fly 7000+ miles without refuelling and cruise at Mach 0.86 with a high speed dash if necessary. But all that came at a cost. And we could carry up to 70 pax in the VVIP fit.
"Why couldn't they use BA like us mere mortals ???"
When appropriate they can and do. However, BA will have limits on the size/security of the airfields they visit and their aircraft will not be fitted with the countermeasures required to allow flights in/out of "hotspots" at acceptable risk, nor the advanced (secure) comms systems to enable work to continue once airborne.
Personally, I think a small fleet, as BEagle outlines, of suitably modified Airbus aircraft with UK DAS, UK comms and RR engines would not only permit our key individuals to travel and work securely, but would also shop window some important elements of UK technology.
When appropriate they can and do. However, BA will have limits on the size/security of the airfields they visit and their aircraft will not be fitted with the countermeasures required to allow flights in/out of "hotspots" at acceptable risk, nor the advanced (secure) comms systems to enable work to continue once airborne.
Personally, I think a small fleet, as BEagle outlines, of suitably modified Airbus aircraft with UK DAS, UK comms and RR engines would not only permit our key individuals to travel and work securely, but would also shop window some important elements of UK technology.
I am with Beags and Evalu8er on this on two grounds - security, and National Prestige - both of which in my book are important. Just need to get the provisioning contract right................
Whatever they buy it would need to be able to operate from Northolt (although Blair Force 1 was tentatively planned to operate from another airfield) so not an A330/340.
Last edited by chevvron; 30th Nov 2015 at 15:48.
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Just get on and buy them. Unless we buy second hand and refurb, they won't be delivered until after DC has left Government (nearly)
The cost to the MoD/Treasury is equivalent to a bit of spillage as you pick up your beer at the bar..............................
Too much talking and not enough doing in my opinion nowadays in Government.
Arc
The cost to the MoD/Treasury is equivalent to a bit of spillage as you pick up your beer at the bar..............................
Too much talking and not enough doing in my opinion nowadays in Government.
Arc
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Quote:
Why couldn't they use BA like us mere mortals ???
Because she is Head of State, not a gin swilling, 20 a day ciggy smoker going to Magaluf for 10 nights of clubbing and shagging.
Why couldn't they use BA like us mere mortals ???
Because she is Head of State, not a gin swilling, 20 a day ciggy smoker going to Magaluf for 10 nights of clubbing and shagging.
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Because she is Head of State, not a gin swilling, 20 a day ciggy smoker going to Magaluf for 10 nights of clubbing and shagging
Originally Posted by ORAC (well, your quote really)
THE RAF is planning to spend millions of pounds on a new fleet of executive jets dedicated to flying the royal family, government ministers and military top brass on trips overseas.