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Old 27th Sep 2004, 12:01
  #18 (permalink)  
Golf Charlie Charlie
 
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I think it’s high time we had a remotely sited Airfield somewhere. A facility that would be maintained for instances such as this, such that the population isn’t put at risk, and the Airlines and Airports don’t suffer the huge impacts of having an operating base closed because a rogue aircraft has landed there.
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That is, of course, exactly why Stansted was chosen in the first place many years ago as the UK's diversion airport for hijacks and related incidents, long before the recent growth from the low costs was even thought of. This became a problem when the Afghan 727 arrived out of the blue 4 years ago, but previous incidents (Sudan, Air Tanzania) had not caused material disruption. I guess the ATC, police and fire people at STN have more training than elsewhere, but maybe there is a need for an alternative site now, eg. a decommissioned military field.
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