Indra Dhanush RTB
A few observations from the AT trail that returned the majority of the people on Exercise Indra Dhanush.
A Tri* was used to trail 6 F3's back to UK via Al Dhafra and Akrotiri. Why the Tri* could had to go to Abu Dhabi Intl and Rhodes for the night stops is difficult to explain. I believe the Tri* did get back to UK more or less on time which was good news.
The C17 that carried 40ish personnel back to the UK via Al Dhafra, Akrotiri and Leuchars was reliable and the crew tried to accomodate the wishes of the numerous Waddington personnel on board, absolutely no problems with the crew whatsoever. Where there were problems for the crew was that they arrived in India not aware that they were to take pax back to UK, even though all pax had been told a week earlier that we were returning by C17. This may have had a bonus as there were no AT Sy to conduct our check-in at Agra. There were also very few movers on the aircraft too.
When the C17 arrived in Akrotiri, about 1730 local, the crew promptly disappered off (to a hotel?), all pax were loaded into 2 buses and dumped at two transit accomodation blocks. There was no briefing whatsoever on meal arrangements, or even what time we were to be collected the following morning for our onward flight. At no time were any Cyprus personnel anywhere to be seen. As far as I am aware there is still Officers and SNCO's messes in Akrotiri, so why were we given 8-man rooms in transit accomodation so far away from the messes?
The morning of leaving Akrotiri involved us reporting to the terminal 2 1/2 hours before take-off so that we could be checked in by AT Sy and movements, all a bit late really, and why could the Duty Free shop not be opened?
The C17 is capable of flying from India to UK directly, so why was it necessary for two night stops on the way, a waste of fuel, time and money?
Just a few observations, but at least everyone got back to UK more or less on time so we have something to be thankful for.
As for the exercise aircraft, at least two of the F3's never made it to Cyprus, and the E-3D made it back to Waddington on schedule.
Castle
ps, Serf, I am fairly certain that CAS and COS Ops flew to Delhi by civair.