There was some interesting banter in the Lords on Monday about the air bridge to Afghanistan and Iraq. The top line award [sorry 216 mates] definitely goes to Earl Attlee: "My Lords, can the Minister say at what date the flying scrapheaps known as the Tristar aircraft will be replaced?"
Now I think Drayson is a pretty good chap and is genuinely trying to make things better on procurement, but his answer just doesn't ring right, given the VC10/2015 angle: "Our intention is to bring the future strategic tanker aircraft into service at the end of the decade." Duh, which one?
The bottom line on the air bridge from April-December 2006 is: 86% of strategic air transport flights left for Iraq on time or with a delay of less than 3h, and 75% to Afghanistan, with the number of Tristars fit for purpose "very close to the 4.75 to 4.8 target."
Drayson also says: "We are investing in Brize Norton to improve the experience for passengers while they wait." So when's the Gateway coming down then?
Keep up the good work, AT mates - no complaints at all from my Afghanistan trip last April! Well, apart from the bogs packing up on the Timmy, that is!