On 19 Dec, Brize Norton and most UK airports experienced some of the most severe pre-Christmas weather for decades.
The task faced by all airports is similar - get passengers moving on time – but as the UK end of the Afghanistan Airbridge, the task facing Brize Norton was more personal – get TROOPS home for R&R at Christmas.
Working in temperatures of -15C to get and keep the airfield clear of the 15cm of snow, Brize Norton opened 7 hours earlier than most international airports
Off-duty shifts were called in and leave was been cancelled in all but the most exceptional circumstances.
Facing a backlog of almost 600 soldiers, sailors and airmen the Station rescheduled almost a dozen flights to produce a plan that should get all the troops home for Christmas.
The last passengers from Afghanistan will be in the UK on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.
Regrettably, many people have been delayed but the Movements Team in Afghanistan has prioritised travel on a case by case basis. R&R passengers have been put at the front of the list and shorter-term ‘visitors’ will be recovered on the later flights.
While keeping the Airbridge open, the personnel at Brize Norton have also:
Recovered almost 100 troops conducting vital pre-deployment training overseas.
Maintained support to the UK’s quick reaction alert.
Mounted an AeroMed flight which involved the civilian police escorting one of the surgeons to the aircraft.
Personally I think that's pretty good!!!!
