Question for Brize Norton Crews

[Scottie Dog]

A quick question from an outsider.

Why do Transport Command (sorry very old fashioned - shows the age) seem to use Manchester as their number one diversion field? Surely there must be airfields nearer at hand which would be operational and able to handle you.

Many thanks

Scottie Dog

[Top Bunk Tester]

Bredbury Hall ........ Nuff said ;)

[rafloo]

Bredbury Hall is Cr*p and living on its reputation of the 1980's. (which was superb) .....but it has declined recently. There are knocking shops much nearer to Brize..

[Tonkenna]

Crash Cat... thats about it. (oh and popularity (or lack of) for the noisey jet :) )

Tonks :cool:

[Specaircrew]

You'd be surprised how few airfields can handle a Tristar! (Crash Cat/PCN/Steps/Pax facilities etc)

Of course one of the primary requirements of a weather div is that it's far enough away not to be experiencing the same ****ty wx that made you divert in the first place!

[Scottie Dog]

Just a quick thanks for the feedback.

[Engineer]

You'd be surprised how few airfields can handle a Tristar! (Crash Cat/PCN/Steps/Pax facilities etc)

Interesting statement which invites the question that if military personnel have to be airlifted in the event of a crisis would you have to bus them to BZN, LYE or MAN first?

If that is the case does that not make a mockery of the rapid deployment model :ok:

[D-IFF_ident]

MAN can handle the passengers, which is far enough away to be out of the BZN fog, and close enough to not need too much fuel.

Prestwick, Stansted and Birmingham are often good divs too.

[Pub User]

Engineer

Most military personnel don't live on airfields, so would have to be transported somewhere anyway.

A few hours in a bus would pale into insignificance when compared to the days/weeks of diplomatic wrangling before any 'rapid' deployment, during which time the deployment can be prepared.