MoD charters aircraft to move personnel out of Afghanistan

[Beatts]

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/mod-charters-aircraft-to-move-personnel-out-of-afghanistan/

[sycamore]

Errrrr...thought we had some aircraft in the RAF for that kind of job...Voyager, C-17,A400,and C-130s.....? ....or are we `contractorising ` every thing now....maybe it`s all too difficult at Brize..

[Fareastdriver]

May be the MOD has stuff that needs a big thing like an Antonov. AN225.

[vascodegama]

Could it be that they can’t afford the Voyager?

[NutLoose]

It’s probably they have a contract clause in place that the voyager cannot be flown into a combat zone :E

[NutLoose]

As a brokerage, Air Charter Service does not own any aircraft, but arranges helicopter, private jet, commercial airline, and cargo aircraft charters ranging from the massive Antonov AN-225, Airbus A330 and down to the BAE 146.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the RAF found the A330 being used were the spare ex airline ones being chartered to them by AirTankers

[SASless]

The RAF would probably have had to use half a Squadron, multiple dozens of people, and took ages to do all of the staffing/planning/and tanker loads of Holy Water sprinkled on it all as compared to the Civvie movers procedures and manning.

[sycamore]

Nutty, it would be more than ironic...it would be a big slap on the face for MOD and the RAF,and the idiots who created the PFI in the first place....
I would agree with FED that the A225 is a `big` lifter for outsize/unusual loads,but military aircraft are supposed to be able to carry most of the military equipment into the combat arena in the first place(ignoring naval shipping)....
and the headline says `personnel`,,so they must be bringing back the whole store of carpets from Kabul....
I suppose the Voyagers will be gearing up for `the bucket `n spade` brigade.....

[NutLoose]

This gives you an idea of the voyager usage at the moment.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/how-many-sorties-are-raf-aircraft-flying-per-month/

[atakacs]

Would be funny if they end up using Russian AN-124...

[Training Risky]

ISTR that the contractor who operated the roulemont airbridge out to Al-Udeid AB, Qatar for many years during the noughties, was quite good. Seemed to be on time and quite comfortable.

Can't remember their name though...?

[muppetofthenorth]

Would be funny if they end up using Russian AN-124...
Like the one they had to use to bring in the Poseidon sim..?

[ORAC]

Would be funny if they end up using Russian AN-124...
Ukrainian…

[ORAC]

Would the composite/ally airframes, with the different coefficient of expansion of those materials, cope as well with the huge temperature differences experienced night/day on dispersal and from ground to altitude, let alone the electronics and air con
I think you’ll find they’ve been doing so successfully for many years.

Biggest problem encountered is in the engines, not composites, caused by the pollution around mega cities rather than in the “Asiatic wastelands”…..

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/rolls-royce-problems-trent-1000/

[Doctor Cruces]

Lack of airframes maybe? Too many cuts, too many PFI contracts on far too favourable terms for the contractors etc. Don't see the problem though, when we had tons of airlift we used charter aircraft for Germany troop rotations. so why not now.

[von Klinkerz]

Well advertised times. No defensive aids except crossed fingers.

[etudiant]

All the indications are the Afghan government will collapse this summer under Taliban pressure once close air support is removed. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/06/taliban-takes-control-of-30-districts-in-past-six-weeks.php
Imho the use of private contractors is to permit the military to minimize the scale of the disaster.

[212man]

Well, the article linked to says: The Ministry of Defence has chartered aircraft to move millitary (sic) personnel between Kabul and Birmingham International Airport.

So - it's a wet charter of airline airframes. Which makes sense as Kabul is an international airport, currently served by Fly Dubai and Turkish Airlines, amongst others, not some rough desert strip in the bondu!

Its unlikely that any of the transport fleet, apart from aging Hercs, that were run into the ground, would have been able to deal reliably with the conditions.

Would the composite/ally airframes, with the different coefficient of expansion of those materials, cope as well with the huge temperature differences experienced night/day on dispersal and from ground to altitude, let alone the electronics and air con

[Flypro]

Possibly a shortage of first class hotels in Kabul ??

[sycamore]

That`ll let the Fleet continue doing circuits/holds/approaches at all points of the compass....

When they get to BHX,the Movers will probably have everybody `bussed` down to Brize for `Processing`,then quarantine perhaps......

[DuncanDoenitz]

Don't know a who's behest, but the An-225 left Kyiv this evening for Kabul. Looks like its first revenue flight after a period of maintenance.

Someone must be withdrawing a something big.

Alternatively, the Taliban may feel confident enough to have ordered a large consignment of mopeds and RPGs.

[sycamore]

D-D,Think there`s a pic on the `tweeter` vid about the BA787 Nosewheel-up saga,getting airborn on an airtest....

[atakacs]

225 in Kabul... Wonder what hardware needs her.

[atakacs]

Ukrainian…
I guess you know that both Ukraine and Russia operate the 124.
Of course MOD will prioritize Ukrainian one but one never knows...

[NutLoose]

Good news

https://news.sky.com/story/afghan-interpreters-who-worked-with-british-military-land-in-uk-today-after-fleeing-taliban-12339240

[Asturias56]

"Wonder what hardware needs her."

the filing cabinets..............

[212man]

Good news

https://news.sky.com/story/afghan-interpreters-who-worked-with-british-military-land-in-uk-today-after-fleeing-taliban-12339240
Interpreters helped British forces following the invasion of Afghanistan
I didn't know we were there in 1980.....

[atakacs]

I didn't know we were there in 1980.....
Not sure what you mean? For all intent and purpose UK was part of the coalition that invaded the country.

[212man]

Not sure what you mean? For all intent and purpose UK was part of the coalition that invaded the country.

Probably depends on how you interpret it. The coalition entry, and formation of ISAF, was certainly nothing like the Soviets'

[Davef68]

225 in Kabul... Wonder what hardware needs her.

Coming to BN on Thursday apparently

Civil charters for trooping and military logistics are nothing new, the MOD did it a lot in the 50s. Difference was then the aircraft got military serials and roundels

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x660/bristol_170_21_xf662_silver_city_bla_13_09_53_edited_2_dafcf b3964cb03648988e64520a3c4d16bac1789.jpg

[Fareastdriver]

According to UK Serials XS662/GAIME sculled around the UK and ZA before being allocated a military serial number that was not used.

[atakacs]

Coming to BN on Thursday apparently

Civil charters for trooping and military logistics are nothing new, the MOD did it a lot in the 50s. Difference was then the aircraft got military serials and roundels

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x660/bristol_170_21_xf662_silver_city_bla_13_09_53_edited_2_dafcf b3964cb03648988e64520a3c4d16bac1789.jpg
Not saying that civil charter is peculiar (quite the contrary). But the 225 is only economically sensible for outsized and not to heavy (considering) cargo. Thus my question: what kind of hardware makes it a viable choice?

[PICKS135]

Oops

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPu1Dj81-EE

[Asturias56]

Another benefit of using the large Antonov is that you don't have to break large and complex bits of kit down - you can just wrap them in bubble warp, put them on board and take them out at the other end and plug them in. Far fewer problems of re-commissioning and testing. It can save a you a real fortune overall

[igs942]

Believe the cargo was Puma x3

[atakacs]

Another benefit of using the large Antonov is that you don't have to break large and complex bits of kit down - you can just wrap them in bubble warp, put them on board and take them out at the other end and plug them in. Far fewer problems of re-commissioning and testing. It can save a you a real fortune overall
Interesting remark. You might be quite correct.

I'd be really interested in seeing the cost optimisation spreadsheet of this one 😉

[Asturias56]

This is one I know about - these seismic trucks are packed with serious electronics and they require quite a bit of "tuning".

To break them down or send them by sea means days of reassembly and testing before starting ops. In this case they drove them onto the An225 at Budapest and 5 hours later drove them off ready to start work in Oman..............


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x750/ges_oman_47a8cf0288738aeae3698c9009f599122e1adb26.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1000x683/ges_oman2_0095686152e8b1162e6690dd964aa1f7d4761467.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/920x1046/ges_vib4clos_2_f2e4b726b0d3ebd262f8687c5ad0f7e90dc67a29.jpg

[atakacs]

Believe the cargo was Puma x3
3 Puma it was, for a meager 23mt

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x330/fb_img_1624819552796_e6d98e5cb05f92a5203b885685671d7fd1f2b16 0.jpg
Incidentally are the engine nacelles able to rotate?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1080x810/fb_img_1624824089005_dcea060dc31d696b65684d82058ffeb2084795d d.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1080x810/fb_img_1624824077375_083cd6040de79d6763ad295adc8045e245e7c38 4.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1080x810/fb_img_1624824070320_af157b2c71bbeeb9dc6f70563c152a7e799ddfa c.jpg

[Asturias56]

https://aeroaffaires.com/private-jet-hire/cargo-freight-aircrafts/antonov-225/

suggests Euro 27300 an hour hire costs............