Should Civil Airports be used for returns from Afghanistan
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Should Civil Airports be used for returns from Afghanistan
Interesting thought following on from Bud advert someone kindly posted on another thread YouTube - Budweiser Commercial
Should service personnel returning from Afghanistan etc be routed via Civil airports like Heathrow / Gatwick etc.
(Yes I know the sarky comment of having they suffered enough already
)
Views ?
Should service personnel returning from Afghanistan etc be routed via Civil airports like Heathrow / Gatwick etc.
(Yes I know the sarky comment of having they suffered enough already
)Views ?
Join Date: May 2006
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We had to land at Luton from a sandy place a couple of years ago due to fog at BZN and were immediately turfed out onto a corner of the airfield into the drizzle so as 'not to frighten the passengers. Our bags were then driven up on baggage trucks which we had to unload and we were left to sort out transport (which I ended up doing) for the 200 or so people. Thanks Luton!
I can understand them wanting us to pick up weapons out of sight but it was a little rude to suggest we weren't welcome in our home country. We also weren't very acclimatised to the 4 degrees C temperatures.
I can understand them wanting us to pick up weapons out of sight but it was a little rude to suggest we weren't welcome in our home country. We also weren't very acclimatised to the 4 degrees C temperatures.
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Racedo, nice idea but no doubt some blunt f@cker has looked at the cost in landing fee's, handling agents etc etc etc, so bugger convenience BZN it is
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I'd like to congratulate you on your visionary and detailed analysis of the effective running of a decrepid transport fleet. Perhaps you could be persuaded to share other pearls of wisdom with us that are equally erudite and valid to enhance our roles on a day to day basis. You great pointy, sharp, operational expert.
Join Date: May 2003
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Depends on the airport faciliites I think...might be interesting for joe public to see 300 sweaty herberts fresh from AFG, if only to illustrate would service personnel really look like after Ops.
On a personal note, post Op Palliser (Sierra Leonne) I travelled back to UK by C130 along with about 40 other assorted herberts from all 3 services.
The route included a fuel stop in the Canary Islands (can't remember the name of the airport but it was the main airport on the island). Amazingly, we were allowed into the (packed) airport terminal, rather than just left standing around while the C130 was fuelled.
None of us had showered or washed our uniforms properly for about 7 weeks so as you can imagine we were a bit 'ripe'- we soon had our own little area in the terminal all to ourselves!! My two travelling companions and I clubbed together our limited finances to buy some coffees only to find out were about 2 bucks short however the young spanish girl on the till let us off the extra. At the time we thought she was being generous..perhaps on hindsite she wanted rid of us as quickly as possible!
We had no problems until we went back through security. We'd all left our personal weapons (under guard) on the aircraft apart from one k##b who still had a 9 milly and 20 rnds in his pocket...major sense of humour failure by airport security!
On a personal note, post Op Palliser (Sierra Leonne) I travelled back to UK by C130 along with about 40 other assorted herberts from all 3 services.
The route included a fuel stop in the Canary Islands (can't remember the name of the airport but it was the main airport on the island). Amazingly, we were allowed into the (packed) airport terminal, rather than just left standing around while the C130 was fuelled.
None of us had showered or washed our uniforms properly for about 7 weeks so as you can imagine we were a bit 'ripe'- we soon had our own little area in the terminal all to ourselves!! My two travelling companions and I clubbed together our limited finances to buy some coffees only to find out were about 2 bucks short however the young spanish girl on the till let us off the extra. At the time we thought she was being generous..perhaps on hindsite she wanted rid of us as quickly as possible!
We had no problems until we went back through security. We'd all left our personal weapons (under guard) on the aircraft apart from one k##b who still had a 9 milly and 20 rnds in his pocket...major sense of humour failure by airport security!
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Having been through many US airports where troops are waiting for flights I think it is wrong that we are not prepared to let military personnel in uniform into civilian airports. Seeing a company of soldiers on their way to or from theatre would keep the military in the public eye and remind certain elements that we are part of society, too.
Slightly off topic, but since I have worked with US forces and seen how they stand in society I think we could all do our bit. For instance, I will now wear my uniform on the train if I'm going to a meeting or similar - feels a little weird on the tube, but otherwise it's no bad thing to be seen!
Slightly off topic, but since I have worked with US forces and seen how they stand in society I think we could all do our bit. For instance, I will now wear my uniform on the train if I'm going to a meeting or similar - feels a little weird on the tube, but otherwise it's no bad thing to be seen!
Join Date: Sep 2007
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If a formed unit is over 50 pax and have completed decompression they will get a charter flight into an airport closest to their home base. This has been going on for a while now.
Its down to the unit to request it. No doubt some don't so end up at BZZ.
Its down to the unit to request it. No doubt some don't so end up at BZZ.
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Almost any UK civilian airport is eqipped and able to handle any military flight, including return trips from Afghanistan, whether you are in uniform, civvies or dressed as clowns.
Generally you will be welcomed and almost certainly given preferential treatment because of the respect the vasy majority of us have for the contribution the armed forces have always made, not just now.
What we don't tolerate is the attitudes Seldomfitforpurpose and his petty minded idiots who fail to appreciate that all costs of every flight into a UK civilian airport do not differ from any other, in fact it's cheaper to operate such flights into civilian airports than any military base - the MOD charges more than anyone else in the UK.
It's a charter flight and costs are the same as charged any where else, do you expect them to be free
?
Generally you will be welcomed and almost certainly given preferential treatment because of the respect the vasy majority of us have for the contribution the armed forces have always made, not just now.
What we don't tolerate is the attitudes Seldomfitforpurpose and his petty minded idiots who fail to appreciate that all costs of every flight into a UK civilian airport do not differ from any other, in fact it's cheaper to operate such flights into civilian airports than any military base - the MOD charges more than anyone else in the UK.
It's a charter flight and costs are the same as charged any where else, do you expect them to be free
?
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I was travelling through the States earlier this week. All military service personel travelling with their families were offered first option on free upgrades to the vacant first class seats. Though I would have liked the option myself I was very pleased at the level of support for their military. Most I saw were clearly returning from ops.
It's a good point that you make Goatface. Omni Air don't use Brize Norton for free, their landing fees, handling charges, fuel etc will cost them as much if not more than at Newcastle, Glasgow or Dyce for example (all of which they use often during the RIPs).
SeldomFitToPost is maybe genuinely ignorant of the fact, but I guess those at the (apparently) sharp end are too important to be concerned with such trivialities while spouting guff on the internet. In his small world it's apparently free for a charter airline to use a military airfield.
SeldomFitToPost is maybe genuinely ignorant of the fact, but I guess those at the (apparently) sharp end are too important to be concerned with such trivialities while spouting guff on the internet. In his small world it's apparently free for a charter airline to use a military airfield.
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Earlier this week I transited thru' Bangor, Washington and Belize to get to San Diego with 35 colleagues in desert CS95 for Herrick PDT (thank you 101 Sqn and the OCU). All of the younger guys were astounded to be welcomed at Bangor by a bunch of veterans and their volunteer wives shaking hands and offering badges and gizzits. An hour of schmoozing some charming Americans and then back onto the 10 to a standing ovation from all collected at the departure terminal.
Same deal at Belize from all US tourists, handshakes and profuse thanks for serving.
The common refrain from all of the pax was to compare and contrast the likely treatment at a Brit civvy terminal, if it should ever happen.
Same deal at Belize from all US tourists, handshakes and profuse thanks for serving.
The common refrain from all of the pax was to compare and contrast the likely treatment at a Brit civvy terminal, if it should ever happen.
Avoid imitations
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Let the ones in uniforms come home by the most expeditious route.
Let the ones in boxes come home via civvy airports so we don't forget what we are asking of our servicemen and women.
Let the ones in boxes come home via civvy airports so we don't forget what we are asking of our servicemen and women.
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It's a good point that you make Goatface. Omni Air don't use Brize Norton for free, their landing fees, handling charges, fuel etc will cost them as much if not more than at Newcastle, Glasgow or Dyce for example (all of which they use often during the RIPs).
SeldomFitToPost is maybe genuinely ignorant of the fact, but I guess those at the (apparently) sharp end are too important to be concerned with such trivialities while spouting guff on the internet. In his small world it's apparently free for a charter airline to use a military airfield.
SeldomFitToPost is maybe genuinely ignorant of the fact, but I guess those at the (apparently) sharp end are too important to be concerned with such trivialities while spouting guff on the internet. In his small world it's apparently free for a charter airline to use a military airfield.
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As I now live in the US, I have come to realise that this is an everyday occurrence. These guys travel in military uniform (on military orders) on civil flights to reach their point of departure to oversee deployments and are treated with the upmost respect by everyone in the airport. After being asked by my wife "is this how your guys are treated in the UK?" I felt ashamed to explain that they had to change into civvies on the ramp before being allowed into the terminal.
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[QUOTE]The common refrain from all of the pax was to compare and contrast the likely treatment at a Brit civvy terminal, if it should ever happen. [QUOTE]
Whilst the troops may not be there in droves, there are always a handful around Terminal 5 in uniform, no doubt making their way home after being dropped at Brize. Whilst they don't get the whooping and hollering one associates with our brethren from across the pond, there is certainly no animosity. A more considered, personal reflection of the job they do perhaps - much more in keeping with the British way...
Whilst the troops may not be there in droves, there are always a handful around Terminal 5 in uniform, no doubt making their way home after being dropped at Brize. Whilst they don't get the whooping and hollering one associates with our brethren from across the pond, there is certainly no animosity. A more considered, personal reflection of the job they do perhaps - much more in keeping with the British way...