Call for nuclear flights from Caithness to stop
 

Written byGordon Calderhttps://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk...p-08052018.htm


https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk...0/04093050.jpg
A CALL has been made to end nuclear flights between Caithness and America. It was made by Tor Justad, the chairman of Highlands Against Nuclear Transport, following the latest shipment of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay to Wick John O’Groats Airport at the weekend.Armed police were on duty at the airport as the radioactive material was loaded on to a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster plane. It flew to RAF Lossiemouth to take on additional fuel before heading to the USA.

A large convoy of police vehicles escorted two articulated lorries carrying large blue containers as they made their way from the site to the airport on Saturday afternoon. The convoy entered the airport by a rear entrance. The loading of the uranium took place around lunchtime in a lengthy operation.The convoy, which generated much interest locally, was seen passing through Castletown just before 4pm as it made its way back from the airport. There were about eight police vehicles escorting the two articulated lorries.It is believed seven more flights are due to take place before the end of next year. Saturday’s operation followed four others which started in September 2016. Three took place last year.Mr Justad pointed out that several countries have banned nuclear material being flown over land and insisted Scotland should do the same. “That should be the case here,” he said. Full story and more pictures in this week’s Courier.

Ironically, Dounreay maintained its own active runway up until the mid/late 1990's IIRC, the complex having been built on the site of a former WW2 airfield.

That's right - I used to operate into DERE on a daily basis for three years from 1979. Got very good at crosswind landings.

Mate of mine works at Vulcan / Doouneray ..thus along with her colleagues use the runway as a car park. Mildly surprised why they ceased flight ops as am sure if it was open to this day it could handle a C-17A?

Cheers

Looks like a Joint Base McChord-Lewis bird there

cheers

Douneay runway surface was getting very tired' when the KIngair shuttle from Liverpool and then Manchester finally ended. Excellent Fish and Chips available from Wick town on a quick turn round/.

Lots of Viking names in Scotland. My own name descends from Vikings who landed in North East Scotland eons ago. Somebody burnt their boats so they had to shack up with some Celtic bints.

Aww, that WAS a shame. :D