That’s a rather aggressive post. Perhaps you might try being a little more civil? You might disagree with me but that doesn’t necessarily make me wrong.

I would have thought that it was extremely unlikely that the RAF managed to anticipate the short notice runway problems. In fact, the service has problems anticipating anything. So I agree with Ken it is very probable that ac were stuck on the ground for varying times. It rather highlights the problem with a single base with a single runway.

Reagarding DOB operations, perhaps closer examination should be given to all the original V-force Main Bomber Bases and dispersed operating bases? For example, when at Scampton, 35 used Finningley and 617 used Leeming. All 3 aerodromes still have decent runways, although Finningley is now an underused civil airport, Leeming is used to a fraction of its capaicty and Scampton is apparently on the verge of closure...

And all the maintenance facilities too.

Plus Cottesmore, Honington, Woodbridge and one could argue Wattisham. All superb runway assets that should be retained with a sprinkling of C&M.

Is Brize open again? Just seen 2 x C17 on ADSB land there.

They should have been able to land on the taxiways....

why are you asking if you know the answer?

Is there any chance of snow or ice being a limiting factor later in the year? Might want to plan ahead...

Because ADSB isn't brilliant, ADSB can lose low aircraft whilst still airbourne and why are you so naff?

no it’ll be fine. It never snows or ices up in Oxfordshire, in the same way that single runways never get blacked.

Off Base Support
 

Referring to the the other thread on dispersed Ops, key to it all though, was that our dispersal had a full set of support equipment. For my sins, I was first in last out when 35 dispersed to Finningley, being the inventory holder and designated 'responsible SNCO' (no tittering at the back). Effectively 35 had two lots of GSE etc, right down to crew room kettles. One lot at Scampton and the other, the bane of my life, at Doncaster International.
I must have done something bad in a previous life as my other sins were rewarded with being UMO for a 3 engined Squadron. Even deploying to Fairford for Taceval, whilst 10 and 101 went somewhere else, was a nightmare as Brize tried to divi up it's assets for 3 squadrons and found it didn't have enough. The biggest fight being not between the squadrons but all 3 UMOs, acting together, and the station who naturally wanted to retain some assets for the non deploying non exercise tasking, plus a reserve.

Happy days.

They'll certainly maintain and test the de-icing equipment. After the first hard frost and snowfall course.

One cold March I recall Brize was down to about one serviceable de-icing rig. So it was decided that another should be hired from Heathrow. Great idea - only the minimum hire period was 3 months.....

Brize is colour code black until August 22nd. Only movements allowed are selected empty or near empty stationed aircraft. Apparently the runway has to be inspected after each movement.

Also, there's talk of this situation extending into September.

East Midlands, Birmingham, Fairford, Northolt and other fields can expect extra movements.

Do I read correctly that the problems at Brize are heat related ? If so I am puzzled as when I was with JATE at Brize we cam back from the USA during the great heatwave of 1976 and had no such problems. I recall it well because as we descended you could smell the parched earth. At this rate all the 'savings' will be swallowed up in landing fees elsewhere !

aa62-the runway has had 2 refurbishments since then. In fact after the last bolthole (2000ish ) there were problems with the breaking up of the taxiway in what appears to be a similar manner to the current runway issues. As a civil eng mate of mine said at the time-either someone cocked up the contract or someone cocked up the work. To be honest I am not sure which way I would bet.

Yes, Well done Al, Cat 5'd one of the last Klassics. Complacency, boredom CRM etc.

And the landing gear warning horn cb not fully seated (though looked to be)...... However, to err is human etc....

Vasco,
I assumed that it had been refurbished since my time there. Sounds like the job they do round here on the very few potholes they 'fix'. Done one day just as bad a few days later.
No inspections or quality control it would seem in either case. I assume that when 'they' decided to pack it all into Brize they took account of the increased wear and tear on the runway and other infrastructure ! Or perhaps not.