UK VIP Transport
 

Living near Brize, and often seeing Vespina, the RAF'S brightly coloured VIP Voyager, I assumed she was being used to get the Prime Minister et al to and from India for the G20. But no, it seems that the Titan Airways A321 (in the same colour scheme) is being used. And the strange thing about that is that they had to route via Dubai, in both directions, stopping for about 80 mins.

Anyone any idea why they wouldn't choose direct flights when there's an aircraft specifically for that sort of jaunt?

airsound

The A321 is a VIP transport. The Voyager is a tanker/transport that is sometimes used for VIP transport. Maybe it had other tasking.

Maybe the other aircraft was busy (or providing cover for others that were busy), its not just a VIP transport

According to publically available data ZZ336 not flown since 6th Sept when it did 4hrs BZN-BZN and a return trip to Han(n)over. May have been reasons why an ostensibly civilian aircraft was preferable. May have been the number of PAX travelling it has 50 v Vepina's 58 business seats for the official party. A stopping flight with partial fuel load is sometimes better in fuel burn terms than a fully loaded direct one. It was only on the ground for a short time but there may have been an off the record meeting. Too short a stop for a shopping trip :E.

On two separate days?
I accept that there may have been operational reasons for using the Titan jet - but if a trip by the PM to India for a big international meeting isn't exactly the kind of thing that Vespina was acquired for, I don't know what is.

airsound

No win situation - take the 330 and it will be why are you taking it out of operational service when the hired help is available. Maybe the people taking the decisions know more than we do?

There are many possible reasons why the Voyager was not used. Unless somebody inside the wire chooses to explain the decision (unlikely) I guess it will remain unknown. Can’t see why it matters really.

VM
Well it was purchased for exactly this sort of thing, as was mentioned at the time, and then painted in the controversial shall we say colour scheme. I struggle to see how this A/C was not available given that this was a well known event. Perhaps in our more straightened position in the world BA First Class maybe a cheaper option though perhaps BA First is not good enough for our civil servant because let’s not forget that is what all politicians are from wherever they come from.

Cheers
Mr Mac

I think you’re making a mountain out of a molehill, but each to his own.

I think I read somewhere that the Titan aircraft has Wi-Fi and better comms than the Voyager which suits both the PM and the accompanying press better.

Titan is doing exactly what the jet was leased for - VIP transport. Its doing the cost effective VFM option of getting the PM and party to India and back - simples! Not every answer needs a Voyager.

On the evidence of seeing 336 last weekend at a French regional airport (where it night stopped) I'd guess that's quite possible.

It was seemingly in the middle of a multi sector European Tour connecting various major European cities..I think it did something Copenhagen-Hannover-Toulouse-Malta Bordeaux-Brize, so it certainly wasn't sat idle....

It was a deliberate move to incite pprune outrage.

Seems like the mission was a complete success.

Also wrong to say that Vespina was acquired for this kind of task. It was acquired as a standard Voyager and equipped for VIP duties after entering service. There was no margin allowed in the Voyager procurement for the VIP role so any such use impacts on other Voyager tasking as already stated. If the Titan aircraft can be used without too much inconvenience then why not?

Now now....

Don't go letting fact and logic get in the way of the PPrune Outrage bus!!!

Not outraged just a little perplexed as to why we bought / leased this airframe and then don’t use it. If the Titan is so much better re communication etc perhaps we should just hire that instead.

Cheers
Mr Mac

See Easy Street's comment at 14. The 330 is a tanker/transport a/c that can by used for VIP roles. The Titan a/c has been leased in as a dedicated VIP a/c. So two a/c can do the role, is equipped for other roles - one was chosen by the professionals with all the relevant information, one wasn't. Somebody remind me what the problem is again?

Why is it controversial, I'm honestly puzzled?

For me the gold lettering looks trashy.

Does it have gold wallpaper inside?