Australian Government VIP Aircraft Fleet
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Asia
Age: 57
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I would much rather they were getting from A to B promptly, privately, securely, discreetly.
It astounds me that so may of us have such a big chip on the shoulder about this.
Regarding the carriage of Press on board, there is more to this than just safety - the real reason is less critical. I recall when the BBJs first came online and the space available for Press was much less than on the rickety old 707s, there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth that the wrong aircraft had been purchased. The Press (at that time) were upset at their loss of access to the PM and others who were on board, the key reason for travelling on the SPA in the first place. The Indonesian tragedy was many years away at that time and far from anyone's minds - it has subsequently proven a far more compelling argument for finding a bigger airframe.
It is ridiculous that they are flying around the world in the BBJ and it was against Air Force advice too. Our old mate Max Moore-Wilton was the one responsible for this ridiculous arrangement.
Even the Kiwis have a 757 but the press seem to forget that when they're in town. Don't see them getting into Obama about his classic fuel guzzling 747 either.
Even the Kiwis have a 757 but the press seem to forget that when they're in town. Don't see them getting into Obama about his classic fuel guzzling 747 either.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Australia
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I guess "SPA" is Special Purpose Aircraft.
Weasel words at their best, presumably coined by some PR person to obscure rather than communicate. VIP aircraft don't exist in the Australian Government.
Mustn't be straight with people, and call them what they are.
The senior politicians need a reasonable VIP aircraft, but not to emulate the US who haul press with the leader. The press can get there under their own steam. As for charging the press the equivalent of a Q fare, that is not real cost recovery. What happened to user pays, as we get to do.
If press had to pay the cost difference between a BBJ and a 777 over same journey, they would soon decide to travel commercial.
Lets see how journalistic independence handles the conflict of interest in reporting the proposed purchase of jumbo VIP aircraft, and see if they cal them Jumbo VIP aircraft?
Weasel words at their best, presumably coined by some PR person to obscure rather than communicate. VIP aircraft don't exist in the Australian Government.
Mustn't be straight with people, and call them what they are.
The senior politicians need a reasonable VIP aircraft, but not to emulate the US who haul press with the leader. The press can get there under their own steam. As for charging the press the equivalent of a Q fare, that is not real cost recovery. What happened to user pays, as we get to do.
If press had to pay the cost difference between a BBJ and a 777 over same journey, they would soon decide to travel commercial.
Lets see how journalistic independence handles the conflict of interest in reporting the proposed purchase of jumbo VIP aircraft, and see if they cal them Jumbo VIP aircraft?
There certainly was a plan for two B757 jets towards the end Keating's era but the un-losable election wiped that out...
The B707's were suffering quite a few tech issues and what brought that to a head was Keating's B707 in Darwin with a busted windshield when he was wining his way to a big deal in Malaysia. Paspaley F50 "rescued him" as the nearest RAAF F900 or B707 was half a day away in RI o CB....
The B707's were suffering quite a few tech issues and what brought that to a head was Keating's B707 in Darwin with a busted windshield when he was wining his way to a big deal in Malaysia. Paspaley F50 "rescued him" as the nearest RAAF F900 or B707 was half a day away in RI o CB....
The press can get there under their own steam.
The so called "press gallery" has past it use by date
