Fighter escorts-whats the point?
Join Date: Nov 1998
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If there is a bomb, and it goes off, they will be there to photo it and mark the spot for the fire service to damp down the smouldering wreck. Can't see any other reason unless its pure PR.
RS
RS
Join Date: Jan 2002
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Nearly Man
The RAF/NATO have been doing QRA for decades now!
Does nobody remember the Cold War. Who do you think protected the Northern approaches from the Russian hordes. I hark back to the Lightning then the Phantom and then and now the F3.
Good knowledge of National defence though. The role changes all the time, the military is there to adapt and be flexible to any and all current threats out there.
If anyone did the copying of QRA it was the US post 9/11, who previous to that had no perceived threat to mainland USA. Any F3 guy from inception of the jet has sat in the shed for his fair share of time waiting for the horn to go.
You watch too many movies if you think we get airborne "to tootle about and get a hardon".
You sit comfortably in your chair knowing nothing about what you are speaking about. Keep your "self informed" opinions to yourself and go watch that topgun dvd again and stay warm under that blanket of freedom that all the guys provide, no questions asked!
The RAF/NATO have been doing QRA for decades now!
Does nobody remember the Cold War. Who do you think protected the Northern approaches from the Russian hordes. I hark back to the Lightning then the Phantom and then and now the F3.
Good knowledge of National defence though. The role changes all the time, the military is there to adapt and be flexible to any and all current threats out there.
If anyone did the copying of QRA it was the US post 9/11, who previous to that had no perceived threat to mainland USA. Any F3 guy from inception of the jet has sat in the shed for his fair share of time waiting for the horn to go.
You watch too many movies if you think we get airborne "to tootle about and get a hardon".
You sit comfortably in your chair knowing nothing about what you are speaking about. Keep your "self informed" opinions to yourself and go watch that topgun dvd again and stay warm under that blanket of freedom that all the guys provide, no questions asked!
Join Date: Aug 2002
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Ghengis,
If an aircraft may have a bomb onboard it is going to be actively directed away from any populated area to an airport where a landing can be effected with minimal third party risk. That's just common sense.
How is stansted away from populated areas, do you not pass London on the approach. By the time it was realised the aircraft was not going into Stansted it would be too late.
Would not Manston be a better idea?
Anyway its a long time since we had the RAF scrambling on our own shores, why spoil their fun?
If an aircraft may have a bomb onboard it is going to be actively directed away from any populated area to an airport where a landing can be effected with minimal third party risk. That's just common sense.
How is stansted away from populated areas, do you not pass London on the approach. By the time it was realised the aircraft was not going into Stansted it would be too late.
Would not Manston be a better idea?
Anyway its a long time since we had the RAF scrambling on our own shores, why spoil their fun?
Join Date: Jun 2002
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Hi All
Just thought I would add my two penny bit ( having done some of these intercepts).
- To get an airliner back on track if it has per chance gone 'astray'.
- To keep a close watch on any thing that might help ground based commanders.
-To intimidate the hijackers (if any).
-To ensure no harmful or hazardous (hostile) action is carried out by the airplane by buzzing it etc.
In case people have the wrong impression that there is a trigger happy fast jet jock sitting in the aircraft they should remove that notion. I think the very thought of shooting against unarmed innocents would revolt against the very basis of his training.
Just thought I would add my two penny bit ( having done some of these intercepts).
- To get an airliner back on track if it has per chance gone 'astray'.
- To keep a close watch on any thing that might help ground based commanders.
-To intimidate the hijackers (if any).
-To ensure no harmful or hazardous (hostile) action is carried out by the airplane by buzzing it etc.
In case people have the wrong impression that there is a trigger happy fast jet jock sitting in the aircraft they should remove that notion. I think the very thought of shooting against unarmed innocents would revolt against the very basis of his training.
Last edited by Jagbag; 1st Oct 2004 at 03:18.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Hi.
I fly a lot to France with the callsign "Cubana" (A330) and we always get a fighter "escort" in their airspace, no matter if we have pax onboard or not (some empty ferryflights). Always only one (Mirage F1 last time acc to ATC) and we are always informed by ATC about it.
Destination (or departure) is always Paris and last time he even followed us in the descend.
Sometimes we see him, sometimes not, sometimes even the pax see him! Most of the times he has transponder on so we get him on TCAS.
Cheers / Cuba Libre!
I fly a lot to France with the callsign "Cubana" (A330) and we always get a fighter "escort" in their airspace, no matter if we have pax onboard or not (some empty ferryflights). Always only one (Mirage F1 last time acc to ATC) and we are always informed by ATC about it.
Destination (or departure) is always Paris and last time he even followed us in the descend.
Sometimes we see him, sometimes not, sometimes even the pax see him! Most of the times he has transponder on so we get him on TCAS.
Cheers / Cuba Libre!
Join Date: Sep 2001
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Logically, if fighters are to be scrambled for a bomb threat, due to possible 9/11 incident, they should be scrambled for ANY dirversion...sick pax, fuel leak, anything. Is this the general policy?
