The Cameron Jet
Join Date: May 2014
Location: CNX
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Crew Security
It will be quite interesting to see what if any changes will be made for flight crew security clearance, and also for cabin crew. Dave will want to have some cabin crew I'm sure.
Really I can't blame Dave. After all how can he resist having an A330 with "DAVE ONE" painted on the nose beside a graphic of a hand with the index finger raised. ....or should it read "DAVE # ONE"
Really I can't blame Dave. After all how can he resist having an A330 with "DAVE ONE" painted on the nose beside a graphic of a hand with the index finger raised. ....or should it read "DAVE # ONE"
Join Date: Jul 2002
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I can't see what the problem is with some folk in this country. If as a nation we can afford our staggering foreign aid budget then this is just small pocket change.
Virgin have just retired some A340-300's and 747-400's (with more to come)
surely a cheaper option to obtain and maintain one of those?
also will HM and HRH PofW have use of camforceone?
surely a cheaper option to obtain and maintain one of those?
also will HM and HRH PofW have use of camforceone?
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Germany
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Budget
Guys, as a German, I don't really see what's this fuss all about.
Compared to the rest of the budget, buying and outfitting a jet for representative duties is not that expensive. German Air Force operates a whole fleet of jets for carrying around politicians (currently an A340 for Mrs. Merkel and a bunch of smaller ones for ministers), however, they're not (AFAIK) reserved for their personal use. Every couple of years, a politician gets into trouble because he overdid it... e.g. going on vacation on a "official" jet is a no-no.
This has been going on for decades, starting in 1957... no English page on Wikipedia, though. (German page: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flugbe...r_Verteidigung )
Compared to the rest of the budget, buying and outfitting a jet for representative duties is not that expensive. German Air Force operates a whole fleet of jets for carrying around politicians (currently an A340 for Mrs. Merkel and a bunch of smaller ones for ministers), however, they're not (AFAIK) reserved for their personal use. Every couple of years, a politician gets into trouble because he overdid it... e.g. going on vacation on a "official" jet is a no-no.
This has been going on for decades, starting in 1957... no English page on Wikipedia, though. (German page: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flugbe...r_Verteidigung )
Join Date: Apr 1999
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"A bit risk averse.." Odd complaint in the context of the en-route air display routine of the RAF-crewed Voyager.
Seems to be an assumption the alternative is a BA777; unfortunately not always. PM has shown up round the world in machines chartered from various rag-tag second and third-world locations. On one shameful occasion supposedly promoting UK trade by flying an Angolan jet!! Crew security clearance? You're having a laugh, RF4. Aside from the glaring security issue, this just made us look like a fourth rate country.
This is a sensible deal. Aside from anything else, we're already paying for it. If the balloon goes up its available to tank with the rest of the fleet: Rog747, your ex VS option involves buying/leasing another aircraft onto the inventory plus crew-training, maintenance, spares etc; hugely more expensive
Seems to be an assumption the alternative is a BA777; unfortunately not always. PM has shown up round the world in machines chartered from various rag-tag second and third-world locations. On one shameful occasion supposedly promoting UK trade by flying an Angolan jet!! Crew security clearance? You're having a laugh, RF4. Aside from the glaring security issue, this just made us look like a fourth rate country.
This is a sensible deal. Aside from anything else, we're already paying for it. If the balloon goes up its available to tank with the rest of the fleet: Rog747, your ex VS option involves buying/leasing another aircraft onto the inventory plus crew-training, maintenance, spares etc; hugely more expensive
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The economical way!
Early 1980's, as pax on a scheduled flight from Jakarta (Halim) to Singapore, I was asked to check-in 3 hrs prior to actual departure. No reason was given.
At the check-in I was told, that boarding would be 1 hour before actual departure. Again, no reason was given. There were only about a dozen pax boarding the SQ727. There were about as many tall, male 'cabin crew'.
Minutes before sheduled departure, there was a red carpet rolled out, and, to the tunes of a marching band, on walked Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister of Singapore, who just happened to be on a state visit.
At the check-in I was told, that boarding would be 1 hour before actual departure. Again, no reason was given. There were only about a dozen pax boarding the SQ727. There were about as many tall, male 'cabin crew'.
Minutes before sheduled departure, there was a red carpet rolled out, and, to the tunes of a marching band, on walked Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister of Singapore, who just happened to be on a state visit.
Join Date: Sep 2007
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PM Aircraft
"Tony", and all other PMs, got the most suitable BA aircraft available, appropriate for the mission. Anything from an A319 to a B747. There was no dedicated aircraft.
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Virgin have just retired some A340-300's and 747-400's (with more to come)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Wingham NSW Australia
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"VIP" aircraft.
Many of the comments on this thread take me back to 1979 when the RAAF acquired the last two Qantas B707-338's. As a Flight Engineer on the aircraft I, and the rest of the crew, often had to fend off criticism by ill-informed members of the public. They were critical of PM Malcolm Fraser and "his VIP jets". Not only the public, but the Opposition Leader of the era, Mr Bob Hawke, declared he "would sell the B707's". Not only did Mr Hawke not sell the two ex Qantas B707's, his government acquired another five. Eventually four of the fleet were converted to aerial refuellers, but retained their pax/cargo capability.
The reality was that a very small percentage of our tasking was for "VIP" operations, as a look through my log book would clearly show. The aircraft which replaced the B707's are A330's which are multi-role capable and would, if required I am sure, be used to transport VIP's.
As in Australia, the ill-informed in Britian will bleat about any expenditure which they perceive to be "political perks". Look at the big picture folks, your Executive Government Ministers deserve to be transported in safety by your RAF, whenever required.
The reality was that a very small percentage of our tasking was for "VIP" operations, as a look through my log book would clearly show. The aircraft which replaced the B707's are A330's which are multi-role capable and would, if required I am sure, be used to transport VIP's.
As in Australia, the ill-informed in Britian will bleat about any expenditure which they perceive to be "political perks". Look at the big picture folks, your Executive Government Ministers deserve to be transported in safety by your RAF, whenever required.
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Tony did have his own personal BA 777 with extra kit fitted for when he wanted to use it. Think it was the one that recently caught fire.
HMG chartered a standard 777 from BA when required, if BA had the capacity to spare one.
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I'm a little confused which is pretty much a permanent state of affairs 
Are these aircraft, all the A330s, operated (by which I mean crewed) by civilians.
There are no RAF pilots and cabin crew?
Notwithstanding this I see no reason why the head of state elected and otherwise should not have a decent aircraft for their official use.
Are these aircraft, all the A330s, operated (by which I mean crewed) by civilians.
There are no RAF pilots and cabin crew?
Notwithstanding this I see no reason why the head of state elected and otherwise should not have a decent aircraft for their official use.
re buying ex surplus virgin a/c or an ex BA one - i would have thought that was a cheap option TBH - plenty of 340 and 747 mx companies out there -
the RAF lease not own all the 330's and isn't one sub-leased to Thomas Cook airlines and it flies a summer program out of STN for them on long haul charters in an all Y config?
the RAF have cabin crew btw
the RAF lease not own all the 330's and isn't one sub-leased to Thomas Cook airlines and it flies a summer program out of STN for them on long haul charters in an all Y config?
the RAF have cabin crew btw
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