PMs flight aborted in South Africa
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PMs flight aborted in South Africa
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the PM's flight back from South Africa was aborted after sparks were seen coming from one of the engines during take off.
He said the incident occurred at 11pm South African time. "They had started their run down the runway, they hadn't got very far when the pilot noticed something wrong with engine number three. They shut down the engine, aborted take-off, and went back to the terminal. Being 11pm South African time, there weren't any other planes and they couldn't have arranged an alternative to get them back in time for the ID card vote. He will travel back overnight tonight."
Asked if there were sparks coming from one of the engines, the spokesman said: "I gather that was one of the symptoms of an engine not working. In terms of take-off speed, they were well short of the point of take-off. In the technical jargon, this is termed a minor incident."
The spokesman refused to say which airline company owned the aircraft which had been privately chartered for the trip.
He said the incident occurred at 11pm South African time. "They had started their run down the runway, they hadn't got very far when the pilot noticed something wrong with engine number three. They shut down the engine, aborted take-off, and went back to the terminal. Being 11pm South African time, there weren't any other planes and they couldn't have arranged an alternative to get them back in time for the ID card vote. He will travel back overnight tonight."
Asked if there were sparks coming from one of the engines, the spokesman said: "I gather that was one of the symptoms of an engine not working. In terms of take-off speed, they were well short of the point of take-off. In the technical jargon, this is termed a minor incident."
The spokesman refused to say which airline company owned the aircraft which had been privately chartered for the trip.
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http://www.jetaviation.com/index.php...ereurope_dc872
I'm sure others will agree that a engine failure on take off roll, is probably a slightly bigger event that was was being described as a "minor incident".
the a/c looks quite over powered with the CFM 56 engines
But the question needs to be asked why the UK government are chartering foreign aircraft for who is essentially the head of state. (Obviously HM the Queen is the head of State).
The UK has 3 major airlines capable of doing the job: BA, VS and BD, not to mention the RAF with the Queens flight
I'm sure others will agree that a engine failure on take off roll, is probably a slightly bigger event that was was being described as a "minor incident".
the a/c looks quite over powered with the CFM 56 engines
But the question needs to be asked why the UK government are chartering foreign aircraft for who is essentially the head of state. (Obviously HM the Queen is the head of State).
The UK has 3 major airlines capable of doing the job: BA, VS and BD, not to mention the RAF with the Queens flight
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when the pilot noticed something wrong with engine number three
Using B.A. scheduled flight??? Nah His Tonyness wouldn't lower himself that far,he leaves that to the Royals.
'nough said
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Originally Posted by 5711N0205W
The spokesman refused to say which airline company owned the aircraft which had been privately chartered for the trip.
Bloomin waste of money.
Bloomin waste of money.
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Comment from Downing St. when asked whether it was correct that sparks were seen from the underside of the plane - the spokesman said:
"I gather that was one of the symptoms of an engine not working."
Nobody can say our political leaders are other than intuitive.
Might have a golden lining – as Tony Blair will miss today's crucial Commons vote on ID cards. His whips were counting on him not repeating recent Education Bill gaffs.
"I gather that was one of the symptoms of an engine not working."
Nobody can say our political leaders are other than intuitive.
Might have a golden lining – as Tony Blair will miss today's crucial Commons vote on ID cards. His whips were counting on him not repeating recent Education Bill gaffs.
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The DC-8 was in MAN the other night, so maybe it was picking him up?
It only seats up to 35 people, so there is not room for many journos once the PM's staff are all in there.
Do you think would have to apply for traffic rights to fly a UK-SA routing, and could/would any other aircraft operators object?
It only seats up to 35 people, so there is not room for many journos once the PM's staff are all in there.
Do you think would have to apply for traffic rights to fly a UK-SA routing, and could/would any other aircraft operators object?
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Problem with this story is that unless some one comes up with the correct aircraft on this thread even the journos who were on it will know what it was.
Is this the first ever reported incident of "Diplomatic Tech Problems"? As in Diplomatic Flu?
Is this the first ever reported incident of "Diplomatic Tech Problems"? As in Diplomatic Flu?
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The Press Assocation has this quote "The spokesman confirmed that sparks were seen coming from one of the plane's three engines."
Would suggest Falcon 900 right enough. Don't know who would have seen the sparks though. ATC?
JT
Would suggest Falcon 900 right enough. Don't know who would have seen the sparks though. ATC?
JT
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Tony Blair has been describing the moment his jet developed mechanical problems in South Africa this morning. He said he heard a loud bang just before the plane was about to take off. He'd been attending a summit on combating world poverty. His official spokesman said it was impossible to arrange another flight to take the Prime Minister back to the UK in time for this evening's Commons vote on identity cards.
"We were just about to take off, and I suppose in another few seconds we would have been in the air, and then suddenly there was a bang and I didn't really have time to be particularly worried about it, but.. So there it is. It's just one of these things."
"We were just about to take off, and I suppose in another few seconds we would have been in the air, and then suddenly there was a bang and I didn't really have time to be particularly worried about it, but.. So there it is. It's just one of these things."
He'd been attending a summit on combating world poverty