libyan rescue flights
 

What Airlines would be chartered for libya rescue flights, and would C.C/ F.D be rostered or volunteer?? thanks

AEU790 G-STRP currently routing LGW - Tripoli

Wasn't this an 'Ed Force 1' on Iron Maiden's World tour recently ? If the decals were still on the outside that would've put the heebie geebies up Gaddafi's trouser leg :}

Irish operation
 

Not an airline but for those interested, the Irish Air Corps has sent two aircraft, Lear 45 (# 258) and Casa 235 (#253) to Malta on standby to pick up the 40 or so Irish Citizens in the country.

Well BBC are reporting the first of the Government’s free Libyan charter flights have not even left the UK yet. The first one was due to leave at 12:30 but that aircraft has gone tech at London Gatwick and the second is now not due to leave the uk until late tonight.

A 3rd charter flight is also due out tomorrow morning.

So this dose beg the question as to who was this afternoon's AEU790 service operated by Astraeus Airlines, Airbus A320 G-STRP chartered by?

Sky now reporting a 4 hour delay on this flight, UK Govenment now being embarrassed by total lack of apparent action. If the Bosnians, Turks, Ukranians can get their act together......

Anybody confirm it is an Astraeus aircraft??

BBC reporting that the Astraeus, flight today was chartered by oil company BP.

so if "ed force 1" is going for BP who has been chartered by the Uk govt to collect UK citizens?

Nope...... Ed force one is a Boeing 757 (G-OJIB on the tour in 2010 / G-STRX on the tour in 2011), G-STRP is an A320...

Rumour has it that the A320 has been dispatched to Libya and a 757 went tech at Gatwick..

Wonder if Mr Dickinson might be flying it? Does he have a ticket for 320's?

Currently on tour with Ed Force One....... Final Frontier 2011, should be in Oz about now...

Heard reports earlier that Malta had denied landing permission to an "unscheduled flight" suspected to be from Libya.

Checked out flightradar24 to find the most peculiar track for DLH9917 (A346, D-AIHM). Suspect it's been holding for several hours now.

Seems a bit large for Gaddafi's escape but I suppose he has a large extended family...

Charter
 

In the case of government chartered flights, do the passengers have to buy a ticket or not?

Also re volunteers or rostered - I would guess "rostered" or "standby call out" as there is no imminent danger at present according to the foreign office. If the circumstances were more risky, then I would expect volunteer crews. (I appreciate there is a do not travel unless a pressing need etc)

Years ago, Branson sent a 747 to rescue hotages during the Iraq conflict and this was a volunteer crew - according to his biography!

Edit - flights are without charge!

Crew normally rostered or standby called out.

Yeah, Libyan Arab Airlines ATR42 tried to land in Malta and was sent home again! Should have continued to Sicily, declared a fuel emergency and landed anyway! Infact, another aircrfat was denied landing permission in Lebanon earlier in the week. The aircraft was thought to be carrying some of the Colonels family.

As for paying, It depends on the situation.... if theres no immediate danger, and depending on the demand to leave the country then an airline may offer an extra chargeable service (I think BA did this from Cairo not so long ago)... situation like Tripoli, the government would hire the plane, fill it up (first come, first served i guess) and go..

what airline ? STN arrivals today..
 

22:40 Axe9001 Tripoli

So, the only aircraft available to rescue UK citizens from Libya is u/s and there is not another one the UK government can lay their hands on !:ugh: I think Gaddafi tells more truth than the FCO !http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...s/censored.gif

Just to get the facts straight. G-STRP Astraeus A320 operated to day to Tripoli. Boeing 757 is about to leave Gatwick for Tripoli following rectification of a tech problem.

G-STRX Boeing 757 as Ed Force 1, is currently in Australia.

My understanding that in a time of nation emergency, the Government can 'request' aircraft from certain designated aircraft owners - as they did during the Falklands and other wars since.

British airlift out of Libya
 

Listening to the media accounts of the organisation (or rather disorganisation) of relief aircraft to bring those in Libya out and back to Britain (although surely a series of quick shuttles to/from Malta in the first instance would be more effective), one is struck by less than convincing explanations from the UK Foreign Office.

Anyone care to advise the real story rather then the civil service spin. Did two operators really schedule operations and then change their minds (as the Foreign Secretary said this evening) ? Did aircraft actually go badly tech, or is this an excuse for something else ?

Obviously no details of the actual operation required. But equally wouldn't want to see government palming off their own shortfalls on the industry.

Some info here BBC News