Yesterday Friday, was a pleasant day. A bit murky. Horizontal visibility about three miles but flyable. On arrival back at Old Sarum we were greeted with the surprise announcement that the airfield was closing at 6.0pm with no departures or arrivals after that time. No explanation.
Bit strange. If, after that time, someone is inbound with perhaps a ‘standard’ half hour’s fuel for an alternative or, with a car parked at OS with the house keys in it, he’ll be given the bum’s rush and told to Fox Trot Oscar.
So, what was the problem ? What was the threat – if there was one ? It transpired that something called Airforce One was departing Boscombe bound for our former colony the other side of the Atlantic. Hmm. I have a fairly lively imagination but, I can’t imagine what kind of threat there was lurking behind the PAPI or, anywhere else, so as to cause alarm and distress to the occupants of Airforce One.
There’s a light aircraft flying around outside the MATZ – LOCKDOWN !
What kind of mentally deficient **** dreams up these escapades. Within about five miles of Boscombe that is roughly the same distance as Sarum, I can list at least three farm strips that outside of Safety Com have no connection with information from the outside world. Where aircraft would arrive and depart with absolutely no idea that they should be grounded at a particular time.
This OTT episode tells you where GA stands in the grand scheme of things.
Curiously, I checked with Thruxton, their last arrival/departure was 6.45pm.
By: WP840 - 14th September 2014 at 21:46
I know it’s a few days late but this is one of Obama’s aircraft leaving Boscombe Down.[ATTACH=CONFIG]231687[/ATTACH]
By: John Green - 14th September 2014 at 21:40
Or, even more unnoticeably, a large model a/c remotely controlled with six or seven ounces of Semtex remotely detonated, strapped to its underside ! That would leave a large hole.
Mike, can I join you in co-authorship ?
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th September 2014 at 20:41
I would think the official security reaction to the fact that quite a few people would be inconvenienced, or worse, would be… Tough!
Just like all this over-the-top security nonsense at airports and the like, where people are delayed and inconvenienced to the point of despair these sort of measures are next to meaningless in the scenario of a real threat. It just means that people (and the government security services) are seen to be doing their bit. If a real threat in the form of a fast single or twin with a load of explosives aboard wanted to make a go of it and cause some damage then the RAF or whoever was keeping a watch on things would be powerless to act in time.
Turn off the mode-S and ground-hug, said Semtex-laden twin would be nearly invisible and its job would be done before anyone knew what was going on.
I think I might turn to writing action novels. It’ll beat plumbing – and I’ll be able to do it sitting down!
Anon.
By: John Green - 12th September 2014 at 13:13
Mike,
I didn’t have to hold it for too long ! This Friday a.m. the phone rang and it was the CO of Boscombe. He wanted to answer the content of my recent letter querying the need for a premature closure of flying at Old Sarum last Friday at 6.0pm.
Boscombe had spoken to Sarum suggesting that if it did not pose any problems it might be politic to close at six. The nature of the threat to Airforce One was unspecified.
Whoever gave approval at OS was obviously completely knowledgeable about the return times of all a/c that were flying that afternoon and their likely fuel state and whether they had to collect their car to get home to feed the kids, let the dog out for a pee and the hundred and one other items of domesticity that we all have to attend to at some time or another.
It wasn’t the subject of a Notam. It was a suggestion from Boscombe that hadn’t been thought through. Perhaps some fool at OS was trying to prove his ‘right on’ credentials.
I don’t know whether in fact any one at all was affected by this nonsense. It is not impossible but, unlikely, that someone wasn’t affected.
So, the first question for any visitors is: “Any plans to close early at the drop of a hat ?”
By: mike currill - 9th September 2014 at 16:25
Don’t hold your breath waiting for a reply.
By: John Green - 8th September 2014 at 17:30
I’ve written to the CO. at Boscombe asking if they’d issued any kind of request.
By: mike currill - 7th September 2014 at 05:59
Thats all you had to put up with I had two Merlins flying over my house backwards and forwards all Friday afternoon.
I thought Crabair did not work Fridays?
They do but only until 1500 or if they’re on exercise 1700.
John, the perceived threat was that you might throw your toffee wrappers at them. I can’t believe how paranoid the Americans can be about ‘security’. Especially when past events prove they are not totally effective. The best advice I can give the Americans is an old squaddie saying. “Be careful how hard you make it for others to get in, you make it impossible for you to get out”.
By: bazv - 6th September 2014 at 23:08
You should have seen the motorcades LOL…I usually cross the airfield and leave via the south gate on fridays – got stuck coming out of the car park as the motorcade sailed by (for ages) and counted myself lucky to be able to use the airfield crossing road : )
By: Wokka Bob - 6th September 2014 at 22:11
Haven’t you heard, there were some so called important people in Wales for a special meeting. You had Merlins, we had fast jets in Devon. Couldn’t see them for the clag. Heh hoh. Apparently a good flypast in the morning in Wales.
By: paul178 - 6th September 2014 at 21:05
Thats all you had to put up with I had two Merlins flying over my house backwards and forwards all Friday afternoon.
I thought Crabair did not work Fridays?
By: TonyT - 6th September 2014 at 20:14
Many moons ago we Were chuntering along in a Puma once and we were discussing a Wessex we could see in front of us as we were catching up to it, as we closed the loadie says ” hey that’s Queens flights…. Followed by a rapid turn and descent with lots of muttering about purple airways and sh*t I hope they haven’t seen us. 😀
By: John Green - 6th September 2014 at 17:44
Yeah ! That’s about the size of it.
By: Moggy C - 6th September 2014 at 16:00
Don’t be silly!
GA doesn’t ‘stand’ anywhere in the great scheme of things. We are allowed to kneel there and feel eternally grateful we are allowed to fly at all.
Moggy
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September 6, 2014 at 2:32 pm