It was an effective/essential RAF drill – had it been for real rather than a hoax

It was an effective/essential RAF op. – and had it been for real rather than a hoax we would not be arguing about costs/who ordered the ‘scramble’.

A 3rd Typhoon or other RAF a/c had it been required is all it would have taken to carefully manouvre the civillian aircraft out of any civillian airspace e.g. to over the sea. Then the bomber (in this case hoaxer) may still have detonated but the losses would have been minimal on the ground. Sure the pax on the civillian were sadly sacrificed but that was the bomber’s original plan anyway. On the other hand if the RAF Typhoons got the civillian down lown enough over an ocean already ready with some rescue vessels ready to go out then there would be a chance of saving some of the civillian pax.

2 Typhoon flankers and one Typhoon/other RAF a/c up top preventing the civillian gaining any unecessary height would be the ideal.

The RAF train and possibly require regular drill in these manouvres and probably would have got themselves out of trouble had the civillian detonated.
On the other hand that is what we admire and bow to the RAF as guardians of our UK skies for – to do exactly that including the ultimate sacrifice for Queen and Country.

And had I lost a loved one on the flight in question (unlikely as they have more discerning choice of carrier) I would sadly mourn but know that their sacrifice was to ensure the safety of many others not directly even connected with the incident.

Had this possibly happened (USAF jets) in the case of the 9/11 hijacked aircraft Nos 3 and 4 then history of that day may be different. No more on No 4 though enough controversy rages already on that one. And by miracles if Nos. 1 and 2 had been intercepted what a different world we would be facing.

All praise to the boys in blue I salute you and this country needs you.

Supposedly Lothian Buses have a random (on clocking in) breath test for drivers

Traces of alcohol can remain in the blood for 24 hours. The aviation limit is so low that a couple of beers the night before would probably show up the next morning. So it is best not to drink alcohol on the evening prior to a flight.

Hi 27vet
Supposedly Lothian Buses have a random (on clocking in) breath test for drivers.

No good professional pilots would do anything bar abstain for the necessary pre flight period therefore introducing this on major safety concious airlines may not cause too many Union protests. Administering it randomly may be a problem at out of ‘home base’ airports and possibly the requirement that all flight crew prior to boarding take the test may be easier to implement.

All good professional pilots please don’t take my head off, I am not pointing fingers at any of you that adhere strictly to the rules and ethics.;)

As already said by many the irresponsible media ‘make hay even while the sun does not shine’ with reporting sensationalistic ‘garbage’.

No worries – I knew you were ….

he he, I was just kidding you on. We all know what you meant. 😉

Hi Bmused55
No worries (Aussie coming out there, heaven forbid, what’s happening to my Queen’s English they taught me, the SNPs got it I guess).. I knew you were.:D

Clarifier put in to my post

What do V Australia (VA) have to do with this? 😉

Hi Bmused55
Clarifier put in to my post.;)
Jay

GA – Yes of course that was why the tongue in cheek comment about my blinking

Hi GA

Yes of course that was the reason for the tongue in cheek comment about my blinking. 😀

As in that time AirAsia stopped showing interest and Etihad replaced them as interested parties in V. Atlantic.;)

Did I blink and miss something – AirAsia back to learning to fly then I guess!!

Did I blink and miss something – AirAsia back to learning to fly then I guess rather than making a bid for VA?
After the recent thread showing the mess made of a slogan (Anyone Can Fly) carrying AirAsia aircraft dug deep in the runway/taxiway peripheries; maybe they had sensible second thoughts.:D

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=106082

Good thing too that they came down to earth !!!:rolleyes:

The Virgin Atlantic routes are the attraction – Branson being the only one holding the decision for the majority stake 51% or is Etihad interested in the Singapore Airlines stake (minority =<49%)?