More issues!

[ukmil]

It seems tonigt, Globespan have gone bust! they currently do the Falklands Airbridge. SO who is going to get the troops home for xmas from there now???? of course, I forgot the Government think C130's and Merlins can fill ANY gap!

[RichC]

I heard a Globespan into Brize the other night, probably from the Falklands. As it came from Lands End direction.

Before Globespan, we have had a few carriers do it.
BMI did it, Air Luxor, and a few others using B747's. I remember when Tristars did using RRR3220 as their callsign (always that callsign).

IT won't be hard to find another long distance carrier i expect... Surprised Virgin haven't come along and helped us out! Most of their pilots are former RAF and RN fast jet pilots and some of Virgin pilots are still flying Hawks at Culdrose and Yeovilton.

[ukmil]

RR3320 is ALWAYS the callsign, and still is today. I dont recall BMI doing it ever, but may be wrong. Since the RAF gave it to tender, luxor were first, followed by Air Atlantique, then OMNI AIR, then Globespan. Having done the trip on ALL of those carriers, I have to say the Globespan 767 was the best trip by far, and will be missed.

[RichC]

I did not know Air Atlantique did it, what did they use to go down there?

[ukmil]

they never actually did, they had the contract but subletted. It was the white 747 in 2006 time

[GOOSE]

Air Atlantic? TF - registered 747's.

[RichC]

Thanks, i remember seeing an all white unmarked 747 doing the rounds but i thought that was Atlas Air.

[ukmil]

Air Atlantic? TF - registered 747's.

indeed mate, my mistake, not Altantique, but Atlantic, you should remember it well, what a shed!!!!

[GOOSE]

Aye, retired by at least 3 previous owners...........

[phoenixegmh]

The interesting thing will be to see how the company who set the whole thing up deals with this. Depending on how the contract works, they may be liable to find a replacement operator and aircraft to operate this route.

Problem will be finding an aircraft that can meet the payload requirements as laid out by the MoD, that was one alleged problem with Globespan.

May be a short gap in the services whilst the situation gets sorted out.

[GOOSE]

May be a short gap in the services whilst the situation gets sorted out.

Better not be.........There are guys trying to get home to their families for Christmas depending on the airbridge...........

[phoenixegmh]

I hear you and I can't help but agree with you.

Unfortunately, there's a fair amount of legal wrangling in these contracts and there's a chance that it may take a while to sort something.

Unless MoD put on a Tristar in the meantime (and you have to ask the question of why they didn't continue with this in the first place), not much can be done.

With all the talk of defence cuts recently, I wouldn't be surprised if funding issues rear their heads in relation to getting these flights on the run again.

[ukmil]

similar thing happened 2 or 3 years ago when the 747 was pranged at Brize a week before xmas, they had to put on an emergency Tristar to get people home, and it took extra crews so there was no stopover, and litteraly landed in MPA and left within 2 hours. It landed at brize on Xmas eve

[RichC]

IF the RAF want to make the effort then they will.... they do a remarkable job on compassionate grounds and go to all stops in some cases to get people home in time so i'm sure (i hope) they would do the same for the Falklands.

[ukmil]

the Globespan that was meant to leave last night was today still on the ground at Brize. It seems AIR ITALY have taken over the route with their 767

[RichC]

Would have been nice that a solely British company would have helped out.... but it goes down to cost of course.

[TonyO]

Air Atlantic? TF - registered 747's.

indeed mate, my mistake, not Altantique, but Atlantic, you should remember it well, what a shed!!!!

Air Atlanta Icelandic was the operator.

[KINROTATE]

the Globespan that was meant to leave last night was today still on the ground at Brize. It seems AIR ITALY have taken over the route with their 767

Well I hope the MOD charge parking fees to Price Waterhouse etc!