RAF VIP Transport

[C24]

Re RAF Northolt.

I recall that a civilian (heavy) airliner on approach to LHR landed at Northolt by mistake.

Perhaps this announcement by MOD is part of the campaign to be the third Heathrow runway?

[Scuba 11]

Any interior conversion will be done by Air Tanker at Brize, just as they did with the TCX conversion

The full TCX interior conversion was done in Madrid by Iberia in July.

[acw367]

Interesting document released this week, when considering the future of the 146s in relation to the new VIP Voyager...

RAF Northolt Sale Preparation: Consultancy Advice Procurement

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), as part of its Asset Management Programme, is seeking advice on a range of options for the future development of RAF Northolt. One of the options that the department is considering is the sale of the site and conversion into a civilian operated airport.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... dacted.pdf

Seem to recall this being issued some time ago and the timetable quoted suggests its four years old

Yep. That was a very old Treasury led study from 2011/2, which looked at a range of options including selling off for a commercial airport. However, it links to these released later documents from 2013
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ ... ED%20U.pdf

Which gives that Government PEX(A) committtee of Gov Ministers did not take any of the options to sell off. As given in the following:
"The PEX(A) has fully examined the case for Northolt and has, I am pleased to say, ratified the decision by the Ministry of Defence to keep RAF Northolt as an active Miliary Air Station."

[YellowBelly]

Cross-posted from the SDSR thread as there's two parallel conversations about the same thing:

The A330 will do normal AAR duties but also have A330 business class seating and amenities added to support VVIP long haul pax

It all makes sense, good on them

correct mate, the VIP fitted aircraft will have a big table with fancy seats fitted in it, probably in the second passenger cabin. The aircraft will generally be used as the TANSOR AAR asset which is on permanent standby all year, when it goes off to do any VIP stuff it will be replaced by one of the other tankers. I doubt it will get a fancy paint job due to the operational commitment that is TANSOR.

as far as i know there is no plans to close northolt, get rid of the 146s or relocate/disband 32 sqn, but in these supposed days of austerity who knows what tomorrow brings. The way this tory govt is going there will be an SDSR every couple of years.

another new factor i have heard of recently is that when the MOD goes to charter any aircraft, first dibs now belongs to Air Tanker, only when they cant provide would they charter another airline, so this will probably mean less exotic airliners at BZZ in the future, which is a shame.