Upcoming Deployment/Exercise May-June

[Sylar]

Apparently B52's confirmed on a Fairford spotters Twitter thingy. Don't do Twitter so if anyone here can take a look that would be nice.

Cheers

Shane

[POL]

Not confirmed, reported. It's not an official source. (Sorry, one of my biggest bugbears when it comes to information posted online!)

This is the tweet in question: https://twitter.com/RAFFFDSpotters/stat ... 7763735552

[CHILL51]

Fairford tower running plenty of radio checks on VHF and UHF freqs at the mo so watch for notams

[seancf16]

We may get 2xB52s this firday

[StormsInAfrica]

@ Seancf16;

Can you be very confident in that info?

[stealth1234]

@ Seancf16;

Can you be very confident in that info?

I would be. If all goes to plan that is..

[mushbuster]

If buffs are coming then expect the support aircraft arrivals first, they bring the ground crews, support personnel and equipment. If there is none by Thursday then don't be too disappointed. During previous exercises going back many years, the bombers have always arrived the week prior to their published exercise dates and usually a few days after the support aircraft. The only exceptions to that are the occasional 1 or 2 visitors that come over for air shows or Global Power sorties without any support. If the dates quoted on this thread are correct and buffs are coming, then they won't be coming this week.

The 'testing of comms' has actually been some intermittent discussion between the tower and NAVAIDS maintainers and is pretty routine stuff, I think they may be working on the TACAN which has been NOTAMed offline for a number of weeks. As for the tower manned 24/7, Graham may remember if that happened in the early 60s but aside from contingencies and very odd after hours operations, the tower at Fairford has not been manned 24/7 for at least 35 years. The resident controller must be supplemented during exercises so it is likely that Mildenhall or Lakenheath send some folks down, but if you monitor the frequencies the same voice is usually on the radio and has been for quite a few years.

Edit, The only time you hear British controllers at Fairford is during RIAT or UK exercises, Brize Hands over to the Fairford controllers who invariably have American accents

[magnum]

Last year BALTOPS commenced on the 6th June. The Fairford MATZ was activated from the 2nd June, with the first support aircraft arriving the same date. i would expect something similar this year.

[SamP]

Last year BALTOPS commenced on the 6th June. The Fairford MATZ was activated from the 2nd June, with the first support aircraft arriving the same date. i would expect something similar this year.

This is what I would expect to happen. Not sure where people are getting this Friday from...

[StormsInAfrica]

I would too. I like my intel solid though. In truth, common sense dictates that the time frame for a Friday arrival is too thin in terms of support equipment arrivals.

However, is it beyond the realms of possibility that the equipment to support 2 B-52's is already in place?

Alternatively, support equipment to arrive later?

What are peoples thoughts on that?

[SamP]

It's certainly possible that the equipment needed for the B-52s is already there, I'm not sure what the current situation is with equipment that is permanently in place at Fairford but I believe the 52s don't require they're own specialised GPUs anyway.

It's possible the crews required can fly commercially, but being an exercise of this nature I'd doubt it. The one thing that doesn't make sense to me is why there would be a need for an advanced party of B-52s in the first place.

Mush buster has posted the most accurate thoughts above, if there's no support before Friday it's unlikely we'll see any bombers, unless it's some sort of short stop over on a GPM/training flight (Unlikely)

[graham luxton]

I think Mushbuster has this about right although I can remember 2 deployments which happened differently - Oct'98 and Sep'05.

The 6 B-52's which arrived in Oct'98 did so in a hurry, arriving several hours before their ground support which was still winging its way across the Atlantic in 4 C-17's.

In the Sept'05 case, for Exercise `Bright Star`, 2 KC-135's flew in the ground support an hour or so before the B-52's landed.

Apart from wars, exercises and times when the RAF had control of the aerodrome the last time the USAF manned the tower 24/7 was in 1964 when SAC terminated the B-47 alert.
If the past is anything to go by then Air Traffic Controllers from the bombers home base(s) will also probably deploy to help cover the ATC roster.

Support equipment not specific to B-52's will already be there but items such as spare engines, tyres and many other pieces of B52 kit are likely to be flown in a few days prior to the bombers arrival.

[tim_3216]

Interesting discussion and speculation everyone! Graham's posts always add some historical context which is fascinating.

One thing, isn't there usually some form of press release aimed at local residents prior to a pre-planned deployment or exercise? Perhaps not specific aircraft types and numbers but certainly activity dates. If so, anyone any idea how much notice has been given in the past?

[uk-heliman]

One thing, isn't there usually some form of press release aimed at local residents prior to a pre-planned deployment or exercise? Perhaps not specific aircraft types and numbers but certainly activity dates. If so, anyone any idea how much notice has been given in the past?

Yes, you are correct in cases where something is planned the town council is usually informed.

Looking at the posts from the previous deployment people were referencing the town council web site around May 26 for arrival of aircraft beginning of June.

[tim_3216]

Thanks for that. So some official advance notice can be expected, perhaps a week maximum.
On that basis nothing is likely this week, but the end of next week is possible. Time will tell.
http://www.fairfordtowncouncil.gov.uk bookmarked

[big john]

This facebook page is also worth keeping an eye on - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whats-Ne ... 83?fref=nf

[Spitfire88]

I live in Fairford and we have had no news on any deoyments as yet.

[stealth1234]

There was a residents meeting held at Fairford this evening.

[StormsInAfrica]

Any info on the content Stealth1234?

[StormsInAfrica]

I've spoken with the town council this morning; they have told me that theyve heard nothing, however the very nice lady is emailing the base liaison this morning for a definitive answer. I'm very concerned about the noise levels don't you know? ;-)