Has a Civilian Airliner ever landed at an RAF base?
Discussion
Having a chat at work today, a question came up which was under what circumstances would a civilian airliner be allowed to land at an active (part of the current defence infrastructure) Military (RAF) Facility, and has it happened in the UK in recent times?.
I know the Military have their own transports for families etc, but I'm on about for example, a Cathay or B.A (or indeed any such Company) using an active base as an emergency option, or is it just not feasible or even allowed?.
I googled a bit and came up with a very long and involved .pdf file from the Govt entitled "JSP350" - "The use of Military Airfields by British and foreign civil aircraft". Didn't shed any light on it though.
To profess, I'm no expert on aviation, but I do have an interest and I found this question one best offered to those in the know.
Cheers
Pete
I know the Military have their own transports for families etc, but I'm on about for example, a Cathay or B.A (or indeed any such Company) using an active base as an emergency option, or is it just not feasible or even allowed?.
I googled a bit and came up with a very long and involved .pdf file from the Govt entitled "JSP350" - "The use of Military Airfields by British and foreign civil aircraft". Didn't shed any light on it though.
To profess, I'm no expert on aviation, but I do have an interest and I found this question one best offered to those in the know.
Cheers
Pete
I would say many times. In the 1950s, the Army made use of many civilian contractors such as Airwork and Hunting Clan to ferry troops out to the Middle and Far East.
From 1946 until the mid 1950s, BEA's main operating base was RAF Northolt - so there were plenty of civilian airliners operating in and out of that RAF airfield on a daily basis.
These days you do see civilian freight aircraft flying in and out of bases. A few years ago, shortly before it closed, I was staying on a campsite near RAF Lyneham and I saw a DC-8 freighter climbing out.
From 1946 until the mid 1950s, BEA's main operating base was RAF Northolt - so there were plenty of civilian airliners operating in and out of that RAF airfield on a daily basis.
These days you do see civilian freight aircraft flying in and out of bases. A few years ago, shortly before it closed, I was staying on a campsite near RAF Lyneham and I saw a DC-8 freighter climbing out.
The RAF certainly do accommodate civilian aircraft in the event of an emergency. Here's an example:
http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2014/05/passenger-plane...
ETA RAF Waddington is a fully operational base.
http://thelincolnite.co.uk/2014/05/passenger-plane...
ETA RAF Waddington is a fully operational base.
Edited by bomma220 on Wednesday 6th April 19:41
Many of our major airports started (or were subsequently requisitioned) as military airfields with civil flights permitted as well. The RAF still permit civil aircraft to land (for a fee!) as you found. RAF Northolt is the most obvious as civil flights outnumber military ones - up to 7,000 civil flights allowed per annum, mostly corporate jets. RAF Leuchars used to get quite a few private jets visiting too whenever The Open championship was held at St Andrews or Carnoustie.
The simple reason you don't see many civil airliners landing at RAF bases is that they're not exactly conveniently located and they generally lack the facilities to deal with 100+ passengers - air stairs, terminals, security screening, duty free, to name a few. Hence Prestwick and Stansted being preferred to RAF bases for receiving aircraft with security threats as they can sort out the passengers once the situation is resolved.
The air bridge to locations like the Falklands was largely chartered from civil operators while Iraq/Afghanistan were ongoing and before Voyager came along. Members of the public could buy a ticket for those flights if they wanted although military passengers were prioritised.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/140884...
Come to think of it, there are still civil airliners routinely visiting RAF bases in the form of the 5 AirTanker Voyagers on the civil aircraft register.
The simple reason you don't see many civil airliners landing at RAF bases is that they're not exactly conveniently located and they generally lack the facilities to deal with 100+ passengers - air stairs, terminals, security screening, duty free, to name a few. Hence Prestwick and Stansted being preferred to RAF bases for receiving aircraft with security threats as they can sort out the passengers once the situation is resolved.
The air bridge to locations like the Falklands was largely chartered from civil operators while Iraq/Afghanistan were ongoing and before Voyager came along. Members of the public could buy a ticket for those flights if they wanted although military passengers were prioritised.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/140884...
Come to think of it, there are still civil airliners routinely visiting RAF bases in the form of the 5 AirTanker Voyagers on the civil aircraft register.
Generally civilian aircraft will be given permission to land at military airfields unless there is a particular reason why not, but there will be fee and insurance requirements. Scheduled airline flights would obviously be complicated, but civilian airliners on military charters do use military fields. I saw a Russian registered airliner going into Brize Norton once.
Yes, RAF Valley (Anglesey) has been used for a civilian route from Cardiff.
"The National Assembly for Wales announced on 21 February 2007 that public service obligation (PSO) flights would be launched from RAF Valley in April 2007, connecting north Wales with Cardiff International Airport.[12] A terminal facility, costing £1,500,000, was constructed at RAF Valley, named Anglesey Airport (Maes Awyr Môn), and projected to handle up to ten such PSO flights each day. The first public flight took place on 8 May 2007."
"The National Assembly for Wales announced on 21 February 2007 that public service obligation (PSO) flights would be launched from RAF Valley in April 2007, connecting north Wales with Cardiff International Airport.[12] A terminal facility, costing £1,500,000, was constructed at RAF Valley, named Anglesey Airport (Maes Awyr Môn), and projected to handle up to ten such PSO flights each day. The first public flight took place on 8 May 2007."
LHRFlightman said:
A PanAm 707 once landed at Northolt mistaking it for Heathrow. Google it. 
Wow, I googled it and bloody hell, the painting of LH on the Gas tank complete with arrow makes for an interesting story. I wonder what became of the Captain once he'd picked up his P-45.Thanks for the replies, it is a possibility then and actually does occur, albeit not an everday occurence apart from freighters etc. I take it the average Military airield runway is long enough to accomodate a majority of modern airliners should they ever feel the need to land there, either by mistake or on purpose.
texaxile said:
Wow, I googled it and bloody hell, the painting of LH on the Gas tank complete with arrow makes for an interesting story. I wonder what became of the Captain once he'd picked up his P-45.
Thanks for the replies, it is a possibility then and actually does occur, albeit not an everday occurence apart from freighters etc. I take it the average Military airield runway is long enough to accomodate a majority of modern airliners should they ever feel the need to land there, either by mistake or on purpose.
The Cardiff Airport to RAF Valley is a regular service...Thanks for the replies, it is a possibility then and actually does occur, albeit not an everday occurence apart from freighters etc. I take it the average Military airield runway is long enough to accomodate a majority of modern airliners should they ever feel the need to land there, either by mistake or on purpose.
valiant said:
I'm guessing that if it's a choice between crashing or landing at a military base then you may be allowed to do so.
Actually, a friend of mine at my model flying club is a pilot for Easyjet (he's ex-RAF tornado) and he was always fond of telling us, if one of our models required a dead stick landing (i.e. engine failed), that in civil aviation terms you're never more than 100miles from an airport so if a 737 or whatever went dead stick it could easily glide that distance - in such an instance you only get one go at the landing though assuming of course all the other flight controls were still operational!!Edited by checkmate91 on Thursday 7th April 06:59
Portugese Airforce rather than RAF, but an interesting story nonetheless ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_2...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_2...
MitchT said:
Portugese Airforce rather than RAF, but an interesting story nonetheless ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_2...
'Captain Robert Piché, 48, an experienced glider pilot...' Bingo. Every landing is deadstick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_2...
I was at Waddington on SLF (E-3D Groundcrew) during 9/11 and we were expecting dozens of aircraft to land which had been turned back and major airports weren't sure they could cope. Just about the whole engineering part of the station had to prep the airfield with power sets, stairs etc just incase but luckily the major airports were able to cope and we weren't needed.
Simpo Two said:
MitchT said:
Portugese Airforce rather than RAF, but an interesting story nonetheless ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_2...
'Captain Robert Piché, 48, an experienced glider pilot...' Bingo. Every landing is deadstick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Transat_Flight_2...
ch108 said:
Exactly! I thought this was standard practice for Ryanair?Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff