Obama to visit Australia

[Steve Jones]

I'm with Nigel!

[NeilP]

Originally Posted by Lee G

Knowing at least half of what Nigel is talking about, I wholeheartedly agree with him! (There you go Nigel, put that one in your signature! )

Then why not explain so we (including the plane geeks who hang on the fenceline) can all have an informed opinion?

[Nigel C]

Because unfortunately it's not that simple, and I'd get RSI if I tried typing it all out here!

Basically there's a whole lot of security and operational related stuff, which I won't even try to go into here, that gets done by anyone and everyone who is even remotely involved in the arrival and departure phases. I'm sorry, but I can't be any more specific than that.

[Tony G]

Originally Posted by Nigel C

Look, Air Force 1 is fun for all the souvenirs you can buy from the Marines who guard the support helicopter and all, but it's the biggest security overkill and all round unnecessary hassle.
The Chinese certainly didn't have the same carry on when they sent their Premier out here...(although the flag waving brigade was a nice patriotic touch)

Now I'm not one who's against change, and I don't mind variety to the normal routine, but seriously, if you knew less than half of what went on to facilitate a visit by the US President you'd be shaking your head.

But I acknowledge it's probably a buzz for the plane geeks who hang on the fenceline (now don't go getting up tight when I say that...you all know who you are).

Thats fair enough mate, I think it is quite an overkill and cannot imagine the work involved for everyone that takes part in such an event. I was actually fortunate enough to have lunch with the last president and Jonny Howard a few years back and it was a group of about 100 and I'd say there was one security person for every person there having lunch, a wall of men in black surrounding the group.
But Im still one of those geeks on the fence line thats enjoys the rare aircraft that visit.

[KatieY]

I heard on Win News that they are gonna have two 747s .. is this true?

[Adam P.]

AIP SUP is out, for those interested in what's in the public domain regarding aviation procedures for this visit:

https://www.airservicesaustralia.com...up/s10-h15.pdf

Like APEC, but at least it only lasts a couple of days this time.

[Nigel C]

Originally Posted by KatieY

I heard on Win News that they are gonna have two 747s .. is this true?

There's usually a decoy/back up aircraft that flies with Air Force 1. It looks exactly the same apart from the tail number.

[Scott Thorpe]

If the last couple a POTUS visits are anything to go by SAM2900 (AKA AF2) will land about 10 mins before AF1. A media plane will be in sometime before (last time it was a UA 744) SAM2900.

I work at Fairbairn so I expect that we wil be given the day off as last week my car in the car park was 50 meters from Bang bangs A330.

[Tim Bowrey]

Possibly something to do with the visit.

Due into BNE tonight from Hickam AFB(PHIK) is USAF C-17 callsign "Reach 487" at about 7pm. Also a US Navy C-130 165160 has popped up on Balus radar not long ago possibly into Amberly.

Rego is 00-0181.

[Benny Zheng]

According to the White House press briefing, it seems that POTUS will arrive in the evening in CBR. (25/3)

"He’ll begin that night with a dinner with Prime Minister Rudd"

And he will depart in the evening back to US. (26/3)

"departing that night to return to the United States."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...denis-mcdonoug