Boeing757/767 From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 2264 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (8 years 10 months 1 week 18 hours ago) and read 3960 times:
Dick Cheney is coming to town for a rally/fund-raiser.
747buff From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 705 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 10 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 3654 times:
Was driving by MSP (down Cedar Ave) some time after 5:00 this evening and saw a A340 or 330 with State of Qatar titles, so maybe that was the VIP plane.
MSPXJGuy From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 150 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (8 years 10 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 3631 times:
747Buff, no, Air Force 2 was here. Stopped everything and caused a major mess. Caused misconnections up the wazoo. I hope they realize the havoc they cause on all us little people. If I hadn't made up my mind yet on who to vote for i would vote for Kerry for the mess Bush and Cheney cause me everytime they come here.
Lt-AWACS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (8 years 10 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 3617 times:
MSPXJ- not a politcal argument per se, but with any party in power, the President, and Vice-President's security on aircraft visits would be the same. i.e. Bush fundraising, Kerry campaigning, or the old Clinton haircut-LAX fiasco.
I can understand how folks would be more angered if the purpose of the visit was less official and more political.
Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Yankee Air Pirate
Pilottim747 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1607 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (8 years 10 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 3511 times:
It was kind of freaky watching Cheney depart. They closed off Runway 12L about 10-15 minutes before he departed. Airport Ops did a very slow and thorough runway inspection. A MN State trooper helicopter then scouted out the area and stayed in the air (off to the side) until Cheney left.
Then ATC put a ramp freeze into effect for the northside (possibly the southside at first as well). Every aircraft was stopped in their tracks. Some were in odd places like just pulling out of their gate. Then Cheney arrived with a dozen or so vehicles and boarded. Air Force Two left and boom, the airport became bussling again.
pilottim747
Aviation Photographers & Enthusiasts--Coordinate your life.
Atcboy73 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1100 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (8 years 10 months 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 3424 times:
This is not a politically slanted comment aimed at just the Republicans.
wouldn't it be nice for the party in power (which ever party it may be) to realize that its nations airlines (that happen to employee millions of americans) are loosing TONS of money right now and any disruption to their operations looses even more money.
If I were pres or the VP I would try to fly into an airport that didn't inconvenience the airlines or the public.
Planespotting From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3438 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (8 years 10 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3351 times:
thats kinda tough to do in a lot of places. In minneapolis there isn't really a satellite airport that can handle AF1 or AF2. Perhaps st paul downtown, but that is only about 15 miles or so away from MSP, so it's doubtful that you would even notice much difference, there would still be a ground stop for the period that cheney was on the ground, and until after he left. he'd have to fly into rochester or something to really notice a difference. but that'd just be silly.
JMV From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 241 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (8 years 10 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3318 times:
When I was in ATL, the President or Vice President, would fly into Dobbins AFB rather than Hartsfield whenever possible for security reasons.
I suspect that the Secret Service would prefer military bases over a public airport for the same reason. Unfortunately, such facilities are not always near major concentrations of constituents or voters.
The temporary inconvenience of a ground hold, or road closures for a motorcade, are small prices to pay for the political freedoms we have.
Alpha 1 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 10 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3307 times:
If I were pres or the VP I would try to fly into an airport that didn't inconvenience the airlines or the public.
It isn't just the flying-it's coming/going from the airport. Back in '92, Vice President Quayle arrived at CLE. He was speaking downtown for a campaign rally. They cleared I-71 all the way to downtown Cleveland, and told everyone to take the RTA rapid transit line-only to have idiot Quayle say he wanted to take the Rapid downtown. So they had to keep everyone off of the Rapid from the Airport to Tower City for 2 HOURS, and thousands of people were late to work.
Tom in NO From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 7194 posts, RR: 41 Reply 11, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3225 times:
Pilottim747:
That's pretty much standard operating procedure with Presidential and VP operations: inspect the runway, Coast Guard chopper (for us) maintains an overhead coverage, ATC freezes all movement (aircraft and vehicular [enforced by police]), AF1/2 lands and parks, Airport Operations and police escort motorcade off airport, everyone goes back to work. And the same thing happens (though partly in reverse) for the departure.
Aircraft that are on approach to the airport have to go into holding patterns, as well. Fun and games for us airport guys, not so much fun for the airline folks.
Tom at MSY
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
Alphascan From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 936 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3160 times:
Then Cheney arrived with a dozen or so vehicles and boarded. Air Force Two left and boom, the airport became bussling again.
What? No sitting on the tarmac for a Hollywood haircut?
"To he who only has a hammer in his toolbelt, every problem looks like a nail."
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3149 times:
Why is there always SUCH a hoo-haa whenever the US Prez or VP turn up - there is nothing like that kind of drama when Vladimir Putin or the Chinese guy turn up - yes, they have motorcades and all that, but they don't close the entire airport for an hour either side of their aircraft movements, or close the metro, or shut off the mobile phone network and all the other crap GWB and friends demand. If I was in charge of MSP I'd have told the USAF to pick another airport, and not disrupt mine, thanks very much - after all, MSP has shareholders and stakeholders with a lot to lose if operations are to be deliberately disrupted in this manner.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12326 posts, RR: 12 Reply 15, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3107 times:
The intense need for security, even before 9/11 as to our President/VP is necessary due to them being probably the #1 target of the world's terrorists and nutcases. In the DC area, they have close by the city an Air Force base, but in many area, like the NYC area, there are no military bases close to the city (closest is Stewart International/NYNAG base, and that is 40+ miles away) nor any suitable alternative airports. I do have issues that when on the ground, they have clear rides to their destinations, disrupting everybody concerned, but once again necessary. I work in NYC, and when the President comes to town, it is crazy.
PlaneviewNYC From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3079 times:
There haven't been any successful or near successful assasination attempts on the leaders of Russia or China in the recent past. The US has experienced two in the past 40 years, so we go to great lengths to protect our Presidents.
Tom in NO From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 7194 posts, RR: 41 Reply 17, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3060 times:
all the other crap GWB and friends demand.
These procedures were around long before GWB took office. It's the Secret Service's demands and procedures, and in the airport management mindset, whatever the SS wants, the SS gets.
Tom at MSY
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
Tom in NO From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 7194 posts, RR: 41 Reply 19, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3000 times:
Seeing as I'm positive we all understand the holding pattern pocedure, I'm guessing I'm to expand on the 'fun and games' bit, eh???
Simple, the first couple of times AF1/2 shows up, we're all into it. Fun to watch big 747 (when I first did this it was smaller 707) show up and do it's thing.
After about the 27th time, it gets a little old, especially when they lock everything down around here. If I want to get onto the airfield during lockdown, I have to wait outside the vehicular gate. If I'm already on the airfield, I have to hold my position.....from the time he's on approach, until his motorcade clears the airfield (usually a good 15-20 minutes).
You know I'm down with a good ol' 747 on occasion, and being the good civil servant and airport employee that I am, I obey the rules, but that is one 747 we'd like to see spend a little more time at the Naval Air Station (as it did a couple of times when Slick Bill was in charge).
cynical Tom at MSY
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2990 times:
when I first did this it was smaller 707
...exposing your vintage, eh?
If I'm already on the airfield, I have to hold my position.....from the time he's on approach, until his motorcade clears the airfield
So you mean I cannot stand out at the threshold, then do a Dukes-of-Hazzard into your already-moving vehicle in order to race the b!tch down the taxiways.... like last time?
Tom in NO From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 7194 posts, RR: 41 Reply 21, posted (8 years 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2970 times:
I'm having a tough time figuring out which response I want to use:
1) not unless Daisy Duke rides as well.....or.....
2) yeah, but last time they won, and I want a rematch!
Sorry, couldn't resist!
"The criminal ineptitude makes you furious"-Bruce Springsteen, after seeing firsthand the damage from Hurricane Katrina
JGPH1A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (8 years 10 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2807 times:
Re: These procedures were around long before GWB took office.
I don't think the procedures were quite so draconian in the past - I worked at LHR last time President Clinton visited London, and I'm pretty sure they didn't shut down the tube or close LHR for hours and hours.
JMV From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 241 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (8 years 10 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2770 times:
PlaneviewNYC,
There have been three assassination attempts on a US President since Kennedy was killed that I know of. There were two attempts on Gerald Ford, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, in Sacramento, California. September 5, 1975 and Sara Jane Moore in San Francisco, California. September 22, 1975, along with the attempt on Reagan.
As for why the Secret Service is so paranoid about presidential, and vice presidential security, look at how benign a president Ford was, and yet he was shot at twice.
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