Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

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DfwRevolution
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Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 11:37 am

I was browsing the internet portal of my local airport, Easterwood CLL, when I came across this picture in the photo database:

http://www.tamu.edu/easterwoodairport/images/gaimages/777_approach.jpg

Bear in mind, the only air service we get in College Station are propliners run by American Eagle (to DFW) and Continental Express (to IAH), so spotting a longhaul twinjet is extraordinarily rare. Does anyone have details as to when and why this BA 777-200(ER?) stopped in CLL?

Thanks, and Gig'em  thumbsup 
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MDorBust
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:05 pm

A couple of theories:

1) Blair wanted to visit the President at his ranch and didn't like TSTC

2) Pilot immediatly executed a go around after the picture was taken and was heard to say "just kidding" to the tower.

3) Went tech on the way to Houston.

BTW: While attempting to google up an answer... I found out that Orbitz will try to sell you a ticket on British Airways from College Station to DFW!

DFW.html" target=_blank>http://www.orbitz.com/flight-info/BA/BA-CLL-DFW.html

Yeah, on a S340. hmmmm...
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drerx7
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:11 pm

Judging by the dark skies...IAH was rained out.
HOUSTON, TEXAS
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ImperialEagle
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:15 pm

Maybe it has something to do with British VIP's traveling here in the US.
Are "Chulls" and Camilla still over here? Maybe it was sent to fetch them.
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AV8AJET
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 12:36 pm

My guess would be a weather diversion from IAH.
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deltairlines
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:21 pm

It was for a Tony Blair visit to the Western White House (a.k.a. Crawford, TX) a few years back.
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ciccone
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:56 pm

College Station is not exactly close to Crawford, I would think that he would have gone to Killeen either using GRK or ILE.
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b757300
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:57 pm

After visiting President Bush's ranch, Prime Minister Blair gave a speech at the George Bush Presidential Library. He then flew back to London straight from CLL. I have some pictures I took of the 777 as they were positioning it for takeoff as well as a video clip that jhooper filmed of it taking off.

[Edited 2007-02-03 06:00:32]
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Type-Rated
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:09 pm

I didn't think that the runway in CLL was wide enough, or even thick enough to handle anything bigger than a 737 or so. But with a 150' wide runway and 150K wight limit, one could coneivable land there.
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b757300
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:17 pm

When I spoke to John Happ (CLL's Director) several years ago he said that CLL can handle just about any type of aircraft.

We've had a C-5 here (back in late 1980's) and every year during football season a 757 takes the Texas A&M football team to and from their games. It used to be ATA but now is American.
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BEG2IAH
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:24 pm

DfwRevolution,

First off, I had no idea CLL was your local airport. I guess it's your user name that leaves a DFW impression.  

I have a video clip (not mine) of this very B772 taking off. Tony Blair was on that plane. It's about 3 MB. You can send me a message with your email address and I'll email it to you.

I used to work in a building adjacent to Bush Museum. Security issues during high profile visits usually kept us away from offices. We had an option to either show up at work before 8 am and leave the building after 8 pm (being sniffed numerous times by police dogs), or not show up at all. We weren't supposed to touch window blinds, otherwise we would risk being shot by snipers. Consequently, I didn't show up for work that day. When I heard that we had a B772 at CLL I just wanted to shoot my foot.  

BEG2IAH

[Edited 2007-02-03 07:25:52]
Flying at the cruising altitude is (mostly) boring. I wish all flights were nothing but endless take offs and landings every 10 minutes or so.
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FlyingTexan
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:31 pm

this could be fodder for some very creative Aggie jokes ...


Gig'em!
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BEG2IAH
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:47 pm

Quoting FlyingTexan (Reply 11):
this could be fodder for some very creative Aggie jokes ...

Wouldn't be surprised at all.  Smile

BEG2IAH
Flying at the cruising altitude is (mostly) boring. I wish all flights were nothing but endless take offs and landings every 10 minutes or so.
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b757300
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:50 pm

When the 777 was at CLL, I was lucky enough to stand out at Research Park and take pictures. Thankfully no one bothered me.

As of late, CLL has been getting a lot of diversions from IAH whenever weather shuts it down. Last year I was on the A&M campus for work and within the space of 30 minutes I saw at least 3 737's and 5 ERJ-135/145's coming in for a landing. Pretty sure I saw a 757 sitting on the tarmac as well as I drove past the airport on my way back to my office.

As for the Aggie jokes, there is no doubt in my mind we'll be hearing some very soon.  silly 

[Edited 2007-02-03 07:52:35]
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EXMEMWIDGET
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:39 am

CLL is no where near Crawford. Waco, Tx is the closest. That is where Air Force One lands when the W wants to go to his ranch. I would guess that BA into CLL was some sort of diversion.
Ex DL and NW, current FX.
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DfwRevolution
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Sun Feb 04, 2007 6:57 am

Quoting BEG2IAH (Reply 10):
First off, I had no idea CLL was your local airport. I guess it's your user name that leaves a DFW impression.

Hah, never thought about that. I lived near DFW when I created my A.net account, but I have been in College Station for almost 2 years now. I only consider CLL my "local" airport because it's where I started taking lessons from.

Quoting B757300 (Reply 13):
As for the Aggie jokes, there is no doubt in my mind we'll be hearing some very soon.

The joke will be on the t'sips come Monday night  Wink
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b757300
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:28 pm

Quoting EXMEMWIDGET (Reply 14):
CLL is no where near Crawford. Waco, Tx is the closest. That is where Air Force One lands when the W wants to go to his ranch. I would guess that BA into CLL was some sort of diversion.

See my reply in post #7.

Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 15):
Hah, never thought about that. I lived near DFW when I created my A.net account, but I have been in College Station for almost 2 years now. I only consider CLL my "local" airport because it's where I started taking lessons from.

Good to know we have at least two people from CLL here on A.net.

Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 15):
The joke will be on the t'sips come Monday night

Yes it was.  Smile
"There is no victory at bargain basement prices."
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Jammin
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 2:54 pm

Quoting B757300 (Reply 16):
Good to know we have at least two people from CLL here on A.net.

Count me in too. Big grin

I went to Texas A&M from 03-04 (for a masters)... I was thrilled to see the thread title.. and I immediately knew that it could only be Blair visiting Papa Bush's presidential library. I used to do catering while I was there and I catered many events for Bush and he even once hosted the Queen of Qatar (A&M opened up an engineering school there).

We had a stunt airshow once (I think Thunderbirds ??) and they used CLL. We all gathered in Research Park near Bush's library looking out at the airfield. Some amazing stuff.

Go little CLL!!  airplane 
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BEG2IAH
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:20 pm

Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 15):
The joke will be on the t'sips come Monday night

You were right.

BEG2IAH
Flying at the cruising altitude is (mostly) boring. I wish all flights were nothing but endless take offs and landings every 10 minutes or so.
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DfwRevolution
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:26 pm

Quoting BEG2IAH (Reply 18):
You were right.

The way we have been playing this year, a loss at home almost seems incomprehensible. Even with all the foul trouble and a close call with Law IV, the Aggies still won by no close margin. The atmosphere tonight was electric.

If any of you Aggie fans or former students have not been to a game in Reed, put it on the to-do list ASAP. Wear white. And Gig'em.
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Aggieflyboi04
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:19 pm

Add me to the list of people that are from CLL. I just got back from the Aggie Basketball game tonight. A&M 100 t.u. 82 WHOOP!!!!!!

Quoting EXMEMWIDGET (Reply 14):
CLL is no where near Crawford. Waco, Tx is the closest. That is where Air Force One lands when the W wants to go to his ranch.

Lands at TSTC
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gh123
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:41 pm

Quoting Type-Rated (Reply 8):
I didn't think that the runway in CLL was wide enough, or even thick enough to handle anything bigger than a 737 or so. But with a 150' wide runway and 150K wight limit, one could coneivable land there.

For College Station:

Runway 16/34
Length: 7000'
Width: 150'
Surface type: Asphalt - Concrete
Surface Condition: Good
Surface treatment: Grooved
Runway edge lights: High intensity

Lexington KY:

Dimensions: 7003 x 150 ft.
Surface: asphalt/grooved, in good condition
Runway edge lights: high intensity

Lexington KY takes 747s for the Dubai Air Wing such as:


View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!
Photo © Snorre - VAP

and
View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!
Photo © Konstantin von Wedelstaedt



Taking that into account I don't see any reason why College Station couldn't handle a 777.
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gkirk
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:31 pm

Quoting MDorBust (Reply 1):
2) Pilot immediatly executed a go around after the picture was taken and was heard to say "just kidding" to the tower.

 rotfl 
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YOWguy
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RE: Why Did This BA 777 Visit College Station, TX?

Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:06 am

Quoting MDorBust (Reply 1):
1) Blair wanted to visit the President at his ranch and didn't like TSTC

2) Pilot immediatly executed a go around after the picture was taken and was heard to say "just kidding" to the tower.

3) Went tech on the way to Houston.

You forgot number 4....

Thought that he was landing at DFW...

Some pilots have been know to land at the wrong airport.
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