Bush to Brussels on 21-22 Feb: Disruptions at the airport?

chrisflyer · Post by **chrisflyer** » 10 Feb 2005, 11:02

Dear all,

I am flying out of Brussels on Monday 21 February 2005 in the morning (7.05am) and return on Tuesday 22 February 2005 in the evening (6.45pm).

Given the fact that G.W.Bush will be in town, what will be the kind of disruptions at Brussels Airport and, more importantly, on the roads between the city and the airport? How much time should I allow to travel to the airport on the Monday morning?

Thanks for all advice,

Chris

LX-LGX · Post by **LX-LGX** » 10 Feb 2005, 14:06

Chris, there are works in progress at the airport, so even without Bush there will be a delay: http://www.biac.be/news/

also check www.usembassy.be for more news. Security will try to keep it secret untill the last day.

TCAS_climb · Post by **TCAS_climb** » 10 Feb 2005, 14:06

I guess he'll authorize a pre-emptive nuclear strike on Brussels to prevent any threat or plot, so the highways and access roads should be clear in a 30 to 50 km radius (depending on the type of bomb). No need to worry...

JetB · Post by **JetB** » 10 Feb 2005, 14:22

Don't think your going to have a problem, only on Sunday when the president arrives the airport will close down for 60 minutes ( not one take off / landing allowed ) .

chrisflyer · Post by **chrisflyer** » 10 Feb 2005, 16:21

Thanks for the advice.

@JetB: I guess that in case USAF1 comes in on Sunday, there will be no problem on Monday morning. Thought he only flew in early on Monday morning.

Chris

AFApresident · Post by **AFApresident** » 11 Feb 2005, 10:25

Is it just me or is this a stupid idea to close an airport for 60minutes as in my opinion it doesnt increase security for Mr Bush whatsoever.

I mean its not like a passenger or a pilot will take his gun ... open the door of the aircraft and shoot at AF1 while taxxing or taking off. Nor that a pilot will fly his plane into AF1. Even if its highjacked no-one knows when he is arriving. So you would need to have a hundred planes highjacked to have a reasonable chance in having the controls of a plane at the same time Mr Bush is stepping out of his B747.

If someone wants to get him killed. He just takes a missile and launches it when the airplane is on short final (from outside the airport perimeter). Closing an airport for 60minutes wont prevent that.

So closing an airport for 60min makes totally no sense to me, except if he wants some media attention and let airlines lose thousands of $ through delays.

waldova · Post by **waldova** » 11 Feb 2005, 10:39

I think it is really hypocrite to close the airport. When there is an EU top the airport doesn't close down eather! Only ofcourse the private jets get priority to take off. But does this mean there is less threat to them as to Mr. Bush? Or does Mr. Bush thinks he is more important than all the presidents and prime ministers of Europe?

Why do we agree to close down even the airport. If Bush really wants the airport to be closed, his country should pay for the money the airlines are going to lose!

In my opinion this is just stupid and it is even more stupid to agree with the US to do so!

Post by **Kapitein** » 11 Feb 2005, 10:44

The airport won't close for 60 minutes. They just keep the traffic in the air/ground during the landing and taxiing of AF1. When the plane is at the stand, traffic is again allowed to land/takeoff

Harry_Spotter · Post by **Harry_Spotter** » 11 Feb 2005, 10:53

do you know what time he is landing on Sunday? Is it more in the morning or afternoon?
Best regards

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 11 Feb 2005, 13:17

Brubiac wrote:The airport won't close for 60 minutes. They just keep the traffic in the air/ground during the landing and taxiing of AF1. When the plane is at the stand, traffic is again allowed to land/takeoff

I'm glad to hear the airport will not close.
Does this mean that no plane is allowed to taxi while AF1 is taxiing ?? Why that ?

Chris

Post by **Kapitein** » 11 Feb 2005, 13:34

@ snba330

No idea when he will land, still waiting for this conformation

@avro

I think it's allowed to taxi, but the take-off/landing is forbidden

5Y-KQV · Post by **5Y-KQV** » 11 Feb 2005, 13:49

Will a NOTAM be sent out once they know exactly when he will be landing? If the airport gets closed for any reason and for any amount of time at a busy airport like BRU, an definite increase in cost may occur to the airlines and maybe the airport. Can they claim compensatioin and if so from whom?

Cheers,

Walter.

744rules · Post by **744rules** » 11 Feb 2005, 18:03

I remember that when other US presidents visited Belgium, not even an APU/GPU was allowed to be running when the president was walking to the royal suite and the military band was playing.

Maybe it will be different now when the a/c will be parked at the Abelag apron.

About disruptions. Probably the a201 will be closed when GWB will visit NATO

Mavke · Post by **Mavke** » 11 Feb 2005, 20:23

Hi Guys ...

it wil be great at night when we have to work just near the abelag Apron,

the DHL apron is just .... mmmm Lets say 25-30 m's from the abelag apron, we even have to drive with or equippement over the Abelag apron .... and each day some DHL planes are parked on Abelag ....

That wil be more batch shows then working i guess .....

Kenny

pascal-air · Post by **pascal-air** » 11 Feb 2005, 21:15

Yeah I am agree with you. It is too much easy... Look at the landing runway. It could be one of the 25L/R or 02. With winds coming from north, it will be 02. Then spot on 02 (Krainemm, Woluwe St pierre) there are many places where nobody will saw you, and then at this point just wait until no more planes are landing (of course because the airport is closed for 60 minutes this means that 30 minutes before all landing will be cancelled). Then just wait for the next plane (and may be it it will be Air Force One so easy recognizable), then target it with one or two rockets. On this approach, it is almost sure that any flare will fail... Just destroy one or two engines, and the plane should be seriously damaged... It is not the same thing that happened years ago in Rwanda in 1994?
It is !!! And it should be the most efficient way to kill someone like Mr Bush... LOL

So I will try to avoid to be below the landing runway path on sunday LOL

AFApresident wrote:Is it just me or is this a stupid idea to close an airport for 60minutes as in my opinion it doesnt increase security for Mr Bush whatsoever.

If someone wants to get him killed. He just takes a missile and launches it when the airplane is on short final (from outside the airport perimeter). Closing an airport for 60minutes wont prevent that.

waldova · Post by **waldova** » 11 Feb 2005, 23:20

Why are we discussing way's of destroying that plane! Come on, we shouldn't talk about these things.

I just hope all of you can make a nice picture of the plane!

HorsePower · Post by **HorsePower** » 11 Feb 2005, 23:26

pascal-air wrote:Yeah I am agree with you. It is too much easy... Look at the landing runway. It could be one of the 25L/R or 02. With winds coming from north, it will be 02. Then spot on 02 (Krainemm, Woluwe St pierre) there are many places where nobody will saw you, and then at this point just wait until no more planes are landing (of course because the airport is closed for 60 minutes this means that 30 minutes before all landing will be cancelled). Then just wait for the next plane (and may be it it will be Air Force One so easy recognizable), then target it with one or two rockets. On this approach, it is almost sure that any flare will fail... Just destroy one or two engines, and the plane should be seriously damaged... It is not the same thing that happened years ago in Rwanda in 1994?
It is !!! And it should be the most efficient way to kill someone like Mr Bush... LOL

So I will try to avoid to be below the landing runway path on sunday LOL

Echelon is watching you...

Seb.

A318 · Post by **A318** » 12 Feb 2005, 00:43

I think the security is not only on request of the US but also on request of the governement of the country where the plane will land.
After all it would be very bad news when the US president will be attacked in a EU country, in this case Belgium.
The whole world, well besides "some" countries, would point to Belgium blaming them for bad security and I think no country ever want to be blamed for something like that.

Greetz,

Erwin

ehamspotter · Post by **ehamspotter** » 12 Feb 2005, 10:42

Hello guys;

I heard and read that he will arr. the 20th, and will dep. the 22th???

rgds:Jeroen

Sentike · Post by **Sentike** » 12 Feb 2005, 17:26

I'm arriving at Brussels Charleroi at 12.55 hr, and i have to be in Molenbeek at 14.20 hr... Hope i'll make it...

Aviation24.be

Bush to Brussels on 21-22 Feb: Disruptions at the airport?

Bush to Brussels on 21-22 Feb: Disruptions at the airport?

MC1