Wed, Sep 10, 2003
'Oh, Heck!' Moment at NAS Jacksonville
Tuesday morning, as President Bush was set to arrive in
Jacksonville (FL) to go to another $2000 chicken lunch, his 747 had
to take a go-around.
It wasn't because the
pilots hadn't done their jobs; it was because of a runway
incursion. White House Spokesman Scott McClellan said air traffic
controllers were confused by the lead vehicle in the motorcade sent
to pick up the president. He said the vehicle drove to the end of
the runway as Air Force One made its approach.
Nobody was hurt; the second approach to NAS Jacksonville was
also faultless; and the Prez made it to Alltel Stadium for lunch.
Later, he talked with students at Hyde Park Elementary School, on
Jacksonville's west side.
ANN News Spy Ed Booth was there to watch and photograph the
proceedings and reported that, "I was out at Navy Jax today
watching Air Force One arrive. I was at the departure end of RWY
27, just outside the airport fence. The Secret Service was very
nice to the group of 100+ who showed up to take photos or just
enjoy the show. All they asked was that we not touch or lean
against the fence.
At 1130 Air Force #29000 appeared through the mist (see pic
below), lined up with RWY 27. At the last minute the nose came up,
and the gear started to retract. We were treated to a relatively
low flyby (about 700 feet). AF1 flew close left traffic in and out
of a ragged ceiling (I've seen many C-172 Skyhawks fly wider
patterns) and made it in the second time.
The official story appears to be a police car on a taxiway with
direct runway access. The tower didn't know who it was and the
procedure called for an abort. To see an aircraft that "owns" any
airspace or airport it wants go around was a real treat,
particularly knowing 'W' was onboard and must have been wondering
what the hell was going on..."
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