The two main options for The Queen's visits are an RAF aeroplane from 32 The Royal Squadron, or a charter aircraft. Factors to be considered include the distance to be travelled, the number of passengers and cost. As Group Captain Hewlett explains. ”It's a balanced judgment as to whether we use a charter plane or an RAF aircraft.”
Operational tasking permitting, 32 (The Royal) Squadron, based at RAF Northolt, Ruislip, retains a number of British Aerospace aircraft for official visits by members of the Royal Family, the prime minister, members of the Government and senior serving officers.
There are two British Aerospace 146 planes, which have a range of 1,500 miles and a four-hour flying capacity. The five British Aerospace 125 aircraft have a range of 2,000 miles and a four-hour flying limit. Both are suitable for short haul flights; the 146 can carry 21 passengers and luggage, the 125 carries just 7 passengers.
For many long-haul trips lasting over a week, however, aircraft with a larger capacity or longer range may be necessary. A large aeroplane specially chartered from an airline may be the only option for extensive overseas visits by The Queen and The Prince of Wales.
The costs of The Queen's travel overseas is met, like that of Royal travel within the UK, by the Royal Travel Grant-in-Aid. This is a sum of money granted by Parliament each year for official Royal travel.
Careful consideration has to be given to the cost of each possible form of transportation to ensure it meets the requirements of the engagements that are planned, whilst remaining financially expedient. The Queen herself approves all Royal transportation costs above a certain figure, including her own. Details of all journeys and the costs involved are published each year in the Annual Report on Royal Travel.
But cost is not the only consideration in planning an overseas trip, as Group Captain Hewlett explains. ”Cost is only part of the story. All travel arrangements have to be safe, suitable and dignified for the Head of State, and must ensure minimum disruption to the public.”
Transport arrangements within the country being visited by The Queen are the responsibility of the host, but the Royal Travel Office will advise the host nation on issues to take into consideration for air travel and ensure a suitable standard and safety requirements are met. To ensure all the transport arrangements go smoothly Group Captain Hewlett is a member of the pre-visit 'recce' party which pays a visit to the country concerned in advance of The Queen's visit.
The recce party's overall responsibility is to ensure that every aspect - the programme of engagements, accommodation, security, media facilities, reciprocal hospitality and transport - will run according to plan. Group Captain Hewlett has the specific responsibility for air travel to and from the country and any in-theatre flying that may be considered.
Planning the travel is a fundamental and fascinating part of this process. “What makes this job so interesting is the wide variety of tasks involved. The nature of Royal travel is such that you need to draw on a wide range of solutions to make sure that all goes smoothly, that The Queen, and all members of The Royal Family get to where they have to be safely, with dignity and on time.”
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