09-22-2010, 02:24 PM
Lots of legwork needed for Biden's landing
Plane Biden rides is called Air Force Two
The Akron Canton Airport tower greeted Vice President Joe Biden's plane Monday at 2:50 p.m. with these simple words:
''Air Force Two is cleared to land.''
The plane landed on Runway One and parked at the airport's north de-icing pad with a scheduled ''wheels up'' departure time of 7:30 p.m.
Although the vice president was in the area for less than five hours, the logistics involved in delivering him to Northeast Ohio required much more time and effort.
Visits from the White House begin with a call from a U.S. Secret Service team a few days in advance.
The Secret Service called Todd Laps, the airport's manager of public safety and operations, on Thursday to begin preparing for the vice president's visit, said Kristie Van Auken, chief marketing and communications officer.
''Then what happens is the sheriff's department, the Secret Service and our operations team then have a meeting,'' Van Auken said. ''That's when they troubleshoot and get as much local input as possible, because every airfield is different. So they need that local perspective to make sure things are buttoned up to the greatest level possible.''
The Secret Service advance team stays in town until after the vice president leaves, Van Auken said.
Laps also coordinated with White House staff about the airport itself, particularly regarding communications.
''One thing that they found that they wanted to do was to add extra phone lines, just in case somebody needs it for some reason,'' Van Auken said.
So the airport called AT&T about add
ing a few phone lines.
Laps figured he would put in 24 hours preparing for the visit, Van Auken said.
Meanwhile, the White House was arranging for the vice president's trip, which meant calling the Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing out of Andrews Air Force Base.
The 89th Airlift Wing provides aircraft and flight crews for the president, vice president, first lady, secretary of defense, secretary of state, presidential Cabinet members, senior defense department officials and members of Congress.
The aircraft, informally referred to as ''blue and whites'' because of their distinctive paint schemes, include the VC-25, known by its call sign, Air Force One, when the president is on board.
The plane Biden took to Akron is the C-32, a specially configured version of the Boeing 757-200 commercial intercontinental airliner.
Air Force Two
When Biden is on board, it's known by its call sign, Air Force Two.
The C-32's passenger cabin is divided into four sections, according to the Air Force.
The forward area has a communications center, galley, lavatory and 10 business-class seats.
The second section is an enclosed stateroom for the use of the primary passenger. The stateroom includes a changing area, private lavatory, separate entertainment system, two first-class swivel seats and a convertible divan that seats three and folds out to a bed.
The third section is for staff conferences and has eight business-class seats.
The rear section of the cabin contains general seating with 32 business-class seats, a galley, two lavatories and closets.
This is no discount airline.
''The C-32 is $11,555 cost per flying hour,'' said Maj. Shelley Lai, director of public affairs for the 89th Airlift Wing.
The cost — which is cumulative and averaged across the year — includes fuel, general wear and tear, consumable items on board and maintenance on the air frame and engines.
Reimbursement
Security requires that the presidential and vice presidential families travel this way whenever they fly, so the campaign reimburses the government for political trips.
''The Democratic Party and the White House would reimburse the government and the Air Force for the use of the plane,'' Lai said.
When the vice president arrived at Akron-Canton airport, he didn't rent a car. A limousine was waiting for him.
When the White House orders a plane, it sometimes needs to coordinate with the Pentagon for a cargo plane to carry motorcade limousines and escort SUVs.
That cargo plane — a C-17Globemaster III — arrived on Sunday with the vice president's motorcade. The C-17 is 174 feet long, with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches. It can carry 170,900 pounds, according to the Air Force.
Flight restrictions
Whenever a ''Very Important Person'' arrives, the Federal Aviation Administration issues temporary flight restrictions closing the air space (except for regularly scheduled commercial flights) at a certain radius and altitude for a certain period of time.
On Monday, the FAA closed the air space for a radius of three nautical miles and below 3,000 feet at the airport; around the University of Akron, where Biden spoke; at Brookside Country Club in Perry Township, where he attended a fundraiser; and again at the airport for takeoff.
Ultimate Jetcharters, the government contractor on the airfield, refueled the vice president's plane, Van Auken said.
Air Force Two was scheduled to depart at 7:30 p.m., followed by the C-17 with the motorcade at 9 p.m.
Plane Biden rides is called Air Force Two
The Akron Canton Airport tower greeted Vice President Joe Biden's plane Monday at 2:50 p.m. with these simple words:
''Air Force Two is cleared to land.''
The plane landed on Runway One and parked at the airport's north de-icing pad with a scheduled ''wheels up'' departure time of 7:30 p.m.
Although the vice president was in the area for less than five hours, the logistics involved in delivering him to Northeast Ohio required much more time and effort.
Visits from the White House begin with a call from a U.S. Secret Service team a few days in advance.
The Secret Service called Todd Laps, the airport's manager of public safety and operations, on Thursday to begin preparing for the vice president's visit, said Kristie Van Auken, chief marketing and communications officer.
''Then what happens is the sheriff's department, the Secret Service and our operations team then have a meeting,'' Van Auken said. ''That's when they troubleshoot and get as much local input as possible, because every airfield is different. So they need that local perspective to make sure things are buttoned up to the greatest level possible.''
The Secret Service advance team stays in town until after the vice president leaves, Van Auken said.
Laps also coordinated with White House staff about the airport itself, particularly regarding communications.
''One thing that they found that they wanted to do was to add extra phone lines, just in case somebody needs it for some reason,'' Van Auken said.
So the airport called AT&T about add
ing a few phone lines.
Laps figured he would put in 24 hours preparing for the visit, Van Auken said.
Meanwhile, the White House was arranging for the vice president's trip, which meant calling the Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing out of Andrews Air Force Base.
The 89th Airlift Wing provides aircraft and flight crews for the president, vice president, first lady, secretary of defense, secretary of state, presidential Cabinet members, senior defense department officials and members of Congress.
The aircraft, informally referred to as ''blue and whites'' because of their distinctive paint schemes, include the VC-25, known by its call sign, Air Force One, when the president is on board.
The plane Biden took to Akron is the C-32, a specially configured version of the Boeing 757-200 commercial intercontinental airliner.
Air Force Two
When Biden is on board, it's known by its call sign, Air Force Two.
The C-32's passenger cabin is divided into four sections, according to the Air Force.
The forward area has a communications center, galley, lavatory and 10 business-class seats.
The second section is an enclosed stateroom for the use of the primary passenger. The stateroom includes a changing area, private lavatory, separate entertainment system, two first-class swivel seats and a convertible divan that seats three and folds out to a bed.
The third section is for staff conferences and has eight business-class seats.
The rear section of the cabin contains general seating with 32 business-class seats, a galley, two lavatories and closets.
This is no discount airline.
''The C-32 is $11,555 cost per flying hour,'' said Maj. Shelley Lai, director of public affairs for the 89th Airlift Wing.
The cost — which is cumulative and averaged across the year — includes fuel, general wear and tear, consumable items on board and maintenance on the air frame and engines.
Reimbursement
Security requires that the presidential and vice presidential families travel this way whenever they fly, so the campaign reimburses the government for political trips.
''The Democratic Party and the White House would reimburse the government and the Air Force for the use of the plane,'' Lai said.
When the vice president arrived at Akron-Canton airport, he didn't rent a car. A limousine was waiting for him.
When the White House orders a plane, it sometimes needs to coordinate with the Pentagon for a cargo plane to carry motorcade limousines and escort SUVs.
That cargo plane — a C-17Globemaster III — arrived on Sunday with the vice president's motorcade. The C-17 is 174 feet long, with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches. It can carry 170,900 pounds, according to the Air Force.
Flight restrictions
Whenever a ''Very Important Person'' arrives, the Federal Aviation Administration issues temporary flight restrictions closing the air space (except for regularly scheduled commercial flights) at a certain radius and altitude for a certain period of time.
On Monday, the FAA closed the air space for a radius of three nautical miles and below 3,000 feet at the airport; around the University of Akron, where Biden spoke; at Brookside Country Club in Perry Township, where he attended a fundraiser; and again at the airport for takeoff.
Ultimate Jetcharters, the government contractor on the airfield, refueled the vice president's plane, Van Auken said.
Air Force Two was scheduled to depart at 7:30 p.m., followed by the C-17 with the motorcade at 9 p.m.