One of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force’s new A400 transport airplanes landed at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Aug. 16 as part of efforts to prepare for hurricanes and other disasters in the region.
The planned stop was part of training carried out to ensure that the plane’s crew is familiar with landing the large aircraft here in the event of an emergency, according to the Governor’s Office.
Airport Duty Manager Cherno Turnbull, an aspiring pilot, got a chance to fly on the aircraft when the crew invited him to sit in the cockpit as they completed a take-off and landing drill, the office stated.
The plane
The four-engine turboprop A400 was one of 22 the RAF recently purchased from Airbus.
It can carry 37 tonnes of cargo over 2,000 nautical miles, and it is capable of operating out of short, unprepared landing strips by day or night, according to the RAF.
On the brief VI visit, the plane’s crew spoke to airport officials on “a range of matters,” including disaster response, according to the Governor’s Office.
Navy ship
The UK also has a Royal Navy vessel in the region standing by to support the VI and other overseas territories in the event of a disaster during hurricane season.
“As we reach the peak of the hurricane season, it is important that everyone takes steps to prepare,” the Governor’s Office stated on Facebook.
The office advised seeking more information from the Department of Disaster Management.