Airbridge
47. During our visits to Afghanistan, Iraq and Cyprus
in 2006, we spoke to Service personnel about the airbridge which
transports Service personnel to and from the UK and operational
theatres. We heard concerns about the reliability of the airbridge
and witnessed at first hand some of the frustrations experienced
by Service personnel whose return home had been delayed owing
to failures of aircraft.
48. In our inquiry into the MoD Annual Report and
Accounts 2005-06 we examined support to operations and the issue
of the airbridge.[63]
We questioned Mr Bill Jeffrey, the MoD's Permanent Under Secretary
of State (PUS), about the airbridge from Afghanistan and Iraq
to the UK. He recognised that the airbridge had experienced significant
shortcomings and said that the MoD was considering how airbridge
reliability could be improved. In our Report we expressed our
concern that the unreliability of the airbridge had implications
for morale and for operational effectiveness. We looked to the
MoD to "provide the case to the Treasury for a significant
increase in investment in the transport fleet".[64]
49. The Government Response to that Report, published
on 9 March 2007, set out how the MoD was seeking to address the
shortcomings of the airbridge. These included: an end-to end review
of the airbridge; improvements to RAF Main Air Transport Bases,
such as Brize Norton; improvements to the runway at Kandahar Airfield,
Afghanistan; and the possible forward basing of TriStar aircraft.[65]
The Government Response stated that airbridge reliability was
affected by the availability of suitably protected TriStar aircraft
able to fly directly into operational theatres.[66]
AVM Leeson told us that more TriStar aircraft had now been equipped
with defensive aids and the MoD was "now in a much better
position to provide the service".[67]
He was keeping a watch on passenger satisfaction statistics and
considered that "we are now getting the sorts of numbers
where I am beginning to feel more comfortable". The improvement
in the service was because the MoD could "now provide a spare
aeroplane that is properly equipped".[68]
50. Air Commodore Gunby, Air Officer Air Transport
and Air-to-Air Refuelling, Headquarters 2 Group, RAF, told us
that a very significant improvement was transporting personnel
direct to Kandahar in Afghanistan, whereas before they had had
to go to Kabul and then be transported in a Hercules aircraft.[69]
He also provided examples of more modest improvements to improve
the level of service. These included: a refurbished and expanded
café at the Brize Norton terminal; a customer helpline;
and the installation of air-conditioning in the lounges at RAF
Akrotiri, Cyprus.[70]
51. We asked what the MoD was doing to ensure that
the charter aircraft used to transport personnel provided sufficient
space.[71] We were concerned
that aircraft normally used for short-haul holiday travel were
being used on long flights to transport service personnel. Brigadier
Mason said that the MoD was now chartering Boeing 747 aircraft
for transporting personnel to the South Atlantic. The MoD did
not ask the airlines to adjust the seating on the aircraft because
"frankly, none of them would want to have a contract with
us if we so asked". However, AVM Leeson agreed that having
"rough-and-tough, big, solid chaps sitting in seats built
for the average tourist" was an issue and said that he did
not pressure the Defence Supply Chain Operations and Movements
organisation to achieve 100% load occupancies. He said that when
the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft came into service it would
provide improved seating.[72]
52. We asked General Figgures, in the context of
his comment that the manifestation of a failure of long-term planning
would be that we had suffered operational disadvantage, whether
the difficulties experienced with the airbridge led to operational
disadvantage. He said that the operational outcome had not been
affected adversely, but accepted that it had an impact on the
morale of service personnel.[73]
53. We welcome
the action that has been taken to improve the reliability of the
airbridge and to improve the experience of service personnel being
transported to and from the UK and operational theatres. The MoD
should not underestimate the impact on the morale of Service personnel
of delays returning to the UK, particularly if the delays cut
into a short period of leave. The MoD must monitor closely issues
relating to the airbridge and ensure that the improvements in
hand are fully implemented.
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