Quote:
Originally Posted by MidValleyDad
2) Range - these aircraft allow minimal stops which can cause diplomatic issues. Also it allows them to take a large staff with them. This all leads to what I think is a big reason
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I didn't think about the diplomatic issues. I know that the President of Mexico with his Boeing 757 usually stops in Gander Newfoundland on his way to Europe to refuel. With his new 787 he won't have to stop. But I didn't think that some regimes might not have to a conveniently neutral place to stop. Especially if there is a warrant for their arrest in unstable times.
The "large staff" should be proportional to the size and power of the country and the possibility of conducting the government from the air in the event of extreme emergency.
Algeria is a member of United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank. Algeria is an active member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). Algeria also is a Partner for Cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, an observer to the Organization of American States, and an observer to the World Trade Organization.
-- That's pretty standard stuff. They have no treaty to go to war. IMHO it is ridiculous that such a small poor nation needs a staff of hundreds when he is on a short trip. I think it is more about his own protection.
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John Kerry (US Secretary of State) has a 757, and he lists all of his refueling stops. They actually add up to a lot after a while. His "go to" refuel stop is Shannon, Ireland
Afghanistan Marrara (Refuel), 8/10/14
Belgium Brussels, (Refueling) 1/6/14
Guam Anderson AFB, (Refuel) 12/18/13
Jordan Aqaba, (Technical Stop) 12/13/13
Austria Vienna, (Refueling) 8/2/13
Kyrgyzstan Bishkek, (Refueling) 4/11/13
Shannon, (Refueling) 6/21&27/14
Shannon, (Refueling) 6/9/14
Shannon, (Refueling) 4/29-30/14
Shannon, (Refueling) 3/29/14
Shannon, (Refueling) 3/7/14
Shannon, (Refueling) 1/15/14
Shannon (Refueling) 12/11-12/13
Shannon (Refueling) 12/6/13
Shannon (Refueling) 11/11/13
Shannon (Refueling) 11/2-3/13
Shannon (Refueling) 10/24/13
Shannon (Refueling) 7/30-31/13
Shannon (Refueling) 7/15, 7/19/13
Shannon, (Refueling) 5/20-21/13
Shannon, (Refueling) 5/9/13
Shannon, (Refueling) 5/6/13
Shannon, (Refueling) 3/19/13
Shannon, (Refueling and meeting with Foreign Minister) 3/6/13
It's not immediately clear what an overnight stop for refueling is for (example: 4/29-30/14). I think the Secretary probably gets some specialized help in Europe that joins him on the jet. The trip following that stop was (Apr. 29-May 5): Ethiopia, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Cape Verde (17,239 miles). It is only 3600 miles from Cape Verde back to Washington which is easily flown without refueling.