US planes on relief missions in Nepal are allowed stopovers at U-tapao

[webfact]

US planes on relief missions in Nepal are allowed stopovers at U-tapao



BANGKOK: -- The cabinet last week granted permission for the United States to use U-tapao airbase as a stopover for its planes to fly relief and medical supplies to Nepal, said Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Navy, on Sunday.

He disclosed that altogether 16 planes which include huge and medium-sized transport planes and tankers for aerial refueling from Okinawa, Guam and the Philippines would be allowed to use U-tapao airbase as a stopover for one month’s period until May 31.

Ten officers each from the Thai and US sides are at the airbase to facilitate the flight stopovers.

The first plane stopped at U-tapao airbase last Friday before continuing its flight to Nepal.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/us-planes-on-relief-missions-in-nepal-are-allowed-stopovers-at-u-tapao


-- Thai PBS 2015-05-11

[webfact]

U-Tapao Airport becomes transit base for US
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Rayong's U-Tapao Airport has been turned into the transit base for US disaster-relief missions to quake-hit Nepal.

The Cabinet has approved using the airport for the US to transit all commodities to Nepal, with up to nine flights a day.

A Thai-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Combined Co-ordination Centre for Nepal was established to co-ordinate and facilitate such operations.

Around 10 military officials from both countries are working together in order to ensure the process is done according to related regulations.

The Thai team is led by Naval Operations Department deputy chief Rear Admiral Kraisi Kesorn and also consists officials from Royal Thai Armed Forces, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Air Force headquarters.

Following the earthquake that severely hit Nepal last month, international assistance has poured into the country.

As such, the heavy air traffic has caused congested, hence the need to use U-Tapao Airport as part of these humanitarian operations.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/U-Tapao-Airport-becomes-transit-base-for-US-30259757.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-11

[ratcatcher]

A great show of magnanimity on behalf of the Thais.

[Strangebrew]

Well got to start kissing butt somewhere.

[RichinThailand]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

[rametindallas]

It wasn't that long ago that the U.S. requested space at U-tapao to STOCKPILE relief supplies for regional use. At the same time (but unconnected) the U.S. Nat. Aeronautics and Space Admin. requested use of U-tapao for high altitude climate study. Yingluck's government, with support from Abhisit, turned the U.S. down on both counts.

US Navy Seeks Use Of U-Tapao http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/560534-us-navy-seeks-use-of-u-tapao/

NASA cancels climate study project in Thailand http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-cancels-climate-study-project-thailand-050427369.html;_ylt=A0LEVj_wFVBVXFEAQLoPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBybGY3bmpvBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

As usual, Thailand waits until after-the-fact to react. Instead of having relief supplies ready in Thailand for immediate shipment to Nepal's earthquake victims, everything now must be flown all the way from the U.S. and then flown again to Nepal. One of the few really nice things you can say about the U.S. is that it it quick to come to the aid of those struck by natural disasters but the U.S. can only be quick if they have cooperation from neighboring states.

[rametindallas]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

I think the U.S. built some nice runways in the southern portion of Vietnam a while back, also.

[BarnicaleBob]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

I think the U.S. built some nice runways in the southern portion of Vietnam a while back, also.

The U.S. also built a nice airbase in Long Tieng Laos, of course it was a big secret at the time. It is still there and currently a Lao air base.

[stoli]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

These Thai airports were built by the US, for the benefit of the US during the Vietnam War. That was very nice of the Thais then, and now. Get your facts straight, please.

[stoli]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

I think the U.S. built some nice runways in the southern portion of Vietnam a while back, also.

The U.S. also built a nice airbase in Long Tieng Laos, of course it was a big secret at the time. It is still there and currently a Lao air base.

Air America, and another secret mission whose name I cannot remember, with some of the toughest pilots that you can imagine. Put together by the CiA, I understand one-third of the pilots were killed, and one- third were injured.

[IMA_FARANG]

A great show of magnanimity on behalf of the Thais.

----------------------------------

Only if you ignore the fact that U-tapao was mostly built by the U.S. .....of course that was long ago and a different time and Thai government.

But as the saying goes, "Yes baby, but what have you done for me lately"?

[bdenner]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

These Thai airports were built by the US, for the benefit of the US during the Vietnam War. That was very nice of the Thais then, and now. Get your facts straight, please.

Did you read the post before engaging the gearbox in your brain and on the keyboard!

[metisdead]

Please use discretion in your references to the government. Phrases which can be considered as anti-coup will be removed. Referring to Thailand or the government as a dictatorship, military dictatorship or other such terms will be removed.

[2fishin2]

So what....this is a normal occurrence covered by long standing agreements. The "permission" is nothing but a formality. All you conspiracy guys please go back to your beers....musta been a slow news day.

[halloween]

Just re-fuelling, or are other services being offered? Thais are famous for their hospitality, and fondness for crisp US dollars.

[HannahD]

Nice of Thailand to let the US use the airport that the US built, along with the fuel farm, etc. Come to think of it, how many Thai cities would not have the nice big airports they have if the US hadn't built the airports??

These Thai airports were built by the US, for the benefit of the US during the Vietnam War. That was very nice of the Thais then, and now. Get your facts straight, please.

Actually there are stories that several airfields built in Thailand by the US in the 1950s were intended as emergency recovery runways for B-47s which would fly over the pole to strike the Soviet Union then because of range limitation would land in Thailand. What the crews would do in the radioactive world they had just created was of course uncertain. Later some of these airfields were upgraded for use in the Vietnam War.