On July 27, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games open in London, England. The international event always promises competition, heartfelt stories of hard work and endurance, and of course, extraordinarily intense travel scenarios. London will host 10,500 athletes from 205 countries and millions of spectators.
To add to the chaos, much has been made of the potential for security threats during the Olympic Games. According to John F. Burns of the New York Times, the problems and shortfalls in the training of security personnel are wide-reaching. In order to offer some peace of mind to athletes, attendees, and the general public, officials are looking to the skies:
“A strike force of supersonic Typhoon jet fighters and helicopters carrying snipers went operational at a Royal Air Force base 20 miles from the Olympic Park. The Typhoon pilots were placed on a 24-hour ‘readiness’ status that requires at least one crew member to be seated in their cockpit at all times,” reports Burns.
But there’s more to the Olympics than security issues. And there’s more to aviation than military planes and defensive tactics. So if you’re flying to the Olympics this year, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- At Heathrow, be prepared for long lines to get your passport checked. There is a strong likelihood that Border Force will strike.
- Southend Airport is the closest airport to the Olympic Park — a 45-minute ride on the train.
- Officials expect 7,000-8,000 bookings for slots at 40 different airports. (It’s at 5,000 as of July 17.)
- This website has everything you need to know about airspace regulations: olympics.airspacesafety.com.
Travel safely, cheer loudly, and be sure to tell us about your epic Olympic flying adventures.