Huge US Air Force planes touch down at Scots airport as Donald Trump visit looms
IN PLANE SIGHT Huge US Air Force planes touch down at Scots airport as Donald Trump visit looms
HUGE US Air Force planes were spotted landing at a Scots airport ahead of Donald Trump's visit this week.
The US President will visit both of his Scottish golf courses at Turnberry in Ayrshire and Menie in Aberdeenshire between July 25 and 29.
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Huge military transport aircraft were spotted at Prestwick Airport
Credit: John Kirkby
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A UAE Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III also touched down in Scotland
Credit: John Kirkby
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Two police vans parked up outside the airport
Credit: John Kirkby
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The planes appeared to be dropping off vehicles
Credit: John Kirkby
The President will also meet with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney during the five-day private visit.
Mr Trump is set to touch down in Scotland on Friday.
And three huge military transport aircraft have been spotted at Prestwick Airport today ahead of the President's arrival.
Two Boeing C-17A Globemaster III planes from the US Air Force sat on the runway at the Ayrshire airport.
Another one from the UAE Air Force sat ahead of them.
Two police vans sat outside the airport, with streets alongside the site lined with 'no waiting' traffic cones.
The planes appeared to be dropping off some vehicles before taking off again.
Yesterday, we told how security measures were being ramped up by officers with road closures now put in place in and around Turnberry.
Pictures show officers stopping cars and speaking to drivers outside the Ayrshire resort.
Several 'road closed' signs have been placed on the road, as well as checkpoints for 'authorised access'.
Police Scotland ramps up security for Donald Trump visit as officers unhappy with extra shift demands
A new fence has also been put up alongside the resort on Maidens Road and the A77.
A major policing operation is being put in place for both the visit and any protests that may spring up as a result of it.
Chief Superintendent Rob Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (Asps), said the visit of the US President would require a "significant operation across the country over many days" from Police Scotland.
His comments come as Police Scotland is facing legal action from its own officers in a row over overtime payments and lieu ahead of Donald Trump's visit.
However Scottish First Minister John Swinney has insisted policing will not be put in a "detrimental position" as a result of the visit.
However, police officers are raising concerns about the impact of the trip, with Mr Hay stating: "The private visit of President Donald Trump to Scotland at the end of July will require the Police Service of Scotland to plan for and deliver a significant operation across the country over many days.
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Three huge military aircraft sitting on the runway at Prestwick
Credit: John Kirkby
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After dropping off the vehicles the planes took off again
Credit: John Kirkby
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Roads around the airport have been coned off
Credit: John Kirkby
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A large crowd of people gathered around the aircraft as it dropped off vehicles
Credit: John Kirkby
"This will undoubtedly stretch all our resources from local policing divisions to specialist and support functions such as contact, command and control."
Police superintendents and chief superintendents will have "key leadership roles" for the visit, he added, saying they would be taking responsibility for areas such as planning and resourcing, intelligence gathering, command and control communications, armed operations, public order, and other specialist functions.
Mr Hay urged the public to be aware of the "significant demands that will be placed on policing services during this period" - adding these result from not only the Presidential visit but the "many popular events that Scotland hosts in the summer months, which bring thousands of tourists to our country and rely upon partnerships with policing to support their safe delivery".
His comments came as SPF general secretary David Kennedy warned the police response to the visit could impact on the service it provides to the public in Scotland.
Asked about the visit, Mr Kennedy told BBC Radio Scotland: "Anyone who says it won't affect it (policing in Scotland), I can't believe that's the case.
"It will affect it.
"You may be waiting in the past for so many hours for a police officer to arrive, that could double now, you may be waiting for more time for them to arrive.
"Obviously, emergency calls will take priority, but it will affect communities in Scotland.
"We've been asking long and weary to have more police officers in our communities in Scotland and all this does is take them away from that at this time."
Asked if the quality of policing will be impacted by the visit, Mr Kennedy added: "It will be seriously affected, it has to be.
"There's not enough police officers for it not to be affected."
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The aircraft were spotted taking off and landing at Prestwick today
Credit: John Kirkby
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