Aussies accuse Bush of gouging

Published 9:00 pm Monday, May 22, 2006

… gouging the runway, that is. Seems that one of our favorite 747s — Air Force One — caused about $28.5 million Australian worth of damage to the runway at Canberra, Australia, when President Bush visited there in 2003. (That’s a little more than $21 million U.S.)

The Australian federal government quietly arranged to pay the Canberra airport for the repairs, and now that’s becoming a political issue in Parliament, The Age reports. http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Air-Force-One-damaged-Canberra-runway/2006/05/23/1148150229529.html

Key Quote: “Opposition transport spokesman Kerry O’Brien says the government must detail the damage done to the runway.”

The 747-200 was too heavy for the runway, http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,19238138-5003401,00.html The Courier-Mail in Brisbane reported, but …

Key Quote: “The department denied Air Force One was solely to blame, claiming other military and VIP planes also contributed to the damage.”

The two matching Presidential 747s periodically visit Boeing’s Everett paint hangars for touch-ups after routine maintenance checks.