Trump Turnberry probe

A high level probe has cleared US aircrews for using Donald Trump’s Turnberry Hotel.

American officials launched an investigation after it was revealed 31 crews lodged at the resort in the last four years.

It came as more than 500 crews were accommodated elsewhere. A House of Representatives committee raised concerns about use of the five star venue. They claimed the hotel and Prestwick Airport were using the military to prop them up financially.

A review was then ordered by the US Air Force, which concluded that stopovers “conform to use on the basis of operational military necessity”. The report said: “Mobility aircraft and crews have utilised the parking apron at Prestwick en route to support the Berlin Airlift, Cold War operations, Desert Storm, Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve and the fight to defeat Isis. Prestwick has two long runways, full instrument approach capability, and a large parking apron stressed for heavy cargo aircraft. Historically, Prestwick also has relatively better weather patterns ( better visibility and less precipitation) than other airfields in the United Kingdom and Ireland.”

Prestwick had never turned away US Air Mobility Command aircraft loaded with hazardous cargo, while other locations are limited in their ability to handle such aircraft. The review found that of the 936 missions that went through Prestwick, 659 required overnight stays. It found that while 31 crews went to Turnberry, the vast majority stayed closer to Prestwick, including 253 stays at the Mercure in Ayr.

Crews were only sent to Turnberry or Glasgow when the Mercure was unavailable.