# Why did Bush's security detail allow him to land on an aircraft carrier in a jet?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 2, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741 "2003-05-02T22:57:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/1 "2003-05-02T22:57:07Z")
I can’t imagine that the Secret Service or whoever clears the President’s methods of travel could possibly approve Shrub’s landing on an aircraft carrier by jet. By helicopter, yes, but by jet??? I’ve read that carrier landings by jet are one of the most dangerous things to do, so why submit the “Most Powerful Man In The World” to that process? Unless it was for the PR value, which just makes what happened even that much more outrageous. So, what’s the deal? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/2 "2003-05-02T23:13:37Z")
> [@](#): > > The S-3B “Viking” - dubbed Navy One because of its presidential passenger - has room only for Bush, riding in the front seat next to the pilot, and two or three more passengers. > > The president was in for an exciting - but not risky -landing, according to administration officials. As the plane hits the Lincoln at about 150 mph, cables stretched across the deck are to catch it and wrench it to a stop in only a couple seconds. > > “Never can tell what’s going to kick in,” the president, a former pilot, joked to reporters before an Oval Office meeting Wednesday with the president of Colombia. “Let me just say, stay clear of the landing pattern.” > > Rear Adm. John Kelly, commander of the Lincoln battle group, said Thursday on CBS’ “The Early Show” that the pilot slated to land Bush on the carrier “has flown through extraordinary pressure in support of combat operations for months now. I am very confident that he’ll do a great job.” > > White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said Thursday on NBC’s “Today” that **flying the jet to the carrier "is actually safer than a helicopter because you have the ability to eject. In a helicopter, if something goes wrong, you’re stuck."** Source: [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A983-2003May1.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A983-2003May1.html) Sounds fine to me. Why did he do it? Pure publicity. Wait for the commercials for his 2004 presidential campaign. You will see it again, and again, and again, … ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/3 "2003-05-02T23:16:57Z")
When you’re the President of the USA you get to do whatever the hell you want. It’s one of the perks of the job. Ask Saddam Hussein. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/4 "2003-05-02T23:16:59Z")
I heard this same question answered on radio the other day. The plane Bush was on was no fighter, and lands at about 12mph. Also it was an absolutely beautiful and calm day. There wasn’t really any more danger than landing at an airport. If it were dangerous, Bush himself would’ve been derilect in his duty as the president. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/5 "2003-05-02T23:20:43Z")
You may be interested in this simul-thread in GQ: [Carrier Landing by Bush](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181230) Or in **Payton’s Servant** ’s Pit thread on this topic: [Shrub’s landing on the aircraft carrier, WTF was the Secret Service thinking???](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=181251) ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/6 "2003-05-03T00:20:01Z")
12 MPH? Maybe you meant 120. ---
**Author:** ![JamesCarroll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@JamesCarroll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesCarroll)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/7 "2003-05-03T01:42:55Z")
I love GW but landing is easy. If he lauches **off** an aircraft carrier… I’m sorry, but at that point I gotta give the man the “Brass Pair” award. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/8 "2003-05-03T02:55:10Z")
Apparently you don’t know what you’re talking about, JamesCarroll. Landing an aircraft isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t easy to land it on a very small, moving, unstable platform such as the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/9 "2003-05-03T02:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SenorBeef \* > \*\*12 MPH? Maybe you meant 120. \*\* Nah. I was exaggerating. The gist of the story was that there wasn’t much risk. The prez isn’t allowed to risk his life. As long as he’s in office it isn’t his life to risk. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/10 "2003-05-03T03:11:03Z")
mangeorge: Cite? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/11 "2003-05-03T03:14:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Apparently you don’t know what you’re talking about, JamesCarroll. Landing an aircraft isn’t easy, and it certainly isn’t easy to land it on a very small, moving, unstable platform such as the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. \*\* I’m not alone in my propensity for exaggeration, I see. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/12 "2003-05-03T03:18:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*mangeorge: Cite? \*\* Sigh. I don’t know, **Monty**. The Oath of Office? ---
**Author:** ![Strewth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Strewth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strewth)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/13 "2003-05-03T09:35:13Z")
Because he’s the “president” and being president is next to godliness…therefore, president = god-like status… ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/14 "2003-05-03T14:18:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*When you’re the President of the USA you get to do whatever the hell you want. It’s one of the perks of the job. Ask Saddam Hussein. \*\* When did _he_ get elected?! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Linus\_Van\_Pelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linus_Van_Pelt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/15 "2003-05-03T14:48:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Sigh. > I don’t know, **Monty**. The Oath of Office? \*\* If that wasn’t sarcasm, here’s the answer to that: Nope. According to the US constitution, the oath of office is as follows: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” (From article II, section I) I agree that this was pretty safe for him to do (although a difficult, demanding task for the pilot) and that the president’s life is not entirely his own, but that is more of a matter of tradition and duty rather than hard and fast rules or the oath of office. I think that it would be better to say that he has an obligation to consider the risks and benefits of the actions that he takes, not that he’s obligated to never take risks. It’s a small distinction, but an important one I think. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/16 "2003-05-03T14:51:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*originally posted by \ ***mangeorge** > > Sigh. > I don’t know, **Monty**. The Oath of Office? What’s with the sigh? When you write something like the President isn’t allowed to risk his life and it’s not his life to risk, I think a cite would be in order. And writing “The Oath of Office” isn’t a cite. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/17 "2003-05-03T15:28:38Z")
Yes, I was being sarcastic. What’s to cite? It’s something I learned in high school, around the Kennedy assassination. In fact, there was a \*lot[i/i] of discussion about how much the president should be allowed to expose himself to danger. I’m sure a late evening stroll, solo, on DC’s mean streets would be disallowed. As would _real_ rock climbing. He’s the president, not the king. To me, the thing is obvious. Hence the sigh. BTW; I’m 58, out of shape, and not a pilot. I’d have taken that flight (and the controls) in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/18 "2003-05-03T15:29:50Z")
Ignore the italics. It’s too early for this. ---
**Author:** ![Skillet38](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Skillet38](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skillet38)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/19 "2003-05-03T16:04:37Z")
According to [this article](http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/2160965/detail.html) there were 13,000 take offs and landings from the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during it’s deployment. I think that to Navy pilots with this amount of experience, a carrier landing is demonstrably safe. They even stopped the ship so as to make it an even easier landing. Also, this ship had the largest media contingent in the history of any military campaign onboard, and I don’t recall a single accident reported. So, if it worked the last 13,000 times… you get the drift. as for > [@](#): > > what’s the deal ? the deal is, some people will attempt to attack this president’s actions on the flimsiest of excuses. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741/20 "2003-05-03T16:37:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > \*\*When did _he_ get elected?! :eek: \*\* There was a mix-up with the Florida ballot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-bushs-security-detail-allow-him-to-land-on-an-aircraft-carrier-in-a-jet/172741.md?page=2)