Bierset to be closed?

[Rockville]

De Crem kondigt bijkomende besparingen bij leger aan

De luchtmachtbasis van het Belgisch leger in Bierset, nabij Luik, moet de deuren sluiten. Dat heeft minister van Defensie Pieter De Crem (CD&V) laten weten.

De sluiting is een besparingsmaatregel. Ook een aantal medische afdelingen in een paar kazernes moeten onherroepelijk dicht. De Crem wil de medische component van het leger centraliseren in Neder-Over-Heembeek.

In Bierset zijn nog 28 Augusta-helikopters gestald. "Er zijn helaas kazernes en eenheden die onder de 50% van de bezetting zijn gevallen en dus moeten we maatregelen nemen", aldus De Crem.

Het aantal militairen mag in 2015 ook nog maar 30.000 bedragen. Dat zijn er 7.000 minder dan vandaag.

GvA, 13 September 2009, 14:17

Short translation.

The air force base Bierset, nearby Liege, will be closed, according a statement by the Belgian Minister of Defense, Pieter de Crem.

The closure is a saving.

[SquAdmin]

In the past there has been specualtion about moving the helicopters to Florennes (and moving the local F-16's to KB). We'll see...

[Hans Rolink]

In the past there has been specualtion about moving the helicopters to Florennes (and moving the local F-16's to KB). We'll see...

As long ago as July 2001, I had a base visit at Bierset during which these plans were already announced by our host. During the visit we were told about the possibility of building a new runway across the military compound.
I guess we will certainly miss the Bierset helidays....

Hans.

[Vinny]

The same interview was also on TV today and he said that the Agusta's will move to Bevekom.



greetings Vincent

[K-9]

Indeed, they should move to Bevekom.

Perhaps we might expect helidays to continue ( in some way... ) at this airbase.

[frank kramer]

Wasn't quite sure whether to put this in the Helispot section and/or over here...

Belgian Defence minister Pieter de Crem announced in an interview broadcast by Belgian national TV yesterday, September 13, 2009, that Bierset AB was to close as a military installation due to defence cutbacks and restructuring of underused military barracks and installations. AFAIK, no information was given as to where the A109's might relocate in the future.

[Stafsels]

With the 1Wing 7/11 smaldeel Alpha-Jets E+ in France perhaps they will relocate to Bevekom/Beauvechien to become the main Heli OB (operattion Base) like Gilze-Rijen in the Netherlands. Would come in handy scince the other helo's are being replaced in the near future with the NH-90.

Correct?

Greetings,

Stafsels

[aviodromefriend]

Was some discussion already at http://www.scramble.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=56082

[Wijgert IJlst]

It was confirmed yesterday by the commentary at Kleine Brogel, that Bierset is to close down and all A109s will move to Bevekom in the near future.

[Stafsels]

So.... no Belgian Helidays what so ever on Bierset in 2010?

Stafsels

[andel]

So.... no Belgian Helidays what so ever on Bierset in 2010?

Stafsels

Not known yet
But !! there will be an International Airshow at Bevekom/Beauvechain at 3 and 4 July 2010.
So whe might see some heli,s overthere.