Visit from the President of the United States of America

For the sixth year in a row, David Watson Transport was entrusted by the American Embassy to support in the department of the media & press for the arrival of President Joe Biden. Taking the DAF XF530 6×2 Artic (also known as Zeus) all the way from our Norfolk depot, we headed down to Stansted Airport.

Leaving our Norfolk depot at 3:00pm, we arrived at Stansted Airport around 4:15pm. Upon arrival – we were escorted through security, ready for us to set up on the tarmac. 

Once given the all clear, our driver Bradley (who has done multiple Air Force 1 jobs) set up the 45’ flat trailer onto the tarmac, ready for media and press to station on.

And now we play the waiting game … With the trailer all set up and ready, we were kindly granted access to the VIP area to relax until the arrival of Joe Biden – who was scheduled to arrive at 10:00pm. During our wait, we had the pleasure of speaking to some members of Air Force 1 & some of the President’s security team.

7:00pm – The media and press were escorted onto the tarmac so they could set up their equipment & gear to document the arrival. Joe Biden was reported to be meeting up with the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and King Charles III since his Coronation during May of 2023. With an array of media and press setting up on the trailer, some from ITV, BBC Cambridgeshire and other media entities.

President Joe Biden landed down at 9:53pm, where his entourage and officials greeted him. While Biden was only at Stansted for 15 minutes, that was more than enough time for the media and press to get their photographs in. After Biden departed, the press were escorted off the trailer, ready for Bradley to load the trailer back on the truck.

With the trailer all set on the truck, we departed from Stansted and made our way back to Brandon. Another successful Air Force 1 job done. Hopefully many more to come in the future.