Clinton’s travelling office

A Conde Naste Traveler writer recently did a piece on Hillary Clinton’s ‘travelling office’ – her personal jet, one of four government C-32s, or a Boeing 757 fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks enabling it to fly about three hours longer than a regular 757.

Cook Islands News understands Clinton and her staff arrive in Rarotonga on Thursday evening, and are likely to be travelling aboard the aircraft described by Conde Naste here:

”These flights are typically operated by a cockpit crew of three (pilot, co-pilot, and safety observer) and a cabin crew of about 10 for the 40-odd passengers. All of the meals are prepared on the plane, individually, plate by plate. Most food is loaded on in the United States, before departure, and kept on dry ice.

”For staff (but not for press), there are internet jacks throughout the plane and secure phone lines for classified calls. Hillary herself is a BlackBerry girl.

”Not sumptuous by a long shot, the secretary’s six-by-12-foot quarters lack a shower, and the rumours that Clinton does her own make-up and hair when meeting world leaders turn out to be perfectly true.

”The secretary of state is protected by a diplomatic security (DS) detail. There are at least five or six on the plane, and some are women. They begin to suit up about 45 minutes before landing and are first off the plane, with large bags of what I imagine are weapons. About four so-called Ravens also fly with the secretary.

”They’re Air Force personnel responsible for the security of the plane, which is never left unattended.“

Clinton and her entourage are likely to be bringing another cargo plane with them, rumoured to be a Globemaster. If the rumours are true, the craft may have to park in Pago Pago, as Airport Authority is not confident Rarotonga Airport can accommodate it.