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copies (to_ MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Main Building, Whitehall, London SWIA 2HB Telephone (Direct Dialling) oi-2i8-6592 (Switchboard) 01-218 9000 D/DS8/27/112/2/402 Ao AUS(AS) A/ACAS(Ops) D Sy PM(RAP) D of 05s 0 & DS 10 (Mr Rothertis 21st September 1977 R J Andrew" Esq Deputy Under-Secretary of State Home Office Queen Anne's Gate London SW1 \ju^ CABINET GFFICI 4 X* 2 1 SEP 1977 RUNG INSTRUCTION? FILE No. PRESIDENT AMIN Further to your meeting on Monday, 19 September I write to confirm tliat arrangements have been made to have a Puma helicopter on standby at short notice at RAF Odiham from this morning. It will be in a VIP fit and capable of carrying seven passengers. I have asked DCNATS and Mr Brown if their respective Services could pass any early warning: of impending arrival to the Air Force Duty Officer (AFDO)(218 6501/2) so that we could have the longest possible notice. We would then expect a formal request for assist- ance to be made subsequently by the Home Office, or through COBR if activated, also to AFDO who has been fully briefed on the action to be taken. While en standby the aircraft will be used for squadron training, but you will appreciate that maintenance of such a tight state of readiness is an undue strain, and I would be glad if we could keep this commitment under review during the warning period, as any degree of relief would be welcome. We are making no arrangements for security of passengers on the understanding; that these v;ill be luoiced. aft ex- by tat- laiiuigr-ation Service and the Constabulary concerned. It will of course be essential to ensure that passengers are unarmed before embarking. You also asked me to look at the possibility of using RAF ITortholt for overnight accommodation. I find that though the runway is at present closed for repair, the small Officers' Mess is in fact full, with no spare .accommodation. It is not a very lush building, is open on one side facing the airfield, and built up closely on the other three sides. Also the airfield itself is in a vary conspic- uous position on Western Avenue, and I would not have thought* it was a suitable choice for your purposes. A copy of this letter goes to Wilson in the Cabinet Office. S^Afs^n. "~ C u H r i Oh fvTJ AIL