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Pentagon compels commercial airlines to help with evacuation
Pentagon compels commercial airlines to assist with evacuation (www.foxbusiness.com) More...
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The headline suggests that the airlines are being forced in to this. My understanding is that this a long time contract where the govenment can call on them for needed additional caapacity so I would classify this as voluntary.
I don't think they have a choice, They have something similar to US vessel documentation papers that the govt can use your vessel whenever they want - like in a national emergency. Even from one they inadvertently created.
Airlines have a choice to join the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. Once they join, they have to provide specific airframe listing that they can crew that would be sent if 'activated'. Thus, this list is updated constantly based on the airlines best interests (as long as they meet the required numbers for each stage of activation).
see https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/01%20--%20October%202015%20CRAF%20DOT%20Memo.pdf as an example. (I could not find a current one, but if that link does not work try searching for ----> October 2015 CRAF DOT Memo.pdf
In return, the airlines get contracts from DoD to move personal and/or supplies on a routine bases. One could look at CRAF as the price of admission to getting DoD money or simply see it for what it is, a cooperative agreement that has been in place over 60 years.
There were some heavy handed growing pains in the early 50s. The Air Force went as far as wanting to shape the number and amount of cargo aircraft the airlines operated. More like the model that Matt implies. But, CRAF became the current free-market contract approach in 1959 with this current activation only being the third during that period. I'm guessing that airlines were ready in this case to bring in some aircraft sidelined due to COVID-influenced travel volumes. Thus, I suspect this was welcomed.
see https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/01%20--%20October%202015%20CRAF%20DOT%20Memo.pdf as an example. (I could not find a current one, but if that link does not work try searching for ----> October 2015 CRAF DOT Memo.pdf
In return, the airlines get contracts from DoD to move personal and/or supplies on a routine bases. One could look at CRAF as the price of admission to getting DoD money or simply see it for what it is, a cooperative agreement that has been in place over 60 years.
There were some heavy handed growing pains in the early 50s. The Air Force went as far as wanting to shape the number and amount of cargo aircraft the airlines operated. More like the model that Matt implies. But, CRAF became the current free-market contract approach in 1959 with this current activation only being the third during that period. I'm guessing that airlines were ready in this case to bring in some aircraft sidelined due to COVID-influenced travel volumes. Thus, I suspect this was welcomed.
Agree but the headline implies that this is new when it has been in place for years
Agree the headline is not quite accurate, but check the source. Anything to make Big Bad Government look bad.
See my comment above.
Correct. the Civil Reserve Aircraft Fleet (CRAF) is a contracted agreement between the U.S. government and commercial airlines whereby the airlines provide airlift services as needed in times of emergency to supplement military air transport.
The airlines in turn receive a guarantee of flight business in peacetime for those airlines who join the program, which has existed for 70 years or so.
The airlines in turn receive a guarantee of flight business in peacetime for those airlines who join the program, which has existed for 70 years or so.
