Summary

The Department of Defense (DOD) uses chartered commercial aircraft instead of military aircraft to transport military personnel and their dependents.

Commercial passenger aircraft is used where practicable. U.S. civil air carriers are contractually committed to providing aircraft, support personnel, and facilities to DOD under emergency conditions through the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program. In return for this commitment, DOD contracts with participating carriers to transport its passengers and cargo. The Civil Reserve Air Fleet has 20 air carriers with 308 committed aircraft. The program gives commercial carriers a financial inducement to invest in aircraft suitable for defense purposes, and thus the government does not have to invest heavily in aircraft that is needed only in emergency situations. Defense appropriations acts have repeatedly expressed congressional intent that DOD should procure commercial transportation services from carriers participating in the fleet. Other legislation indicates that the transportation policy of the federal government is to encourage the development and promotion of a sound commercial transportation system. The use of military aircraft in direct competition with commercial aircraft would be contrary to that policy.