United States Transportation command (USTRANSCOM) provides air, land and sea transportation for the Department of Defense, both in time of peace and time of war. They are responsible for creating and implementing world-class global deployment and distribution solutions in support of the President, Secretary of Defense, and Combatant Commander-assigned missions.
GATES:
The Global Air Transportation and Execution System (GATES) is the Air Mobility Command's (AMC) aerial port operations and management information system designed to support automated cargo and passenger processing, the reporting of in-transit visibility data to the Global Transportation Network, and provides the billing to Air Mobility command's financial management directorate.
Civil Reserve Air Fleet:
The Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) is comprised of selected aircraft from U.S. airlines that are contractually committed to support Department of Defense airlift requirements in emergencies.
U.S. Air carriers that participate in the CRAF program provide aircraft and crews to support the DoD in emergencies when requirements exceed available military aircraft. Transportation Officers can obtain a list of DoD approved CRAF carriers by contacting the DoD Commercial Airlift Division, HQ AMC/A34B, 402 Scott Drive, Scott AFB, IL 62225-5302, DSN 779-3092, Commercial (618) 229-3092.
Patriot Express:
Aircraft channel flights used to transport DoD passengers in full planeload lots on commercial aircraft chartered by AMC.
DoD 4500.9R Chap 103, sec A, par. 1 and 2, requires an order of precedence for selecting flights. AMC Patriot Express (PE) flights will be selected first. Additionally, in 2005, AMC directed that with the exception of force protection locations, PE flights be reduced to a minimum by end of Fiscal Year 2007 More information on the PE draw down can be found on the following link: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123006882. The locations projected to continue regular service because of the absence of commercial alternatives are Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) Cuba and Diego Garcia. To view AMC contingency passenger flights and PE routing guides, see DoD 4500.9R Appx O, parts I & II.
Department of State Travel Warnings
Premium Class Travel
Policy:
DoD Policy requires coach (economy) class travel accommodations be used when performing official government travel. Premium Class travel at government expense is permitted on an exception basis only. Requests for premium class travel must be fully justified in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulation (DoD Civilians) or the Joint Federal Travel Regulation (uniformed services). Use of premium class travel accommodations must be authorized in advance of the actual travel unless extenuating circumstances or emergency situations prevent advance authorization. Blanket authorization and justification for premium travel is prohibited. Authorization must be applied for and obtained on a case-by-case basis.
Definitions:
- Coach Class: The basic class of accommodations offered to travelers regardless of fare paid. Also referred to as "tourist" or "economy class".
- Premium Class: Any class of transportation service above coach, such as business class or first class.
- First Class: Generally the highest class of accommodation offered by the airlines in terms of cost and amenities and termed "first class" by the airline and any reservation system
- Business Class: A premium class of accommodation offered by the airlines that is higher than coach and lower than first class in both cost and amenities.
Note: If an airline flight has only two classes of service i.e., two "cabins", with two distinctly different seating types i.e., girth and pitch available and the front cabin is termed business class by the airline and the tickets are fare-coded as business class, then the front of the cabin is business class. If an airline flight has only two cabins but equips both cabins with one type of seating, i.e., seating girth and pitch are the same, codes the airfares in the front of the airplane as full-fare economy class, and only restricted economy fares are available in the "economy" cabin, the entire aircraft is economy seating. In this second situation, qualifying for premium class travel is not required to purchase a non-restricted economy-fare seat in the front of the aircraft as the entire aircraft is "economy."
Reporting Premium Class Travel Data:
The Services and Defense Agencies are required to report premium travel as directed in the Under Secretary of Defense's Guidance Memo of 07 Sep 2007. Approval Authority should use the Premium Class Travel Reporting Tool to report premium class travel. The Premium Class Travel Reporting Tool also has links to these documents as well as additional information concerning Premium Class Travel.
The Premium Class Travel Reporting Tool:
The Defense Travel Management Office developed the Premium Class Travel Reporting Tool to automate the semi-annual premium class travel report required by the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Upon launch of the tool, Reporting Office will enter the premium class travel data directly into the tool's database instead of the report using an Excel format. The tool will facilitate reports at the Service/Agency and DoD levels. The Authorizing Authority and Service/Agency level users may view reports anytime to monitor and manage premium travel. The tool also has a number of useful links to regulatory and policy references and decision-making tools to assist the traveler and authorizing authority. |
