[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H5486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MISTAKES MADE IN AIR FORCE TANKER CONTRACT

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, last week it was revealed that the Air 
Force made a serious mistake in comparing the costs of tanker aircraft 
proposals offered by Northrop Grumman/Airbus and Boeing.
  When the Air Force awarded this $40 billion contract to Northrop 
Grumman/Airbus, it repeatedly said that the cost of the two planes was 
one of their top selection criteria. However this latest revelation, 
supported by both companies, undercuts the Air Force's assertion that 
they picked the most cost-effective aircraft and casts doubt on whether 
the two planes were evaluated fairly on the other criteria.
  Take, for example, fuel usage. The Airbus tanker uses 24 percent more 
fuel than Boeing, about 400 gallons more per hour, and over 2 billion 
gallons of fuel each year. Yet the Air Force continues to claim that 
the Airbus tanker is the best value over the long term.
  At a time of soaring fuel costs that calls into question whether the 
most cost-effective choice was made for our taxpayers and our airmen 
for a plane with a lifespan of 40 years, the selection of tanker 
aircraft will have far-reaching implications for our Nation's 
industrial base and our security. The Air Force must get it right and 
rebid this critical decision.

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