United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-03-29 monographic deposited born digital 10 p. GA 1.13:NSIAD-96-125 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125 P0b002ee18039ce59 f:ns96125 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125 NSIAD-96-125 Commercial aviation Military airlift operations Combat readiness Emergency medical services Airline industry Transportation contracts Defense contingency planning Airlift services Strategic mobility forces Desert Shield Desert Storm C-17 Aircraft Boeing 747-400 Aircraft Boeing 767 Aircraft DC-10 Aircraft FAA Aviation War Risk Insurance Program Air Force Civil Reserve Air Fleet Program Letter Report NSIAD

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) program, focusing on: (1) the extent to which commercial carriers' CRAF participation meets wartime requirements; (2) Department of Defense (DOD) efforts to ensure future carrier participation; and (3) the C-17 Defense Acquisition Board's (DAB) review of the CRAF program.<p/>GAO found that: (1) commercial carriers have committed 19 of the 44 aircraft needed for aeromedical evacuation, 114 of the 120 wide-body equivalent aircraft needed for cargo airlift, and 161 of 136 aircraft needed for passenger airlift; (2) the cargo aircraft shortage has not yet affected DOD ability to quickly deploy troops and equipment, but the Air Mobility Command (AMC) may have difficulties in evacuating casualties; (3) AMC is evaluating evacuation needs and contractors' proposals to resolve problems with aeromedical evacuation conversion kits; (4) AMC is considering using DC-10 aircraft in addition to B-767 aircraft for aeromedical evacuation, but the conversion kits would have to be modified; (5) carriers are considering reducing their participation unless the CRAF program is changed; (6) to sustain carrier participation, DOD and the General Services Administration require carriers to participate in the CRAF program if they want government passenger or cargo business, and AMC is considering additional incentives and requirements; (7) AMC and the Federal Aviation Administration have modified the Aviation War Risk Insurance Program to address carriers' concerns about their insurance coverage, and DOD is seeking legislation to allow it to pay claims from any unobligated funds; and (8) the C-17 DAB directed DOD to study ways to stabilize carrier participation and increase commitment of freighter aircraft, but all of the proposed strategies would be difficult to implement. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125/html/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125/pdf/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125.pdf GAO/NSIAD-96-125 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-NSIAD-96-125 Letter Report GAO/NSIAD-96-125; Military Airlift: Observations on the Civil Reserve Air Fleet Program; Commercial aviation Military airlift operations Combat readiness Emergency medical services Airline industry Transportation contracts Defense contingency planning Airlift services Strategic mobility forces Desert Shield Desert Storm C-17 Aircraft Boeing 747-400 Aircraft Boeing 767 Aircraft DC-10 Aircraft FAA Aviation War Risk Insurance Program Air Force Civil Reserve Air Fleet Program Title 49 Section 44302-03 49 U.S.C. 44302-03