[Scan-DC] It's Getting Serious

[Rapbep@aol.com]

All,

Got this from another list.  Shows that things are moving ever closer to war.



RON
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD (NEAR BWI)
Pro-2045/BC-895XLT w/Discone


NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 064-03
(703)697-5131(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2003
(703)428-0711(public/industry)



        The Secretary of Defense has given authority to the
commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to activate
Stage I of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)
to provide the Department of Defense additional airlift
capability to move U.S. troops and military cargo.  This measure
is necessary due to increased operations associated with the
build-up of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf region.  CRAF
aircraft are U.S. commercial passenger and cargo aircraft that
are contractually pledged to move passengers and cargo when the
Department of Defense's airlift requirements exceeds the
capability of U.S. military aircraft.

        The authority to activate CRAF Stage I involves 22 U.S.
airline companies and their 78 commercial aircraft -- 47
passenger aircraft and 31 wide-body cargo aircraft.  While this
authority is for all 78 commercial aircraft in the CRAF Stage I
program, the USTRANSCOM commander, Air Force Gen. John W. Handy:
http://www.af.mil/news/biographies/handy_jw.html,
is only activating 47 passenger aircraft.  Currently, U.S.
military airlift aircraft and CRAF volunteered commercial cargo
aircraft are meeting the airlift requirements.  However, if
required, the USTRANSCOM commander can activate those 31 cargo
aircraft in the CRAF Stage I program.

        Three stages of incremental activation allow the
USTRANSCOM commander to tailor an airlift force suitable for the
contingency at hand.  Stage I is the lowest activation level,
Stage II would be used for major regional contingencies; and
Stage III would be used for periods of national mobilization.
During a crisis, if Air Mobility Command (AMC), the air
component of USTRANSCOM, has a need for additional aircraft, it
would request the USTRANSCOM commander take steps to activate
the appropriate CRAF stage.  Stage II was activated during
Operation Desert Shield/Storm.  Stage III has never been
activated.  Each stage of the fleet activation is used only to
the extent necessary to provide the amount of commercial
augmentation airlift need by the Department of Defense.

        To provide incentives for commercial carriers to commit
aircraft to the CRAF program and to assure the United States has
adequate airlift reserves, AMC awards peacetime airlift
contracts to civilian airlines that have aircraft in the CRAF
program.

        The CRAF air carriers continue to operate and maintain
the aircraft with their resources; however, AMC controls the
aircraft missions through the Tanker Airlift Control Center
(TACC) at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

        USTRANSCOM relies heavily on the commercial
transportation industry - sea, air, and land - to move troops,
equipment, and supplies world wide in support of our Nation's
defense.  Historically, 93 percent of our troops and 41 percent
of our long-range air cargo are moved by chartered commercial
aircraft.

        For more information contact Navy Capt. Steve Honda,
USTRANSCOM public affairs, at either (618) 229-4828 or pager
(618) 256-6789, PIN5559.

[Web version:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2003/b02082003_bt064-03.html]



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