Civil Reserve Air Fleet Stage I Activated

DoD, Press Release ^ | 2/8/2003 | Navy Capt. Steve Honda

[PokeyJoe]

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)

CIVIL RESERVE AIR FLEET STAGE I ACTIVATION ANNOUNCED

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.

[PokeyJoe]

This is a Spongebob moment.

I'm ready. I'm ready. ready. ready.

[Soul Citizen]

Mobilize All Assets

[Arkinsaw]

Kuwaiti schools closed.....Kuwait declares northern section a military zone.....Turkey agrees on US bases......waivers cancelled for Washington Air Defense Zone....5th Aircraft carrier to Gulf......terrorism alert level increased....Civil Reserve Air Fleet Activated

tick...tock

[and the horse you rode in on]

This and the F-117 movement are the final steps. Air War for Valentines day and ground war on March 7 (dark of the moon)

Ping

[PokeyJoe]

I saw the F-117's via Fox News arrive in Quatar. They almost looked like naval aviator's doing a nice 90 degree bank after flying over the runway at high speed.

It's almost time for France to vote on Friday to Surrender to W.

[tomahawk]

We're going in. Gerhard and Jacques will crap in their pants. They're just diminished their nations' standings in the world community.

[TankerKC]

This and the F-117 movement are the final steps.

Yep. As soon as the Air Force moves in its O Club, Burger King, fitness equipment and makes hotel reservations, all will be go! ;)

[Merovingian]

03/03/03 is New Moon

[Squantos]

Don't forget the wing historian damnit....we can't go to war without the wing historian !!!!

Stay Safe !

[Travis McGee]

Here we go!

[TSgt]

"Yep. As soon as the Air Force moves in its O Club, Burger King, fitness equipment and makes hotel reservations, all will be go! ;)"

Not all of us Air Force folks have the luxury of going from one country club base to another. I'm in a GTACS unit, the Army of the Air Force, and we get deployed to forward areas with luxuries such as tents and MREs. Someone has to provide that radar picture to the folks sitting back at the club! ;)

Ground Theater Air Control System (GTACS)
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/equip/gtacs.htm

No offense taken. I see from your profile that you were a former AF guy yourself!

[Blueflag]

Don't forget the portable HVAC and private showers! Standard UASF 'camp' site ... ;-)

[Blueflag]

That would be the E2C flying overhead! Can't see the real picture sitting on the ground.

[FreeTheHostages]

Yup. Good point.

Today in DC the customs helicopters were flying overhead -- increased surveillance of the DC skies.

[TSgt]

"That would be the E2C flying overhead! Can't see the real picture sitting on the ground."

Ha! Can't have HVAs (High Value Assets) flying around all the time! Besides, the Air Battle Commanders need a steady air picture not a warbling one. Not to mention E2C's and AWACS have a limited range and are susceptible to SAM's and enemy fighters.

[TankerKC]

I still am in. 22 years and counting. It's just a good running joke. ;)

[TSgt]

I knew that ;)

But seriously, I have been told that when a new Air Force Base is planned, the first item taken into consideration is where to put the golf course.

I was at Keesler AFB in 95' when hurricane Opal skimmed Biloxi and hit Panama City, FL. The first part of the base that we airmen were ordered to clean up was the golf course.

[winodog]

lol I remember my dad saying he had Tab and TP and felt sorry for the boys on the ground.

[TankerKC]

Tab and TP

Not posted in order of importance!

Seriously now, I wonder what going to CRAF I is going to do for the airlines. Good or Bad?

[areafiftyone]

LOL