Accession Number:

ADA582585

Title:

Commercial Intratheater Airlift: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Use in U.S. Central Command

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.

Corporate Author:

RAND PROJECT AIR FORCE SANTA MONICA CA

Personal Author(s):

• McGarvey, Ronald G.
• Light, Thomas
• Thomas, Brent
• Sanchez, Ricardo

Report Date:

2013-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

106.0

Abstract:

Intratheater airlift ITA is used to deliver critical and time-sensitive supplies, such as blood products for transfusions or repair parts for vehicles, to deployed forces. ITA within a combat theater of operation has traditionally been assumed to be provided by military aircraft. However, in recent years, a number of commercial providers have been providing a significant amount of ITA within U.S. Central Command USCENTCOM. A number of motivations for the use of commercial intratheater airlift CITA within USCENTCOM have been identified, such as 1 concerns about structural fatigue to C-130 aircraft due to the heavy use of these aircraft in USCENTCOM 2 lack of access to C-130 aircrews, particularly those in the Air Reserve Component, for deployments 3 a desire to reduce the use of convoys over high-threat roadways. The analysis detailed in this report aims to answer the following question Were these expenditures on CITA cost-effective, relative to the cost of performing these same movements on organic U.S. Air Force USAF aircraft That is, did the Department of Defense DoD get a good value on these purchases

Descriptors:

• *AIRLIFT OPERATIONS
• *COST EFFECTIVENESS
• AIR FORCE
• COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT
• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• DEPLOYMENT
• MILITARY AIRCRAFT

Subject Categories:

• Economics and Cost Analysis
• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE