Air Force seeks to outsource Casket Duty

[TayTay]

Is nothing sacred to this Pentagon? Nothing at all? A recent article in The Army Times reports that the law now mandates that the Air Force is responsible for the flights that will take the caskets of soldiers from Dover Air Force base to their funeral locations. The Air Force apparently can't be bothered with little details like arranging for real flights in order to honor the dead and is looking to outsource the job to private contractors.

Is nothing sacred to this Administration or this Pentagon? Is it really too much to ask that that dead from these endless wars get a little respect and honor on their final journeys home?

Company wins contract to fly caskets from Dover

By Bruce Rolfsen
Staff writer

A Michigan-based company has been awarded the contract to fly caskets and remains of U.S. troops from Dover Air Force Base, Del., to their funeral locations, according to Air Mobility Command.

The contract, which could last through July, went to Kalitta Charters, a firm from Ypsilanti, Mich. The contract could be worth up to $11 million.

Kalitta will provide aircrews and four Dassault Falcon 20 jets to operate out of Dover. The Falcon 20 is a twin-engine business jet that typically carries up to 10 passengers or cargo.

Kalitta will begin its Dover operations Jan. 1. While Kalitta’s operations are under way, AMC officials will look for a commercial carrier to fly with a multi-year contract.

Snip

The military had been using commercial airlines to transport caskets as part of their cargo. However, some grieving families and lawmakers thought that practice didn’t respect the service members’ sacrifices. They won a change to the law that now mandates the military handle the mission.

More at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2424957.php

Sorry families. The military has outsourced it.

[MindPilot]

1. Kalitta Charters -- that name seems very familiar

I may just be thinking of the company's owner who is NHRA Champion Doug Kalitta, but it seems like that name has come up before in some previous covert government activity.

[DainBramaged]

3. Connie Kalitta Services, drag racer and all around good guy

Largest independent fleet of 747's in the world. Cargo carriers. And quite efficient.

He won't let things get fucked up.

http://www.ecacnav.com/Content.asp?PageID=128&OpNum=1343&Operator=CONNIE+KALITTA+SERVICES%2C+INC.(YPSILANTI%2C+MI)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalitta_Air

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalitta_Charters

[tonkatoy57]

4. Kalitta seems pretty connected for a small company

is a pretty small business. They have @50 employees and do around 15M in sales each year.(Oops. Kalitta Charter is a subsidiary of Kalitta Air. They are a much larger company than I thought;495M in sales and 1000 employees) As others have noted, Connie Kalitta and Doug Kalitta are, or have been,drag racers.

I searched for political contributions for them and didn't find anything interesting.

Why would a small company like Kalitta Charters get a contract like this from the DOD?

AHA, here we go. Looks like they've been doing some "work" for the administration.

"ypsi company makes the national news for violating british airspace to deliver bunken-buster bombs to israel
Who would have thought that our little town might have something to do with the international fight against terrorism? Well, here’s a clip from the Associated Press that proves it's so. (Thanks to the Hamtramck Star’s Hillary Cherry for the tip.)

Scottish prosecutors decided Tuesday not to file charges against a U.S. defense contractor that flew bunker-busting bombs to Israel via British airspace during the conflict in south Lebanon.

Kalitta Air, of Ypsilanti, Mich., was reported by Britain's Civil Aviation Authority for failing to have proper documentation to transport the laser-guided missiles through Prestwick Airport in southwest Scotland in August.

The flights briefly strained ties between London and Washington and resulted in President Bush issuing an apology to British Prime Minister Tony Blair…"

[DainBramaged]

5. I'd rather they transfer the bodies of our heros than an un-caring military

[Solo_in_MD]

6. ACtually procurement rules are designed to favor small and minority owned businesses

there are size constraints and a bunch of other rigamarole that goes with it.

[Wickerman]

2. As pathetic as it sounds this step is an improvement

"The military had been using commercial airlines to transport caskets as part of their cargo."

Now, instead of being just cargo as caskets have been, they are now at least specially flown. This change is due to complaints of families.