Maintaining Civil Reserve Air Fleet Participation

Abstract

The Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) is a voluntary partnership between the Department of Defense and participating commercial air carriers and is a critical component of the strategic airlift capability of the United States. It provides operational flexibility for rapidly expanding airlift capability during crises, contingencies, or war. The CRAF was activated during OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM for the first time since its creation in 1952. Although the CRAF performed superbly during the deployment, resupply, and redeployment phases of this conflict, several issues have emerged that could threaten voluntary participation in the future. This paper examines the history, organization, and structure of the CRAF, its contribution to the success of OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, and how the lessons-learned from this conflict have been applied to improve the flexibility of the CRAF program. It also examines the issues threatening CRAF participation and possible solutions for maintaining a viable CRAF program.... Strategic mobility, Civil reserve air fleet, Strategic airlift, Commercial airline support of DoD.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 22, 1993
Accession Number
ADA264149

Entities

People

  • Carl D. Evans

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aeronautics
  • Air Transportation
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Airlift Operations
  • Combat Forces
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Commercial Aviation
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Lessons Learned
  • Logistics
  • National Security
  • Transport Aircraft
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.