The Economic Health of the Airline Industry and Its Impact on National Security
Abstract
The massive airlift of U.S. troops to the Persian Gulf War was possible because the United States has a strong airline industry. However, fierce competition has put the long-term health of that industry at risk. The surface portion of the transportation industry is encouraging intermodalism as the only way to survive in an increasingly competitive world, but true intermodal surface to air movement has yet to be widely developed. Airlines still do not consider routine airlift of International Standards Organization (ISO) containers profitable, using today's aircraft. They need a new airplane that will make a leap forward in lifting capability without a commensurate leap in expense. In this paper I propose a dual track solution to the problems of the airlines. First, the Government must work with the airlines and aerospace industry to create a more favorable economic environment for them. Second, the Government must sponsor development of an aircraft that will make long-haul airlift of ISO containers economically attractive, and militarily useful. Simply put: Our nation depends on the best airline industry in the world to make our National Military Strategy of power projection viable!
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA276748
Entities
People
- Glynn W. Cavin Jr.
Organizations
- Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy