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On 12/28/2002 6:51:06 PM FA Mikey wrote:
AA has the 767 designated for use in the CRAF. Yes we did fly troops for Desert storm. Using the 767. Before that, and like so many other carriers, we had the 707's doing the MAC trips. Someone can check to be sure, but I dont think our 777's are designated for the CRAF.
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We used DC10-30's and overwater DC10-10's for the first batch of CRAF missions in Desert Shield.
It wasn't until we started carrying troops home after Desert Storm that we started using the 767.
We have 777's and 767's designated for CRAF. I'm not sure how many of each are committed. I'll have to dig up my schedules, but I don't think we ever had more than three or four assigned at any one time to CRAF back during Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Comment on UAL being able to grab more than anyone else...
No, they won't.
CRAF is done on a point system, in order to spread the work fairly amongst the participating carriers. So, as long as there are carriers who have aircraft available, UAL won't get more flying simply because they have a bunch of widebodies parked in the desert...
Pan Am had a larger commitment back in 1991/1992, but that's because they had mods done to a number of their 747's (including the Lockerbie aircraft) to support CRAF flying which were part funded by the government. Tower and FedEx probably got a little more of the flying than the other majors did, mainly because they had dedicated crews available for flying charters.
Today, Fedex's (ex-Flying Tigers) passenger fleet is long gone, and Tower, Pan Am, and TWA are gone as well, so it will be very interesting to see how the contracts are handed out this time around.