The US Transportation Command decision to dramatically scale back the Patriot Express military-chartered air service by 2008 is on track, say Air Mobility Command officials. They say low “duty” ridership demands the cutbacks. And, although TRANSCOM approved a one-year continuation of service from Seattle to Kadena AB, Japan, at the request of US Pacific Command, AMC officials say if the numbers remain low like the counts so far, the route definitely will be cut in September 2006. That would leave Patriot Express with only those routes that are not covered by commercial airlines.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
