Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed Department of Defense (DOD) policies and procedures concerning the services' use of military operational support airlift (OSA) aircraft versus commercial aircraft for the transportation of DOD military and civilian personnel, to determine whether the: (1) services followed current policies and procedures; and (2) use of military aircraft was cost-effective compared to commercial air transportation sources.
GAO found that: (1) the services' continued noncompliance with DOD policies and procedures and their own management criteria resulted in increased DOD transportation costs; (2) problems included services' failing to conduct or document periodic management reviews, implementing instructions for OSA inconsistent with DOD regulations, and overstating requirements, resulting in uneconomical flights; (3) DOD believed that use of OSA training missions to transport passengers was cost-effective and economical; and (4) the services' programs needed more automation and organization to have a more efficient, cost-effective, and service-oriented system.
