Outsoucing Casket Duty

[pilotyip]

As seen in Navy Times last night, Kalitta Charters has been awarded a contract to fly caskets and remains of US troops from Dover AFB to their funeral locations. The contract which lcould last through July is worth up to $11,000,000. Kalitta will provide crews and four Falcon 20 jets to operate out of Dover. Kalitta begin its operations out of Dover on Jan 1st.

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Well, we've been hauling a lot of flag draped caskets out of KWI, and bringing them into DOV, and always wondered how they got to their loved ones.

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

A very important job. Too bad it has to be done.

A salute to all my brothers and sisters wearing or have worn the uniform.

 

[TransMach]

Honor Duty

I'm with ya Buff, as you know. Lets hope and trust that our friends at Kalitta, as well as the other commercial operators associated in this duty will carry out their tasks with the decorum and respect so richly deserved of our fallen brothers in arms.

TransMach

 

[big pimpn']

I am sure they are one hundred and ten percent up for the job, and will do this country a great service bringing our brothers and sisters home to their loved ones.

 

[PastV1]

I think this should be done by military airlift. Not a charter outfit. No offense to the charter guys but think this job should be done in-house.......

Rest in peace my brothers....

Past.....

 

[big pimpn']

With a younger brother serving in Iraq, I agree. The transportation of flag draped caskets should be a military detail, no exceptions; however, if this contract has already been issued, I don’t see any alternative other than to give them full confidence and support as they fulfill their mission. As a former DA-20 cargo driver, I know the type of people that will be carrying out these sacred missions, and I am confident they will carry out the detail with grace and dignity.

 

[Heybill]

Casualty

I am a casualty officer for the Marine Corps here in the central valley of california. We just buried a young Marine from Merced on 27 Dec. We had to fly him from Dover to San Jose on Continental. Continental Airlines was very respectful and did an outstanding job of allowing myself and the family ramp access so that we could offload the remains in a dignified manner. The San Jose airport police also did an outstanding job with giving us police escort in and out of the city as well as ensuring we had special ramp access. I hope we don't have to do it again but it will be very nice to be able to fly the remains aboard a charter directly to the family's local airport. (SJC was a three hour drive for us late at night) I agree with the gentleman that suggested we bring them home aboard a military aircraft but I'm sure the folks at Kalitta will do a very good job.

Heybill

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

I am a casualty officer for the Marine Corps here in the central valley of california. We just buried a young Marine from Merced on 27 Dec. We had to fly him from Dover to San Jose on Continental. Continental Airlines was very respectful and did an outstanding job of allowing myself and the family ramp access so that we could offload the remains in a dignified manner. The San Jose airport police also did an outstanding job with giving us police escort in and out of the city as well as ensuring we had special ramp access. I hope we don't have to do it again but it will be very nice to be able to fly the remains aboard a charter directly to the family's local airport. (SJC was a three hour drive for us late at night) I agree with the gentleman that suggested we bring them home aboard a military aircraft but I'm sure the folks at Kalitta will do a very good job.

Heybill

I don't have a problem with civilians doing the duty. As shown here, they can do it every bit as respectfully. And at some point it becomes impractical for military crews to be tied up taking individuals vs. several returnees.

My concern would be that single crewmember with sentiments like the group that stages protests at funerals getting assigned to one of these flights. Hopefully the companys assigned the duty will weed out any such individuals.

 

[MD11Drvr]

I don't have a problem with civilians doing the duty. As shown here, they can do it every bit as respectfully. And at some point it becomes impractical for military crews to be tied up taking individuals vs. several returnees.

My concern would be that single crewmember with sentiments like the group that stages protests at funerals getting assigned to one of these flights. Hopefully the companys assigned the duty will weed out any such individuals.

I understand your point and concern. But I do feel reasonably confident that the other crew membes would not take disrespect lying down. In fact if I were to witness such actions someone would be lying down right after thier attitude adjustment. I am all for free speech and the right to disagree with the war but there is a time and a place and the funeral of a fallen warrrior is not it!

God speed to the Kallitta crews in thier sacred assignment.........

 

[ableone]

The reason this has been outsourced to a cargo carrier is that a family had to claim a casket at an airlines outsize packages desk. The military was not amused and decided to stop shipping on airlines.

 

[JimNtexas]

I think a chartered jet is an appropriate way for our fallen sons and daughters to take their last flight home.

I imagine that the family can meet these Falcons on an FBO ramp, with minimal issues with crowds and security when compared to using airliners.

I'm confident that the charter crews will treat these missions with the care and respect that they deserve.

 

[1917Dr1]

Kalitta The Best Choice

I personally know almost all of Kalitta's Falcon guys, and feel that they are the best choice for the job out of all the civvy falcon folks.

 

[Princedietrich]

One of Kalitta's falcons brought a Marine home to LUK last week. Looked like a very well run operation, and there were at least 6 other Marines along for the ride. I assume they were an honor guard of some sort.

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

One of Kalitta's falcons brought a Marine home to LUK last week. Looked like a very well run operation, and there were at least 6 other Marines along for the ride. I assume they were an honor guard of some sort.

Sounds to me like it's in good hands.

 

[hawk16e]

I understand your point and concern. But I do feel reasonably confident that the other crew membes would not take disrespect lying down. In fact if I were to witness such actions someone would be lying down right after thier attitude adjustment. I am all for free speech and the right to disagree with the war but there is a time and a place and the funeral of a fallen warrrior is not it!


+1

I don't know what the history of Connie's pilots, but a lot of pilots are former military. If another pilot did anything disrespecful, we would have a serious discussion.

 

[Junkflyer]

The military provides a lot of revenue for Connie on the 121 side as well. I'm sure he would not take a crewmember being disrespectful lightly.

 

[Russ]

Bill
Thanks for doing a tough job well. Getting a brother in arms home to rest has to be heart breaking and rewarding at the same time

From a former 0311

 

[Vspeeds]

Falcon 20's are Doug Kalitta's 135 gig, along with K2 (121 supplemental, few 727's & a DC9). Connie owns the 121 supplemental B747 ops.

Fly safe ya'll

 

[freightdawg]

Picked up freight the other night at Travis AFB (KSUU) and saw a transfer of remains from a Kalitta Falcon to an ATI DC8 bound for PHNL. All operations on the ramp and in the vicinity ceased immediately and the entire operation was handled quite well, with dignity.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Picked up freight the other night at Travis AFB (KSUU) and saw a transfer of remains from a Kalitta Falcon to an ATI DC8 bound for PHNL. All operations on the ramp and in the vicinity ceased immediately and the entire operation was handled quite well, with dignity.

Thanks for the report and I am glad things are going well.

God's speed to the fallen warrior and thier family.

 

[b19]

This is the type of flight that should be treated with the utmost respect, and God help the idiot that should even think of disrespecting or dishonoring someone who has paid the ultimate sacrifice you will never work in this very small industry again.

 

[Gearmonkey]

Dover

I am one of the Falcon captains doing this for Kalitta. I guarentee you that we are doing 110% every day we are out there. This is definetly not something that has been taken lightly by any of us and we know there are a lot of military folk watching us. It is of the highest honor for me personally to be doing this and as of yesterday I have moved 24 fallen back to their families over the past 5 weeks. It is very sad and it really hits you the first day you do this. There are only a few of us doing this(maybe about a dozen) and we are all good guys, most of the bad ones are weeded out during interviews and it seems they don't last long here long enough to make the Falcon. We are all hoping not to fly but when we are called to do it, I promise you that we are doing it with the highest respect for the family and the soldier. This is all I do now and I know I will never be asked to do such an important mission again in my career. These guys gave their lives for their country, something many of us never had to face. Thank you to all of you that have served.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Gearmonkey,

Thank you for the update and the assurance that this is being handled with the utmost of respect. There is nothing more deserving of 100% respect and dignity. From one who has served THANK YOU for taking care of our fallen brothers and sisters.

 

[skyward80]

Gearmonkey:

Thank you for taking this job seriously. I haven't spent a great deal of time in the service. However, when I heard this duty was being outsourced, the whole matter really sat sideways in my stomach. As a USAF heavy driver, I still believe it's the military's responsibility to get our fallen military brothers and sisters home. Outsourcing does turn these flights into a profit making venture. Please don't take that as flame bait. The most simple view of this is that the DoD is paying a company to do the job. The company being paid has to charge an amount which will result in some sort of profit.

This bothered me the most when I first heard about this. In the long run, it just makes sense... C5s are hauling out-sized cargo, C17s are constantly hauling troups and cargo into and out of theaters, and the tankers are passing gas. It makes sense to pass this duty along to a civilian carrier. Thank you for taking it so seriously. Yet another example of a quiet and almost unknown group of American heroes supporting our war efforts.

Very Respectfully,
Skyward80

 

[kfscapn]

Well said Gearmonkey. I feel the same way about these trips. They are very important, and I am honored to fly them, although I wish they were not necessary. I have nothing but the utmost respect for our fallen soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. They are the ones who deserve our gratitude and respect. I also want to say thank you to all of those who are serving or have served our country.

 

[metrodriver]

Skyward80: a lot of the fallen have already been flown back on hired help, not just on USAF planes. Coming back from the middle east it seems to be a question who is going states side first that determines what color is painted on the outside of the aircraft. The only difference now is that somebody has been specifically hired to do this job domestically