Spotlight: Congressional Aircraft

It was one spending proposal that never got off the ground. Almost as quickly as the U.S. House of Representatives could add $330 million to the budget to bolster the government's luxury-jet fleet, public outcry prompted House leaders to strip the four proposed new aircraft from next year's defense-spending bill.

The firestorm of criticism--"Talk about the wrong message at the wrong time," sniped Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill--seemed to take House leaders by surprise, even following last year's howls of outrage after U.S. auto executives flew into Washington on private jets to seek government bailouts. Supporters of the proposal argued that the jets were necessary replacements for aging aircraft and would be less costly to fly, and noted that such planes--used to fly generals and White House officials around the globe--would carry members of Congress only about 14% of the time.

While some lawmakers dismiss congressional travel as a needless burden on taxpayers, the hidden tug-of-war over the planes reveals just how comfortable others have become in such friendly skies. In March the nonprofit group Judicial Watch obtained e-mails from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office urging that more military airplanes be made available for congressional use. "It is my understanding there are NO G-5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess," a May 2007 message said. "This is totally unacceptable."

Mounting demand for congressional travel may help explain why the House initially ordered the Pentagon to buy two more $65 million Gulfstream V jets as part of the $636 billion defense budget, along with a pair of $70 million military-grade Boeing 737s.

It's easy to see why lawmakers might become accustomed to flying on the 89th Airlift Wing's jets. The planes sport first-class leather seats, workstations and galleys and are staffed with military personnel to whip up passengers' meals, carry their bags and fix their favorite drinks. And they can stretch out: the C-40, a military version of the 737, can fly with as few as five lawmakers aboard. The same planes carry up to 149 passengers for commercial airlines.

The 89th's Most Frequent Flyers

[The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.]

44% MILITARY 42% WHITE HOUSE 14% CONGRESS

Aim High The Pentagon asked for four new executive jets for the Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing. Congress added four more

Current Fleet

Pentagon Request

Congress Addition

1 Gulfstream III

AIR FORCE ROLE Special air and operational support missions

COST $29.4 million

FEATURES Full office capabilities, seating for 12 passengers

2 Boeing 737

AIR FORCE ROLE High-priority personnel transport

COST $70 million

FEATURES Cooking facilities, spacious sleeping accommodations

3 Boeing 747

AIR FORCE ROLE Presidential transport as Air Force One

COST $325 million

FEATURES 85 telephones, a medical suite, an in-flight refueling connection

4 Boeing 757

AIR FORCE ROLE High-priority personnel transport

COST $65 million

FEATURES Can seat up to 200 passengers; referred to as Air Force Two when the Vice President is aboard

5 Gulfstream V

AIR FORCE ROLE Special air missions

COST $66 million