Commercial C-17 could help military mobility.

• Author: Ronis, Sheila R.
• Position: Analysis

Seeking to improve its ability to move cargo around the world faster and more efficiently, the Air Force created the Commercial Application of Military Airlift Aircraft program.

The CAMAA program is Dosed on the Development of tee 3C-17X a commercial derivative of the Air Force C-17.

"The CAMAA program is representative of a whole new way of thinking as dictated by profound changes in the political, industrial and military landscapes," Col. Dennis Hunt CAMAA director. said in a recent interview.

According to mum "Significant events in the past few years have forever changed how we view the militant industrial base and our allies. We are rethinking what constitutes threats to national security including the essential elements of rapid deployment."

A commercially owned and operated BC-17X aircraft is expected to be profitable in the commercial market while supporting Department of Defense airlift requirements. The Air Force has pro-posed that The Boeing Company build the BC-17X.

"CAMAA exists because of our need for increased global capacity while being mindful of price considerations," Hunt said.

A report by the Office of Management and Budget warned that the Defense Department "must aggressively examine possible trade-offs within the airlift program mat could lower the cost of meeting the lift requirement without sacrificing military readiness or combat capabilities."

Cost reduction, however, is only one part of the story of the G-17/BC-17X.

The proposed commercial derivative of the C-17 would be able to take off with its full 87-ton load in under 4,000 feet. In tests of its high "sink" rate, it has landed on 1,300 feet with a 20-ton load. Moreover, it aces not require much airport infrastructure and can Lane fully loaded on short, unpaved runways.

Once on the ground, it is self-sufficient can make a three-point turn on an 80-foot wide runway ant even back up a two percent grade through vectored reverse inrush.

Air Force sponsored studies conducted in 16 industries Provided a business case for an emerging global industry using the BC-17X that will create new alternatives for global shipping. A new study says that 30 to 50 BC-17Xs could be supported by the so-called "austere-project" market. Global shipping currently is dominated DV non-U.S. firms but the BC-17X could effectively compete for a share of that market.

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