Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Maryland, near DC
Programs: UA 1k MM, AA EXP MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, HHonors Diamond, Avis First (oh boy)
Posts: 539
It's called the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF)
The taxpayer isn't "sucking it up". We are saving money.
The reason the CRAF exists is that it helps the Air Force NOT have to buy a bunch of additional airlift capability (very expensive airplanes) just for the chance they need some surge lift capacity.
Remember all those troops that were flown to Desert Storm in United and other 747s? That's the CRAF in action.