America's CEO and His Travel Costs in a Down Economy

As the Chief Executive of the United States, and the Commander-in-Chief of our nation's military forces, the President of the United States has many responsibilities and has some unique security requirements and communications needs when he or she is away from the White House.

As many Americans know, the aircraft the President generally travels on is known by the military designation VC-25, a heavily modified Boeing 747, costing $325 million each (we bought two back in 1987). The VC-25 is often mistakenly referred to as Air Force One. The call sign 'Air Force One' is used only when the President is aboard the VC-25 or any aircraft.

What is lesser known, is that Presidential airlift missions, managed and operated by the U.S. Air Force, include the movement of Secret Service personnel, armored cars, and other support equipment and personnel. The Air Force usually moves these people with two or more C-17 or C-5 heavy lift aircraft.

According to an article in USA Today in June of 2004, operating the VC-25 costs roughly $56,800 per hour. In 2009, with fuel costs higher than in 2004, we can probably make a good guess that a flight hour for the VC-25 is in the $65,000 - $75,000 range, but I'll use the $56,800 per hour rate for this discussion.

According to a GAO report on Presidential travel costs issued during August 2000, operating a C-17 cost $6,664 per flight hour. The GAO report was requested by Rep. Henry Waxman (D), of the 30th District of California.

If we assume that a quick trip to Phoenix by the President requires two C-17's to move the support personnel and equipment, and the use of the VC-25 for four hours for the actual presidential movement, the total cost just on the air travel side alone would be $280,512 one way and $561,024 for the round trip. These costs are obviously conservative, given that they have likely increased over time. They also don't include: the cost of the helicopter flight to and from Andrews AFB, to board/de-plane from the VC-25, the salaries of the Secret Service advance and protection details, gas for the convoy of cars he'll use while he's there, or the helicopter they may fly him around in.

I sincerely hope, that in addition to:

• Trying to end inflated executive compensation packages for bankers and other businessmen who oversee failing institutions
• Mandating that members of his administration have their pay frozen
  
• Cheering on (properly) as his former congressional colleauges disparage Detroit automakers fly on private jets (at roughly $20,000 round trip)

The President takes a serious look at how he spends taxpayer dollars on his own travel.

Certainly the President has unique security and communications needs. But he can take smaller Air Force jets, costing less to operate, or better yet, he can use a Video Teleconferencing system like other corporate leaders, rather than traveling at all. Surely, the White House has one.

A New President

I've just finished watching the inauguration of President Obama, and have yet again marveled at, and been pleased to see, the peaceful transfer of executive power in the United States.

It is a goal that many nations may desire and strive for, but few have so far achieved. In witnessing it again, I am reassured that the ideals our nation was founded on prevail, in spite of war, bad economic times, or the people's disillusionment with government as is sometimes the case.

In this inaugural, we have been additionally privileged to witness the swearing in of our nation's first African American President. I believe his presidency will mark the beginning of an era where his successors will be not just African Americans, but Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and others who more fully represent the many races and beliefs of our citizens. We all share in the common dream that is America, the shared history of sacrifice and hard work that has built America, and the shared freedoms that make America one of the great nations of the world. Thanks to Mr. Obama, our future Presidents will no doubt more fully reflect that.

Today, America has renewed itself, as it does every four years when the President takes the oath of office. Today, all Americans find hope that in new leadership, our nation will again make its best effort to improve itself. Time will show us if Mr. Obama's leadership and stewardship of our nation is all we hope it will be, but for today, we wish him and his new administration well.

Good Luck Mr. President.

The Holiday Season

Well, the Holiday Season is upon us again.

This time of year reminds us that we can be better people than we are, and asks that we re-commit ourselves to be more generous, more compassionate, and more kind to those we meet in life. It is a shame that we submerge the more generous versions of ourselves after the holiday season, and not rediscover them until the Thanksgiving Day parades and football games are over. Unfortunately, sometime around mid January, or early February, we return to being our more self-centered selves. Although you might think me being more cynical than the season should allow, we ALL do it, including this blogger. Admitting anything less is being dishonest.

The good thing about the season is that it always comes again the next year. Even the scheduling of a holiday in the darkest part of the Northern Hemisphere's Winter seems calculated (from the standpoint of the old world Europeans who established it) to not just give us something cheerful to think about, but to remind us to be better than we are in the darkest times of our lives. To help us strive again for a greater nobility and gentleness in our spirit that is the defining worth of our species. To drive us to become better people than we currently are at that point in our lives and to express that improvement in the generosity of giving. In addition to making our children's Christmas joyous, we can express this best by giving our time to charities, giving food or clothing to that homeless person on the street, or giving money to a church or non-profit organization to help others in need.

In doing so, we all strive to remember the season in our hearts long past January 1st.

May the season bring out the best in all of us.