Pentagon Puts Supertanker Deal On Hold | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.20.24

Airborne-NextGen-05.21.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.15.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.16.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.17.24

Thu, Dec 04, 2003

Pentagon Puts Supertanker Deal On Hold

Investigators Once Again Zero In On Boeing Ethics

Phil Condit may be gone, but he didn't take the storm clouds of controversy with him when he left Boeing.

Less than a month after Congress gave the Pentagon the money to complete a deal for 100 aircraft, the Pentagon put the project on hold, so an internal auditor can look it over. In a letter to Sen. John Warner (R-VA), Wolfowitz said, "Given the controversy surrounding the tanker program, "I believe it is prudent to reassess this matter before proceeding," Wolfowitz said. "The department remains committed to the recapitalization of our aerial tanker fleet."

The investigation centers on two Boeing employees -- the CFO and a former deputy assistant secretary at the Air Force. A week ago, the company fired Michael Sears and the vice president -- Darleen Druyun. An internal Boeing investigation found that, while Druyun was still at the Pentagon, she was approached by Sears with an offer to join the company while she was in charge of the Air Force's contracts with Boeing.

Now, instead of celebrating a deal that will replace the USAF's 40-year old KC-135 fleet, members of Congress who support the deal are parsing words, trying to find some hope that it will still go through.

"It's not dead. It's just delayed," said Rep. Todd Tiahrt, (R-KS).

"The important word in the Wolfowitz letter is pause," said Rep. Norm Dicks, (D-WA). "It's also appropriate for those who support this to remind the administration that we need new tankers and that we should sign this contract as soon as possible."

But one major opponent of the deal, Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, says the "pause" described by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz came just in the nick of time. He says production on the first of the modified 767 tankers was to have started Dec. 12th.

"I am sure that your commitment to a 'pause' in your letter reflects, not this plan or adherence to a notional delivery schedule, but a genuine concern for the interests of taxpayers and a good-faith interest in obtaining a complete and thorough independent investigation," McCain wrote in a letter to Wolfowitz.

FMI: www.boeing.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.19.24): Back-Taxi

Back-Taxi A term used by air traffic controllers to taxi an aircraft on the runway opposite to the traffic flow. The aircraft may be instructed to back-taxi to the beginning of the>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.19.24)

“Our WAI members across the nation are grateful for the service and sacrifice of the formidable group of WASP who served so honorably during World War II. This group of brave>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.20.24)

“Many aspiring pilots fall short of their goal due to the cost of flight training, so EAA working with the Ray Foundation helps relieve some of the financial pressure and mak>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.20.24): Blind Speed

Blind Speed The rate of departure or closing of a target relative to the radar antenna at which cancellation of the primary radar target by moving target indicator (MTI) circuits i>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.20.24)

Aero Linx: International Airline Medical Association (IAMA) The International Airline Medical Association, formerly known as the Airline Medical Directors Association (AMDA) was fo>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC