Comments on: Marine One Revamp Overbudget, Behind Schedule

By: charles austin

charles austin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:34:25 +0000

Funny how discussions of military procurement never get around to the FAR. Start there if you really want to understand why overruns and schedule delays exist throughout all defense procurements.

Defense Contractors certainly make money, but not as much as everyone seems to think. Their margins are low, as befits any industry whose risk is capped, but then the government generally doesn't reward risk takers.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:10:40 +0000

It's cheaper to build 23 to the same spec, then to build 23 of different specs. And having the decoy based on a different spec opens the possibility of determining which is carrying the President based on the helicopter itself, which undermines the point of using a decoy.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:43:10 +0000

When POTUS travels by helicopter overseas, he travels on Marine One. Days before his arrival, three or more helos are flown in in C5s to be staged and ready to go. If he's on a multi-stop trip, then it's multi-based helicopters, though leap-frogging is practiced where possible.

Weeks before an overseas visit, pilots of both Air Force One and Marine One fly into the locations to scope out the terrain, runways, weather, ATC, etc. They try to iron out differences between local practice and POTUS norms where possible. They do hold veto power over whether or not POTUS will fly into/out of/through particular areas.

I recall one Clinton visit to N. Ireland where the weather was so bad that Marine One pilots suggested that ground transportation be used instead of flying between Belfast and Londonderry.

By: FireWolf

FireWolf — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:36:28 +0000

I say build one for the Pres and Vice Pres and put everyone else on Robinson R44's. Including Visiting Dignitaries!

By: Boyd

Boyd — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:04:42 +0000

...it’s hard to argue that the SECNAV has more pressing needs than his counterparts in the other Services.

No, but in the fine tradition of DoD bureaucracy, "I own 'em, so I get to use 'em."