You can't make this stuff up

Just a few years ago, there was an aircraft acquisition program run by the Department of Defense.   They were looking for a small cargo aircraft able to operate in harsh environments like Afghanistan.  The C-27J Spartan was selected.

The first aircraft were delivered in 2008.

Fast forward to 2013.  The Air Force has spent $567 million on 21 C-27J aircraft since 2007, according to Air Force officials.  Sixteen had been delivered by the end of September, 2013.

It’s seen service in Afghanistan, provided support to disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and deliveries of new aircraft have continued.  

Yet, because of the continuing budget compressions in Washington, a dozen of the nearly new C-27J Spartans have been taken out of service and shipped to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.

Five more on order for the US military, currently under construction, will be delivered directly to the boneyard because the military cannot afford to maintain or fly them.

Yup, things are getting really ugly.

Sometimes you have to take it personally

Some of us still make us of an ancient artifact that is called a “Travel Agent.”  Yeah, I know, there’s an app for that, but I’m a relationship sort of guy.  Just about every week for the past decade I’ve fired off travel requests to my buddy Pam, and she has never let me down.

An app doesn’t know which commercial airline is the best one to use going in and out of Afghanistan.  Pam does. 

An app can’t call in a favor and get me a room at the government rate in downtown Philadelphia, walking distance to the Convention Center, for the annual CSCMP Conference with 48 hour notice.  Pam can.

An app can’t get me rebooked while I stand in a line a quarter of a mile long at the Atlanta airport and everybody’s flight is getting cancelled.  Pam will.

An app can’t adopt stray dogs in need of a home.  Pam has, many times.

I’ve seen a lot of changes in logistics over the past 30 years, and I make a living by understanding all of it, but somehow it seems different when the forces in play take out a friend.

What happened?  Pam's clients live in the land of defense logistics, and these surely are turbulent times.  Was it the sequester?  The shutdown?  The internet?  Or the "realignment" that her company just went through? 

Pam is being laid off today.  Good luck, old friend . . . may we cross paths again.  If you need a reference, send them my way.