Not sure if this is the same as some of the other articles posted, but I put it up, simply because this jounalist has got the idea..
Up in the air: A general’s work is never done
george petrolekas Globe and Mail Update Tuesday, Sep. 20, 2011
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General Walter Natynczyk confronted the innuendos surrounding his use of Challenger jets in numerous interviews on Sunday. In one, the host prefaced a question on flights to Toronto by saying, “Well, I don’t want to get bogged down in the details …” Unfortunately, it’s precisely the details that count.
Notwithstanding the fact that reports have inflated the real costs of using Challenger jets, the value has been eclipsed by a misunderstanding of what occurs when the Chief of the Defence Staff travels. I was a special adviser to both Rick Hillier and Gen. Natynczyk and had the occasion to often fly on Challengers, both in Canada and overseas.
Some examples come to mind.
After a full day in Ottawa, the CDS boarded a Challenger for Rotterdam, accompanied by minimal personal staff and specialized communications equipment. On arrival, we discussed Afghanistan. We reboarded with the Dutch CDS and, throughout the seven hour flight to Dubai, the entire time was devoted to poring over maps and discussing Afghanistan, bilateral concerns and what the Dutch and Canadians could do to improve NATO’s efforts and to save lives.
On arrival in Dubai, the CDS went off to talk to the Canadian troops stationed there, something he always did; I got to go to sleep. The next morning, we departed for Kandahar.
Ostensibly, the visit was to attend a ceremonial function – a change of command. But aside from the short time spent on the ceremonial function, the next five hours involved the CDS meeting the ISAF commander, the Afghan CDS and the incoming Dutch commander, as well as talking to Canadian troops. At 3 p.m., we left Kandahar for Dubai and, after landing, transferred to a Challenger to fly back to Rotterdam. The CDS continued overnight to Canada for another full day of work in Ottawa the following day. The plane had served as office, bed, conference room and command centre. This is the gruelling pace that Gen. Natynczyk lives unbeknownst to many.
I witnessed many such trips. In the fall of 2006, for example, the briefing for Operation Medusa – the Canadian defence of Kandahar from a possible Taliban rout – was made aboard the airplane and orders issued. Just as Gen. Natynczyk launched the Canadian Forces humanitarian effort in Haiti from a Challenger,
these things could not have been accomplished from Seat 3C on an Air Canada flight.
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