. . . with the demise of the STW trade . . .
Recalling LGen Kenny's evidence in the hearing, he made much reference to the role of the "flight stewards" in the planning, liaison with airport caterers and procurement of the in-flight meals. The lack of reference to any other specific occupation, office or logistical entity could suggest (if I didn't already have some familiarity with how byzantine offshore local purchase procedures can be) the possibility that the stewards traveled with a bag of cash and haggled in the souk to get the meals during the trip. Unlikely to be sure, though I do know of occasions when flight stewards have travelled with cash.
As I commented previously the Comd RCAF didn't appear very comfortable giving evidence in that committee hearing. And while I was never close to the public rectal exam of a Commons committee questioning, the exceedingly rare time that I had to brief someone in preparation for that level, the attention to detail in ensuring the principal had an answer for every conceivable question was staggering. Kenny seemed almost embarrassingly unprepared.
Why not ? Why not follow the A-85-269-001/FP-001 CF Food Service Manual ?
I can understand big diplomatic dinners and official functions will require a certain je ne sais quoi. But for simple in flight feeding to and from why does this require some higher form of nutrition ? What exactly are the caloric requirements of a diplomat or government official as a passenger in flight ?
Or more specifically volume 4, A-85-269-001/FP-004 Flight Feeding Manual
The accounting for and scale of provision for flight feeding VIPs
is was different than for the peons. CFAO 65-8 FLIGHT FEEDING POLICY used to be one of the references (I don't know if it still is),
DAOD 3012-0, Food Services Operations does not list it as one of the CFAOs that were superseded. But in that ref (
it was one I had in my Air Evac checklist, now decades later gathering dust on the shelf of old pubs), these applied to VIPs.
(3) for VIPs -- service and amenities equivalent to those provided in first class on commercial flights in Canada.
8. For VIP Flight. For VIP flights, where flight meals are specifically authorized by National Defence Headquarters/Director Movements (NDHQ/D Mov), foodstuffs may be provided through Service sources or purchased commercially. The provision of in-flight meals in Department of National Defence (DND) aircraft is governed by Privy Council travel guidelines. It is a squadron responsibility to budget accordingly for VIP flight feeding support. Each user unit shall maintain an auditable record of annual expenditures, ensuring that the financial limit is not exceeded.
And in the entitlement table - "Actual and reasonable expenses incurred, based on individual requirements and within budgetary limitations"