Columbia Helicopters Boeing BV-234 Chinook P2-CHK is going to be dismantled and put on a ship to Papa New Guinea.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Union negotiators recommend C-17 workers approve Boeing contract
LONG BEACH - Negotiators representing striking C-17 workers are urging members to approve a new contract proposal and end a nearly month-long walkout at Boeing's last major production facility in California.
Nine of the ten negotiators involved in talks for a labor contract covering about 1,700 workers in Long Beach and Carson have called for ratification in a vote scheduled Wednesday.
If approved, workers would end all picketing and return to the job Thursday, resuming production on a jet widely used to deliver military and humanitarian goods across the globe.
Representatives of the United Aerospace Workers, which initiated the strike May 11, said the new 58-month contract is an improvement over the deal rejected by 80 percent of its members in early May.
They promised to return to work Thursday if more than 50 percent of workers approve the plan.
"(Boeing) and the union will work together to resume daily operations at Boeing Long Beach and ensure a smooth and safe return to work for all employees at the site," union leaders said in a statement. "Upon ratification...the union will terminate its strike and picketing against the company, as well as all actions intended to negatively influence the company's relationships with customers, investors, educational institutions, government and community officials, and regulatory agencies."
Boeing and the union resumed talks under supervision by a federal mediator on June 3 after weeks of stalemate.
Workers walked off the job in a dispute over healthcare and pension benefits, which were revised in two days of talks overseen by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an officially neutral agency often called in to help end labor disputes.
Under the new plan, workers would get a $4,000 payment in lieu of a raise this year, followed by 3 percent annual raises in the following years. Basic retirement benefits would also increase, from $79 under the previous plan to $81 monthly for each year with the company or its predecessor, McDonnell Douglas.
Employee contributions to healthcare plans were also reduced, from a proposed 15 percent to 13 percent, beginning in 2014.
The deal also extends by 12 months the length of the contract, an indication the company is secure that foreign orders will keep production humming well into the decade.
"We're hoping to see, and we have seen, a lot of interest in international orders, and we further hope to be building this aircraft for a long time to come," said Cindy Anderson, a Boeing spokeswoman.
Congress is currently considering a request by the Indian Air Force to purchase 10 C-17s, and further interest is rumored among U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia, Japan and Pakistan.
The United States Air Force operates more than 190 of the massive jets, and several more are owned by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Qatar and a NATO-led force based in Hungary.
The jets are used primarily to deliver supplies and troops to military bases and aid zones across the world, but can be quickly converted to airlift wounded soldiers and disaster victims.
The C-17's massive cargo space is also used to transport the presidential limousine, and is currently being used to ferry oil booms and cleanup materials to assist in the oil spill devastating the Gulf of Mexico.
Wednesday's vote is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the union's hall in Lakewood.
Nine of the ten negotiators involved in talks for a labor contract covering about 1,700 workers in Long Beach and Carson have called for ratification in a vote scheduled Wednesday.
If approved, workers would end all picketing and return to the job Thursday, resuming production on a jet widely used to deliver military and humanitarian goods across the globe.
Representatives of the United Aerospace Workers, which initiated the strike May 11, said the new 58-month contract is an improvement over the deal rejected by 80 percent of its members in early May.
They promised to return to work Thursday if more than 50 percent of workers approve the plan.
"(Boeing) and the union will work together to resume daily operations at Boeing Long Beach and ensure a smooth and safe return to work for all employees at the site," union leaders said in a statement. "Upon ratification...the union will terminate its strike and picketing against the company, as well as all actions intended to negatively influence the company's relationships with customers, investors, educational institutions, government and community officials, and regulatory agencies."
Boeing and the union resumed talks under supervision by a federal mediator on June 3 after weeks of stalemate.
Workers walked off the job in a dispute over healthcare and pension benefits, which were revised in two days of talks overseen by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an officially neutral agency often called in to help end labor disputes.
Under the new plan, workers would get a $4,000 payment in lieu of a raise this year, followed by 3 percent annual raises in the following years. Basic retirement benefits would also increase, from $79 under the previous plan to $81 monthly for each year with the company or its predecessor, McDonnell Douglas.
Employee contributions to healthcare plans were also reduced, from a proposed 15 percent to 13 percent, beginning in 2014.
The deal also extends by 12 months the length of the contract, an indication the company is secure that foreign orders will keep production humming well into the decade.
"We're hoping to see, and we have seen, a lot of interest in international orders, and we further hope to be building this aircraft for a long time to come," said Cindy Anderson, a Boeing spokeswoman.
Congress is currently considering a request by the Indian Air Force to purchase 10 C-17s, and further interest is rumored among U.S. allies like Saudi Arabia, Japan and Pakistan.
The United States Air Force operates more than 190 of the massive jets, and several more are owned by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Qatar and a NATO-led force based in Hungary.
The jets are used primarily to deliver supplies and troops to military bases and aid zones across the world, but can be quickly converted to airlift wounded soldiers and disaster victims.
The C-17's massive cargo space is also used to transport the presidential limousine, and is currently being used to ferry oil booms and cleanup materials to assist in the oil spill devastating the Gulf of Mexico.
Wednesday's vote is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the union's hall in Lakewood.
(Kristopher Hanson - Press Telegram)
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Allegiant Air to offer Stockton-Long Beach service
LONG BEACH - Bellingham, Wash., isn't the only destination Allegiant Travel Co. and its subsidiary airline, Allegiant Air, LLC, are connecting to and from Long Beach.
The Las Vegas-based company and one of Long Beach Airport's newest carriers Thursday announced that it will be offering nonstop services between Stockton and Long Beach starting July 1.
The new flights will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays to and from Stockton Metropolitan Airport and Long Beach Airport with service.
Flights leaving Stockton at 11:05 a.m. will arrive in Long Beach at 12:20 p.m. Flights will leave Long Beach at 1 p.m. and arrive in Stockton at 2:15 p.m.
The company is offering limited introductory one-way fares for $29.99 if purchased by June 23 for travel completed by Jan. 31, 2011. Visit www.allegiant.com or call 702-505-8888 for more details on the offer.
"We're pleased to bring yet another affordable and convenient way for our customers to get away," Allegiant president Andrew C. Levy said in a statement.
"In 2006, we began serving San Joaquin Valley residents by offering nonstop flights to Las Vegas. We look forward to offering even more low-cost service to the community with our new flights to Long Beach."
Allegiant Air and Colorado-based Frontier Airlines - which announced twice a week trips to Denver - picked up the remaining daily commuter slots,topped at 41 because of a noise-ordinance program.
Last month, Allegiant announced new flights to and from Bellingham, which is just below the Canadian border and minutes away from Vancouver.
Flights operate three times a week with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays will leave Long Beach at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Bellingham at 8:30 p.m. Flights from Bellingham will leave at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Long Beach at 5:05 p.m.
The Las Vegas-based company and one of Long Beach Airport's newest carriers Thursday announced that it will be offering nonstop services between Stockton and Long Beach starting July 1.
The new flights will operate Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays to and from Stockton Metropolitan Airport and Long Beach Airport with service.
Flights leaving Stockton at 11:05 a.m. will arrive in Long Beach at 12:20 p.m. Flights will leave Long Beach at 1 p.m. and arrive in Stockton at 2:15 p.m.
The company is offering limited introductory one-way fares for $29.99 if purchased by June 23 for travel completed by Jan. 31, 2011. Visit www.allegiant.com or call 702-505-8888 for more details on the offer.
"We're pleased to bring yet another affordable and convenient way for our customers to get away," Allegiant president Andrew C. Levy said in a statement.
"In 2006, we began serving San Joaquin Valley residents by offering nonstop flights to Las Vegas. We look forward to offering even more low-cost service to the community with our new flights to Long Beach."
Allegiant Air and Colorado-based Frontier Airlines - which announced twice a week trips to Denver - picked up the remaining daily commuter slots,topped at 41 because of a noise-ordinance program.
Last month, Allegiant announced new flights to and from Bellingham, which is just below the Canadian border and minutes away from Vancouver.
Flights operate three times a week with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays will leave Long Beach at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Bellingham at 8:30 p.m. Flights from Bellingham will leave at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Long Beach at 5:05 p.m.
(Karen Robes Meeks -Press Telegram)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday 5-30-10
Jetblue A320-232 N644JB (c/n 2880) was spotted wearing the new Blueberries tail colors and billboard titles.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tuesday 5-25-10
Jetblue A320-232 N571JB (c/n 2125) and N580JB (c/n 2136) were both spotted and photographed this morning in the new "Blueberries" tail and billboard titles.
Sunday 5-23-10
Air Canada A320-211 C-GQCA (c/n 210) which wears the U2 colors, arrived as ACA7031 from Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl (KPHX) at 7:09pm and parked at AirFlite. The plane brought in the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
JetBlue A320-232 N570JB (c/n 2099) was noted as being repainted into the new "Blueberries" tail scheme and billboard titles. It should also be noted that N571JB (c/n 2125) departed LGB two weeks ago for Mexico to get repainted, so that plane should be back in service anytime now.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Allegiant offering new Long Beach to Bellingham flights
LONG BEACH -- Long Beach Airport's newest carrier, Allegiant Air, will begin offering nonstop jet service to Bellingham International Airport in Washington on July 1, Allegiant announced Wednesday.
The new flights to and from Bellingham, which is just below the Canadian border and minutes away from Vancouver, will operate three times a week with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Flights using a 150-seat, MD-80 series jet aircraft will leave Long Beach at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Bellingham at 8:30 p.m. Flights from Bellingham will leave at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Long Beach at 5:05 p.m.
To celebrate its new flights to and from Long Beach, Allegiant is offering one-way fares between the two cities for as low as $49.99 when purchased by June 2. Visit www.allegiant.com or call the company's travel experts at 702-505-8888 for more.
"We are pleased to bring our unique brand of low-cost and nonstop jet service to the Long Beach community," Andrew C. Levy, president of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., said in a statement. "We believe the simple facility design and easy customer experience at Long Beach Airport is a perfect fit for the Allegiant customer. We look forward to offering affordable and convenient access to the greater Bellingham and Southern British Columbia communities."
Allegiant Air joins Colorado-based Frontier Airlines as Long Beach Airport's newest carriers, picking up the remaining daily commuter slots, capped at 41 under a noise-ordinance program. (Last week, Frontier began launching twice-daily trips to Denver.)
"We are pleased to welcome Allegiant to the Long Beach Airport," Long Beach Airport Director Mario Rodriguez said in a statement. "Passengers from the Northwest will now have nonstop access to Long Beach's many tourist attractions and business centers, as well as major Southern California attractions. This additional service is another indicator that Long Beach Airport is committed to providing excellent customer service."
The new flights to and from Bellingham, which is just below the Canadian border and minutes away from Vancouver, will operate three times a week with service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Flights using a 150-seat, MD-80 series jet aircraft will leave Long Beach at 5:45 p.m. and arrive in Bellingham at 8:30 p.m. Flights from Bellingham will leave at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Long Beach at 5:05 p.m.
To celebrate its new flights to and from Long Beach, Allegiant is offering one-way fares between the two cities for as low as $49.99 when purchased by June 2. Visit www.allegiant.com or call the company's travel experts at 702-505-8888 for more.
"We are pleased to bring our unique brand of low-cost and nonstop jet service to the Long Beach community," Andrew C. Levy, president of Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., said in a statement. "We believe the simple facility design and easy customer experience at Long Beach Airport is a perfect fit for the Allegiant customer. We look forward to offering affordable and convenient access to the greater Bellingham and Southern British Columbia communities."
Allegiant Air joins Colorado-based Frontier Airlines as Long Beach Airport's newest carriers, picking up the remaining daily commuter slots, capped at 41 under a noise-ordinance program. (Last week, Frontier began launching twice-daily trips to Denver.)
"We are pleased to welcome Allegiant to the Long Beach Airport," Long Beach Airport Director Mario Rodriguez said in a statement. "Passengers from the Northwest will now have nonstop access to Long Beach's many tourist attractions and business centers, as well as major Southern California attractions. This additional service is another indicator that Long Beach Airport is committed to providing excellent customer service."
(Karen Robes Meeks - Press Telegram)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
JetBlue flies pink for Gay Pride Weekend
(Photo: Jeff Gritchen - The Press-Telegram)
LONG BEACH - Fueled-up on free champagne and eager for a weekend of revelry, 110 passengers flew into Long Beach aboard a specially chartered JetBlue flight Friday honoring Gay Pride Weekend.
The traditionally quick and uneventful flight from San Francisco to Long Beach was transformed into a party replete with pink cocktails, pink cupcakes, flight attendants' uniforms in pink and 90 minutes of entertainment from comedian Pam Ann.
The idea of a JetPride flight comes as the New York-based carrier has grown gradually more involved in the city's second-largest annual event, which draws some 70,000 people to Long Beach annually, second in size only to the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
JetBlue has been a Pride Weekend sponsor for five years, but this year offered round-trip tickets for $79 and numbered its Friday morning flight No. 1969 in honor of the famous 1969 Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village, N.Y., which began the modern gay rights movement.
"It's just our way of showing a little bit of support for Pride Weekend and letting people know of our presence in two of the country's most gay-friendly communities, San Francisco and Long Beach," said Mark Rogers, a JetBlue marketing manager. "We're always looking for ways to continue outreach."
JetBlue has long operated daily trips between the cities, but noticed an uptick during Pride Weekend in recent years.
Long Beach Pride Co-President Sergio Macias estimates 76 percent of this weekend's revelers will visit from outside Long Beach, with about 13 percent coming from outside California. An economic study estimates the event, now in its 27th year, generates about $10 million of direct spending in Long Beach and more than $20 million for the regional economy. Weekend events include a festival from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Sunday at Marina Green Park and Rainbow Lagoon along Shoreline Drive, and a parade kicking off at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Temple Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
(Kristopher Hanson - Press Telegram)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Long Beach's new Frontier
LONG BEACH - Frontier Airlines made its inaugural flight Friday into Long Beach, launching twice-daily trips to Denver and expanding to 15 the number of cities connecting directly to Daugherty Field.
Frontier becomes the fifth major commercial carrier at Long Beach Airport, where passenger volumes have more than tripled since low-cost airline JetBlue made the city its West Coast hub in 2001.
Colorado-based Frontier, founded in 1994, plans to operate 99-seat Embraer 190 and 107-seat Airbus 318 jets on flights scheduled to depart Long Beach at 6:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. daily.
Frontier also began service Friday to Fairbanks, Alaska and Grand Rapids, Mich., from its Denver base.
Frontier and another newcomer, Allegiant Air, which begins flights from Long Beach this summer, fill out the airport's remaining daily commuter slots, capped at 41 under a noise-ordinance program.
The new flights should push annual passenger traffic here above 3 million, drawing in new revenue for the airport, city and area merchants and hotels.
"Attracting a new carrier amidst this tumultuous time in the aviation industry speaks to our fiscal solvency and prime (location)," said Airport Director Mario Rodriguez, who is overseeing a $200-million airport modernization plan through 2013 to help with increasing passenger volumes.
Frontier joins airlines JetBlue, Horizon, Delta and US Air offering daily flights out of Long Beach. The bulk of those, 30, are operated by JetBlue, while Allegiant has signed on to take the remaining two slots, said Airport Spokeswoman Sharon Diggs-Jackson.
Frontier expects its two daily flights to cater to a mix of vacationers and business travelers seeking to avoid crowds at the region's larger, more congested airports.
In the coming weeks, Frontier Airlines will further its push into the West Coast with service between Denver and Santa Barbara, said Daniel Shurz, the carrier's president of strategy and planning.
He said the airline will offer indirect service from Long Beach to more than 70 destinations domestically and in Mexico and Costa Rica, many with a single layover in Denver.
Frontier becomes the fifth major commercial carrier at Long Beach Airport, where passenger volumes have more than tripled since low-cost airline JetBlue made the city its West Coast hub in 2001.
Colorado-based Frontier, founded in 1994, plans to operate 99-seat Embraer 190 and 107-seat Airbus 318 jets on flights scheduled to depart Long Beach at 6:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. daily.
Frontier also began service Friday to Fairbanks, Alaska and Grand Rapids, Mich., from its Denver base.
Frontier and another newcomer, Allegiant Air, which begins flights from Long Beach this summer, fill out the airport's remaining daily commuter slots, capped at 41 under a noise-ordinance program.
The new flights should push annual passenger traffic here above 3 million, drawing in new revenue for the airport, city and area merchants and hotels.
"Attracting a new carrier amidst this tumultuous time in the aviation industry speaks to our fiscal solvency and prime (location)," said Airport Director Mario Rodriguez, who is overseeing a $200-million airport modernization plan through 2013 to help with increasing passenger volumes.
Frontier joins airlines JetBlue, Horizon, Delta and US Air offering daily flights out of Long Beach. The bulk of those, 30, are operated by JetBlue, while Allegiant has signed on to take the remaining two slots, said Airport Spokeswoman Sharon Diggs-Jackson.
Frontier expects its two daily flights to cater to a mix of vacationers and business travelers seeking to avoid crowds at the region's larger, more congested airports.
In the coming weeks, Frontier Airlines will further its push into the West Coast with service between Denver and Santa Barbara, said Daniel Shurz, the carrier's president of strategy and planning.
He said the airline will offer indirect service from Long Beach to more than 70 destinations domestically and in Mexico and Costa Rica, many with a single layover in Denver.
(Press Telegram - Kristopher Hanson)
Boeing suspends C-17 production in wake of strike
LONG BEACH - Production of Boeing's C-17 cargo jet has been indefinitely suspended after workers walked off the job early Tuesday in a dispute over pension and medical benefits.
Some 1,700 line workers began a strike just past midnight, surrounding the plant with hundreds of picket signs a week after workers overwhelmingly rejected Boeing's "best and final" deal for a new 46-month contract.
"We strongly believe the company's offer was unethical and disrespectful, and while we didn't prefer a strike, the members are strongly behind it if that's what it takes," said Stan Klemchuk, president of United Aerospace Workers Local 148, which represents the striking workers. "A strike is a lose-lose for everybody, but the pension and medical issue is simply too important to let go."
Boeing management said the plant's roughly 3,000 other workers reported as usual, but the sprawling production floor next to Long Beach Airport will remain dark until the dispute is resolved.
"We will be deploying our contingency plans that we have in place in the event of a strike," said Boeing spokeswoman Cindy Anderson. "Company facilities will remain open and all employees (except strikers) will be expected to report to work unless otherwise notified."
Boeing said C-17 suppliers in 43 states, including California, are not yet being affected, though a prolonged strike - believed to be more than 90 days - could force some to limit or halt production.
Still, suppliers have "a long lead time," Anderson said, though a specific time frame was not given.
Workers remain hopeful that negotiations will be renewed in coming days, but say they're prepared to wait it out. Striking workers are being paid reduced wages and benefits by the union.
"We're hoping this doesn't drag on too long, and we'd like to go back to building the planes as soon as possible, but we won't go back to the table as long as the company isn't willing to make some movement," Klemchuk said.
Many workers, whose average age is 55, say they're fighting to preserve existing retirement benefits.
"This is about our future," said Reni Nevels, a 25-year veteran. "We've put years of blood, sweat and tears into this plant, many of us going back to the McDonnell Douglas days, and we feel we've sacrificed through our careers for the promise of a decent retirement."
Boeing purchased the plant from McDonnell Douglas in the 1990s.
Workers here have built more than 200 C-17s for the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and a NATO-led air force involved in humanitarian missions. The Indian Air Force is also currently pursuing the purchase of 10 C-17s for military and relief efforts, and several other countries, including Saudi Arabia, are rumored to be interested in purchases.
Boeing has called upon a federal labor mediator to help arbitrate between the parties, though no formal talks have yet been scheduled.
The C-17 plant has not experienced a strike since its inception in the early 1990s, though other Boeing plants have been targeted frequently in recent years.
An eight-week walkout by 27,000 workers outside California in 2008 caused delays in research and production of Boeing's massive Dreamliner 787 jet and an updated version of its popular 747, but the company still managed a $1.31 billion profit in 2009.
The strike comes at a time of uncertainty surrounding the C-17 s future. The Pentagon has stopped new orders, and President Barack Obama specifically targeted the plane for defense budget cuts in his proposed 2010 budget.
Boeing plans to end production in mid-2013, though foreign orders could extend the line well past mid-decade.
The $250 million C-17 has become a workhorse for some of the globe's largest militaries, hauling vehicles, troops and supplies to battle zones across the world.
And it has also become a staple vehicle in relief efforts, ferrying tons of medical supplies, food, water and other relief items to disaster zones including Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and most recently, quake-stricken Haiti.
Some 1,700 line workers began a strike just past midnight, surrounding the plant with hundreds of picket signs a week after workers overwhelmingly rejected Boeing's "best and final" deal for a new 46-month contract.
"We strongly believe the company's offer was unethical and disrespectful, and while we didn't prefer a strike, the members are strongly behind it if that's what it takes," said Stan Klemchuk, president of United Aerospace Workers Local 148, which represents the striking workers. "A strike is a lose-lose for everybody, but the pension and medical issue is simply too important to let go."
Boeing management said the plant's roughly 3,000 other workers reported as usual, but the sprawling production floor next to Long Beach Airport will remain dark until the dispute is resolved.
"We will be deploying our contingency plans that we have in place in the event of a strike," said Boeing spokeswoman Cindy Anderson. "Company facilities will remain open and all employees (except strikers) will be expected to report to work unless otherwise notified."
Boeing said C-17 suppliers in 43 states, including California, are not yet being affected, though a prolonged strike - believed to be more than 90 days - could force some to limit or halt production.
Still, suppliers have "a long lead time," Anderson said, though a specific time frame was not given.
Workers remain hopeful that negotiations will be renewed in coming days, but say they're prepared to wait it out. Striking workers are being paid reduced wages and benefits by the union.
"We're hoping this doesn't drag on too long, and we'd like to go back to building the planes as soon as possible, but we won't go back to the table as long as the company isn't willing to make some movement," Klemchuk said.
Many workers, whose average age is 55, say they're fighting to preserve existing retirement benefits.
"This is about our future," said Reni Nevels, a 25-year veteran. "We've put years of blood, sweat and tears into this plant, many of us going back to the McDonnell Douglas days, and we feel we've sacrificed through our careers for the promise of a decent retirement."
Boeing purchased the plant from McDonnell Douglas in the 1990s.
Workers here have built more than 200 C-17s for the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and a NATO-led air force involved in humanitarian missions. The Indian Air Force is also currently pursuing the purchase of 10 C-17s for military and relief efforts, and several other countries, including Saudi Arabia, are rumored to be interested in purchases.
Boeing has called upon a federal labor mediator to help arbitrate between the parties, though no formal talks have yet been scheduled.
The C-17 plant has not experienced a strike since its inception in the early 1990s, though other Boeing plants have been targeted frequently in recent years.
An eight-week walkout by 27,000 workers outside California in 2008 caused delays in research and production of Boeing's massive Dreamliner 787 jet and an updated version of its popular 747, but the company still managed a $1.31 billion profit in 2009.
The strike comes at a time of uncertainty surrounding the C-17 s future. The Pentagon has stopped new orders, and President Barack Obama specifically targeted the plane for defense budget cuts in his proposed 2010 budget.
Boeing plans to end production in mid-2013, though foreign orders could extend the line well past mid-decade.
The $250 million C-17 has become a workhorse for some of the globe's largest militaries, hauling vehicles, troops and supplies to battle zones across the world.
And it has also become a staple vehicle in relief efforts, ferrying tons of medical supplies, food, water and other relief items to disaster zones including Hurricane Katrina, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and most recently, quake-stricken Haiti.
(Press Telegram - Kristopher Hanson)
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