In recent years the frequency and severity of global natural disasters has grown. Most often, the largest airlift responder to these devastated areas is the United States military, chiefly the Air Force. This sudden, unscheduled marshaling of military assets is not the primary mission of the military and can cause operational conflicts for the Department of Defense. In addition, interaction between military lift providers and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) at the disaster site’s point of presence is often unsynchronized and can result in distribution delays of critically needed relief supplies. According to this 2005 Congressional Research Service report on Hurricane Katrina, humanitarian relief flights are not the primary mission of the military:

"[W]ith regard to the DoD particularly, the fundamental principle that it is almost always a supporting agency and the resource of last resort may serve to encourage a reactive rather than proactive mode of operation. This principle exists because, for DoD, disaster relief is secondary to its primary mission of national defense, and there has been a traditional concern that any greater emphasis on essentially civilian or non-military operations would detract from its preparedness for its primary mission. Nevertheless, absent the development of greater civilian capabilities in disaster response, the expectation will remain the DoD will provide substantial, if not massive assistance in instances of catastrophic disasters" (CRS report at page 13)

Humanitarian Air Logistics is a non-profit organization that will provide a differentiated 'smart power' solution to that dilemma by providing immediate heavy-lift first-responsiveness to anywhere in the world that falls victim to disaster.  The company has completed early-stage development and is positioned for rapid growth.

Humanitarian Air Logistics is currently in discussions with several different cities and states to determine where we will locate our primary base of operations within the United States.

Humanitarian Air Logistics’ first-responder heavy-lift response is quick and efficient.  When a deployment request is received from the United States Government a federal “go team” will immediately be transported to the disaster site via Humanitarian Air Logistics’ “mobile command post” aircraft capable of providing worldwide secure satellite communications between the “go team” and various government and non-government organizations.  A large transport aircraft will accompany the mobile command post. That transport aircraft will carry vehicles, helicopters and limited supplies which are needed to help the 'go team' conduct local damage assessments and identify needed relief solutions.  After this assessment is completed, the next step will be to deploy the company’s fleet of remaining transport aircraft to deliver any identified additional rescue personnel, equipment, food, medical and other relief & recovery supplies.  Humanitarian Air Logistics’ fleet will consist of former military transport aircraft that are designated excess property or on loan from the military along with some obtained from the civilian sector.

Humanitarian Air Logistics will provide the disaster support community with a stable and open resource they can plan and train with well in advance of an event. This will provide quicker, smoother and more effective responses to minimize the loss of human life and suffering.

Finally and  importantly, we also believe this use of 'smart power' will allow our new President, Barack Obama to help meet his dream of "changing the world" by presenting a lasting and positive first impression of the United States to those in need. Our public service to the people of the world will also allow the DoD to better focus its limited airlift resources on its core mission, that of national defense.