5 May 2004
Air Force One to enter charter service
Harrison Ford may be signed as spokesperson
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In an effort to cut the federal deficit, congress has passed legislation
to fund the conversion of the presidential jet fleet to carry
paying passengers.
Sen. John Kerry (Dem, Mass) introduced the bill in
congress last year, and the U. S. House of Representatives, Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure recommended the deal in January. The
aircraft, now reserved for use by the administration, will enter charter
service in early October.
"It seemed silly and a waste of taxpayers'
money," said Kerry, who is also a presidential contender, "to have these assets just sitting around on the
tarmac when they could be generating some revenue."
The new charter service will be operated under
the name Presidential Airlines and be managed by Pace Airlines of Winston-Salem, NC, the same
company that operates Hooters Air. In turn, that company is negotiating
with agents for Harrison Ford to be the a spokesperson for the airline.
At a news conference on Capitol Hill, Assia
Brumley, the current spokesperson for the newly created U.S. Office of
Charter Air Services, told reporters, "We got a special deal on signage,
uniforms, glassware, letterhead, ticket holders, and a whole mess of
other stuff with the logo of Presidential Airlines, a company that went
out of business in 1991. This will save us a bundle in start-up costs."
Charter fees have yet to be set but will most
certainly depend on the particular
aircraft used as well the destinations flown. Nevertheless, according to Brumley, a number of
well known people have already expressed interest in
chartering including Anna Kournikova, Jimmy Swaggart, and Bono.
Catering service aboard Presidential Airlines
flights is expected to be Spartan with passengers receiving a choice of
beverages, a pack of presidential pretzels (the small, easily chewed and swallowed
kind to prevent choking), and a keepsake paper napkin with an autograph
of Davy Jones of the Monkees (a popular 60's band). Video entertainment
aboard the flights will include a selection of movies including Air
Force One, Gigli, or Executives
Gone Wild.
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