Phoenix Air Chartered for AFRICOM

Phoenix’s “Gray Birds”
(click to see clearly)

Phoenix Air Group of Cartersville, GA received a $26.3 million fixed price indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract to provide air charter service for Headquarters United States Africa Command (US AFRICOM) passengers from Stuttgart Army Airfield, Germany, to various points throughout Africa and Europe. The performance period is from April 1/09 to March 31/12, including unexercised options. This contract was a competitive acquisition, with 7 bids received by United States Transportation Command’s (USTRANSCOM) Directorate of Acquisitions at Scott Air Force Base, IL (HTC711-09-D-0001).

AFRICOM emerged as its own command on Feb 6/07, as the culmination of a 10-year process within the Department of Defense (DoD). It has stepped back from its original “whole of government” model, but still has a significant civilian component and aims to merge aid, relationship building, and capability building within Africa’s own militaries. Its headquarters will remain in Stuttgart, in the wake of political controversies that made an African location infeasible.

Phoenix Air Group is best known as an operator of reconfigurable Learjets and Gulfstream turboprops, designed to assist in exercises. These reconfigurable aircraft can perform electronics training of all kinds, including electronic warfare simulation and simulation of incoming enemy aircraft. They can also be used for target towing, range surveillance and clearance, and related roles.