Reuters: “President Donald Trump’s military deportation flight to Guatemala on Monday likely cost at least $4,675 per migrant, according to data provided by U.S. and Guatemalan officials.”
“A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, estimated the cost to operate a C-17 military transport aircraft is $28,500 per hour.”
After reviewing a GAO report from November 2022, the problem with this math is that it likely includes:
- Maintenance Costs: This covers both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance activities, including labor, parts, and materials required to keep the aircraft in operational condition.
- Crew Costs: Salaries, training, and related expenses for the flight crew, which typically consists of two pilots and one loadmaster.
- Depreciation and Amortization: The allocation of the aircraft’s acquisition cost over its expected service life.
- Overhead Costs: Indirect costs associated with operating the aircraft, such as administrative support, hangar facilities, and other infrastructure expenses.
Crew, Depreciation, and Overhead costs would have occurred regardless of whether those flights took place or not. It is simply part of the overall cost of having the C-17 in our arsenal. It made no difference that the aircraft was used to deport illegals, or if it was used to deploy equipment to our Southern border, or if it just sat at an airfield.