Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 4500.53
October 20, 2008
Incorporating Change 1, December 2, 2010
USD(AT&L)
SUBJECT: DoD Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Review Program
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Directive (DoDD) 4500.53 (Reference (a)) as a DoD Instruction in
accordance with the authority in DoDD 5134.01 (Reference (b)) and updates policies and
responsibilities for the DoD Commercial Air Transportation Quality and Safety Review Program
under section 2640 of title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.) (Reference (c)).
b. Updates the system of management, analysis, inspection, review, and evaluation of the
safety and quality practices of commercial air carriers that provide air transportation services to
the Department of Defense.
c. Cancels Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
(USD(AT&L) Memorandum (Reference (d)) and Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum
(Reference (e)).
2. APPLICABILITY
. This Instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments (MILDEPs),
the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant
Commands (CCMDs), the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the
Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the
Department of Defense (hereafter referred to collectively as the “DoD Components”).
3. DEFINITIONS
. Terms used in this Instruction are defined in the Glossary.
4. POLICY
. It is DoD policy that in procuring air transportation services for the directed
movement of its personnel and cargo, only air carriers demonstrating the highest possible
standards of quality and safety will be used for air transportation services as defined in the
Glossary.
