From: owner-sponsoredprog-l@csun.edu on behalf of Georg Jahn
[georg.jahn.97@csun.edu]
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 4:51 PM
To: 'Sponsoredprog-l@csun.edu'
Subject: Sponsored Programs Bulletin 32: Use of US Flag Carriers while
Traveling on Federal Awards

Importance: High

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S P O N S O R E D   P R O G R A M S   B U L L E T I N

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To: 		All Principal Investigators

From:		The University Corporation
		- Sponsored Programs - 

Re:		Use of US Flag Carriers while traveling on Federal Awards
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Northridge, June 29, 2009

We would like to remind you of the provisions of the federal "Fly America Act" which requires travelers on federally sponsored awards to use U.S. flag carriers.


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PLEASE NOTE: 

TO AVOID ANY DISALLOWANCES, TUC WILL NOT REIMBURSE FLIGHTS ON NON-US CARRIERS, UNLESS CERTAIN SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS, OUTLINED BELOW ARE MET. 

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LEGAL BACKGROUND:
The Fly America Act refers to Title 49 of the United States Code, Subtitle VII, Part A, subpart I, Chapter 401, 40118 - Government-Financed Air Transportation. The Fly America Act applies to all travel funded by United States federal government funds and requires the use of US flag carrier airlines with few exceptions. The Fly America Act is incorporated into the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) at Subpart 47.4-Air Transportation by U.S.-Flag Carriers and is, therefore, applicable to all U.S. government contracts. 


WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FEDERALLY FUNDED AWARDS:
Travelers on federally sponsored awards are required to travel on U.S. flag carriers, unless that option is not available. This applies to all federally funded awards including flow-down subawards. 

Expense requests that do not adhere to the provisions of the Fly America Act cannot be reimbursed from federally funded awards/sub-awards.

Reimbursement requests for travel on a non-US flag carrier claiming the unavailability of US flag carriers or the exceptions (see below) must be accompanied by detailed explanations and supporting documentation.


AVAILABILITY OF US CARRIERS:
U.S. air carrier service is considered available even:

- Comparable service can be provided at less cost by a foreign air carrier.

- Foreign air carrier is preferred or is more convenient 



EXCEPTIONS:
Use of a non-US carrier is permissible if: 

Travel to and from the US. 
- The airport abroad is the origin or destination airport, and use of a US carrier would extend total travel time 24 hours or more; or 

- The airport abroad is an interchange point, and use of a US Carrier would require the traveler to wait six (6) or more hours to make connection, or would extend total travel time six (6) hours or more. 


Travel between points outside the US. 

- Travel by non-US carrier would eliminate two (2) or more aircraft changes en route; or 

- Travel by US carrier would extend the total travel time six (6) hours or more than would travel by non-US carrier. 


Short Distance Travel: 
Regardless of origin or destination, use of a non-US carrier is permissible if travel time from origin to destination airport by non-US carrier is three (3) hours or less and service by US carrier would double the travel time. 


CODE-SHARING: 
If a US flag air carrier provides passenger service with a non-US air carrier under a "code-share" arrangement the requirements of the Fly America Act are met if the ticket is purchased through the US air carrier. 


U.S. flag air carrier service available at point of origin should be used to destination or, in the absence of direct or through service, to the furthest interchange point on a usually traveled route.





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The Sponsored Programs Bulletin is produced by The University Corporation - Sponsored Programs Department. 
For questions and comments, please contact Georg Jahn at gjahn@csun.edu. 
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