About half of the Pool flights in 1994 carried the Governor and his staff and/or Cabinet members and their staffs. The remaining flights carried agency managers and staff, as well as Legislative and Judicial branch employees. Scheduled commercial air service was available for almost three-quarters of these flights.
Pool flights are costly compared to airline service. However, agencies pay little of this difference because 75% of the Pool's budget is paid from general revenue. As a result, agencies have a limited incentive to use Pool planes efficiently.
The Legislature should consider three cost reduction options:
Raising agency fees to recover a greater percentage of costs. Agencies would probably reduce their use of the planes under this option, which would enable DMS to downsize its fleet.
Downsizing the fleet. DMS could save about $500,000 annually and could meet 91% of the travel needs of the Governor and Cabinet if it sold one of its planes. Reducing the fleet to two planes would generally restrict use of the planes to the Governor, but would have larger cost savings.
Privatize fleet operations. DMS could sell its planes and contract with a private charter service to fly state executives. This would probably save money, as agencies would pay full costs and reduce their use of the service. Selling DMS planes would generate about $2.9 million. However, security and safety issues would need to be addressed if the state no longer controlled flight operations.

Less Costly Alternatives to the Executive Aircraft Pool Exist for State Officials and Employees
Report 08-57 October 2008
Progress Report: Management Services Makes Progress by Implementing OPPAGA Recommendations
Report 01-35 August 2001
Follow-up Report on the Review of the State Executive Aircraft Pool
Report 96-74 April 1997

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.