§509 Space-available Travel on Coast Guard Aircraft

Summary

The Commandant may set up a program that lets certain people fly on Coast Guard aircraft when there is extra space. The Commandant must make rules for how the program works within 1 year. The program must not cost extra money or use extra flight hours, except for very small administrative costs. People who fly under the program do not have to pay the Coast Guard back. People who can use the program include active-duty service members, Selected Reserve members with a valid ID card, retired regular or reserve members (including some under‑age retired reservists), veterans with a permanent total service-connected disability (with limits), dependents the Commandant allows, and others the Commandant names. The Commandant can set who goes first based on military need, humanitarian reasons, and morale, but must give priority to regular and reserve members on active duty and their dependents for rest. The Commandant can limit which groups get the benefit to control costs and keep travel safe and efficient. A retired member living in a U.S. Commonwealth or possession who is referred by a local primary care provider to outside specialty care—and one dependent if needed—gets a priority equal to an unaccompanied adult dependent on environmental and morale leave; certain under‑age retired reservists get this only if enrolled in the specific TRICARE program for the Retired Reserve. Veterans with total disability cannot be put ahead of active-duty members or their dependents. The Coast Guard is not required to modify aircraft or equipment for disabilities, and the aircraft commander keeps final say over who boards for safety. This program is in addition to any other law allowing space-available travel.