State backs off $10,000 flight for governor's staff - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The state of Indiana is backing off plans to spend taxpayer money to fly members of the governor's staff on a military aircraft to a location that can be reached by bus in 90 minutes.

13 Investigates has learned that the flight, originally scheduled for Tuesday morning, was canceled late Monday.

The stealth UH-60 Black Hawk is the "go-to" for some of the most complex and dangerous US military missions in the world.

Equipped with firepower, the aircraft is used to help evacuate injured combat soldiers and provide support for special operations forces. Eyewitness News got a good look at one in August 2010 when the Army's top commander, Secretary John McHugh, flew into Camp Atterbury.

13 Investigates learned the high priced aircraft typically reserved for authorized use was scheduled to fly around two staff members from the governor's office headed to Camp Atterbury Tuesday morning - at an estimated cost of $10,000.

When asked if it was a good use of the aircraft - knowing that the cost was about $5,000 an hour - Gov. Mitch Daniels responded, "I don't know anything about it."

Because it was a National Guard expenditure, the governor suggested, "Then why don't you talk with the National Guard? They're federal dollars, by the way, not state tax dollars."

Based on an itinerary obtained by 13 Investigates, Betsy Burdick, Daniels' assistant chief of staff, and Andrew Norris, the governor's liaison to Indiana military, would have boarded a UH-60 just after 8:00 am for a 30-minute flight from Stout Field to Camp Atterbury where they were to meet awaiting tour buses. Once at Camp Atterbury, the two visitors would have been escorted by Major General Umbarger and were set to board the aircraft again around noon for a 30-minute ride to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Ground. Three hours later, the entourage was scheduled to return to Indianapolis.

The four 30-minute jaunts would have cost about $10,000. Now we've learned that the flight has been canceled.

Guard Spokesman Major Shawn Gardner contacted 13 Investigates late Monday to say that the flight was not happening. He defended the flight plan, saying that National Guard regulations allow the practice for key policy makers, government employees and contractors who perform services in direct support of the Guard's mission. Major Gardner also says these flights serve as operational airlift missions for crew training requirements.