§ 301-10.262 — -10.262 Authorization Of Government Aircraft Travel

The agency will authorize employee travel on Government aircraft as follows:

(a) Required use travelers. (1) The agency's senior legal official or principal deputy must authorize required-use travel on a trip-by-trip basis, in advance, in writing, and in compliance with agency policies, unless:

(i) The traveler is an agency head with Presidential determination that all travel (or travel in specified categories) is required-use travel; or

(ii) The traveler is not an agency head, and the agency head has determined in writing that all travel (or travel in specified categories) is required-use travel. Any determination by an agency head that travel by an officer or employee of that agency qualifies as required use travel must be in writing and set forth the basis for that determination.

(2) In emergency situations, prior verbal approval with after-the-fact written authorization is permitted.

(b) Senior Federal officials. The agency's senior legal official or principal deputy must authorize all travel on Government aircraft in advance and in writing, except for pre-authorized required-use travel under paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section. Emergency situations allow prior verbal approval with after-the-fact written authorization.

(c) Non-Federal travelers. The senior legal official or principal deputy in the sponsoring agency must authorize travel on Government aircraft in advance and in writing. Emergency situations allow prior verbal approval with after-the-fact written authorization.

(d) Other Federal travelers. A designated travel-approving official (at least one organizational level above the traveler) or their delegate must authorize travel on Government aircraft in advance and in writing. Blanket travel authorizations must define, and such travel must meet, specific circumstances for aircraft use; otherwise, authorization must be on a trip-by-trip basis. Emergency situations allow prior verbal approval with after-the-fact written authorization.