Sportsflight’s response to allegations that it was involved in the rendition of terrorist suspects

9 September 2011

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Sportsflight to respond to a news article alleging that it was involved in the rendition of terror suspects. The article is available here:

-How US firms profited from torture flights – Ian Cobain Ben Quinn, The Guardian, 31 August 2011

Don Moss, Sportsflight’s owner (before it was dissolved), sent the Resource Centre the following response:

  1. Capital Aviation was the sole sub-contractor to Dyncorp. Sportsflight provided the referral of Richmor to Capital who in turn contracted with Dyncorp.
  2. Sportsflight and Capital were told the flight's purpose was to move USG staff members from Washington to Guantanamo and return for the six month contract. Later we were apprised of the other flights without specific detail as to purpose and personnel on board.
  3. Richmor held meetings with Dyncorp and Client on several occasions without knowledge of Sportsflight/Capital.
  4. When Richmor was not provided a satisfactory solution to the rendition issue and thecomplaints from Phil Morse (owner) by Dyncorp or client, they resorted to financial recourse in suing Sportsflight. Although they invoiced Dyncorp, Capital and Sportsflight individually, their law counsel in Albany directed them to Sportsflight being a New York based company. Please recognize the Hudson County court had no jurisdiction outside of NYS.
  5. The change of the tail number to 227SV was arranged strictly between Dyncorp/Client and Richmor.
  6. Richmor was told in early 2003 they were not obligated to provide any aircraft for the program as a result of the complaints from Phil Morse. All flights were at their optionto acceptfrom 2003 to 2005. Dyncorp had many other aircraft available at rates as low as $4750 per flight hour and only offered the flights to Richmor as a kind gesture. The legal dispute was based on Richmor's claim that Sportsflight guaranteed a minimum of $250,000(152,500 Pounds Sterling) per monthfrom 2003 to 2005 which was the basis of the $1.6 mil claim for N227SV. We argued, as a broker we would not commit to a steep obligation without a contract to back it. Argument ignored.
  7. The letters of "Public Convenience" were provided directly to Richmor crews by Dyncorp on behalf of client. We assumed they were valid but had no authority to question them.
  8. The judge presiding and Richmor's law firm were expecting the media at the trial which lasted a mere two hours.
  9. Attempts were made by Sportsflight and their attorney to alert Dyncorp, USG and local politicians of the pending trial and the exposure of state secrets, to no avail.
  10. All fights were booked directly by Dyncorp since Sportsflight did not possess proper security clearances.
  11. Sportsflight and myself have advanced $250,000 inlegal costs to date in the defense of Sportsflight.

Since Sportsflight has been disolved due to negative publicity, Richmor is proceeding against me personally.

I hope this adds further clarification as to Sprtsflight's role in the rendition program.