space-available mail (SAM) should be tendered last to an  air  carrier  after  all  other  categories  of  mail  have been accepted. Military mail tendered to U.S. commercial airlines by  MPO’s  will  be  manifested  on  PS  Form  2942-A, Military Mail AV-7 Delivery List.  We will discuss this form later in the chapter. Foreign Air Carriers When U.S. commercial air carriers or U.S. military air carriers are not available, MPO’s may request the services of a foreign air carrier to transport military mail.  The initial request to use a foreign commercial air carrier must be directed to MPSA, who coordinates with  USPS  to  obtain  approval.    Approval  to  use  a foreign air carrier will be limited to those routes where U.S. commercial air service or U.S. military aircraft are not available, or do not meet established delivery service standards.  If the request is approved by MPSA and USPS, the affected military postal unit(s) will be notified of the approved air carrier, flight dates, and flight numbers before shipping any mail.   The use of foreign airlines will be discontinued or modified when adequate  U.S.  commercial  or  military  air  service becomes available. Military postal units must use PS Form 2942-A, Military Mail AV-7 Delivery List to manifest mail for transport on approved foreign commercial air carriers. When using a foreign air carrier postal clerks must:    Pouch all mail (no outside pieces).  This means that  First-Class  mail,  in  MM  trays,  must  be placed inside large U.S. Priority Mail pouches. Other classes of mail must be placed inside an appropriately colored and labeled mail pouch, before dispatching.    Make  arrangements  with  the  foreign  airline representative to accept the mail.    Provide  the  foreign  airline  representative  with the  estimated  volume  (pieces  and  kg-weight) that will be dispatched, the flight number used, the   frequency   of   dispatch,   and   the   end destination where the mail will be off-loaded.    Ask  the  foreign  airline  rep  to  inform  their representatives at the end destination to expect receipt of U.S military mail shipment(s), and that the  mail  should  be  turned  over  only  to  U.S. military  postal  personnel  and  not  to  the  host government.  This does not apply for dispatches from overseas locations to CONUS.    Ensure that military postal personnel at the end destination (overseas locations only) are aware of   shipments   by   foreign   airline   and   all particulars  so  that  MPS  personnel  can  make arrangements to meet the flight and receive the mail  as  soon  as  possible.   Never  send  outside mail or registered mail via a foreign air carrier unless  authorized  by  the  area  mail  control activity. Air Mobility Command (AMC) Aircraft The  U.S.  Air  Force  operates  military  cargo  and cargo/passenger  aircraft  and  contracts  to  private airlines to carry passengers, cargo, and mail.   Use of AMC assets is limited to areas where U.S. commercial air  carriers  do  not  provide  service  (such  as  hostile areas),   or   the   frequency   of   flights   or   space   is insufficient and cannot ensure delivery.   AMC assets may   also   be   used   whenever   adequate   surface transportation is not available, when transit times for surface  mail  is  considered  excessive,  or  when  Space Available   Mail   (SAM)   cannot   be   moved   by commercial  carriers  in  a  timely  manner  and  an inordinate  amount  of  delay  would  occur  before  the mail would be transported. Military  postal  units  will  use  DD  Form  1384, Transportation  Control  and  Movement  Document, better known as a “TCMD,” to manifest military mail for shipment by AMC aircraft. Military Sealift Command Surface mail is transported by commercial ships as arranged  by  the  Military  Sealift  Command  (MSC). Sea-Van  containers  are  used  for  dispatching  mail sealifted between the United States and overseas areas, and   between   geographical   locations   overseas. Sea-Van  containers  provide  security  and  eliminate unnecessary  handling  of  the  mail.    Postal  activities using Sea-Van containers for dispatching mail should properly  secure  the  doors  of  the  containers  with  a numbered  tin-band  seal  (USPS  Item  0817A),  and heavy gauge wire. Command-Owned Air Carriers Once mail is received at overseas locations, airlift transport is provided for deployed ships by the services of an air squadron based in the area of operation.  Mail is transported by COD (carrier onboard delivery) to the aircraft carrier for further transfer by helo or highline 9-35