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Govt. puts two Presidential planes up for sale
*Action to reduce cost of governance
*Experts welcome move
Wole Shadare
The Federal Government has put two of its ten airplanes, a Falcon 7X and Hawker Sidley 4000 for sale.
The government has informed interested buyers of the luxury aircraft to inspect the Falcon 7X aircraft at the Presidential Air Fleet’s Hangar located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while the Hawker 4000 aircraft can be inspected at Cessna Zurich Citation Service Centre, Zurich, Switzerland.
President Muhammadu Buhari had before he assumed power said he would put the airplanes for sale to cut cost of governance.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in 2010 approved the purchase of three for the Presidential Air Fleet. The airplanes, which included a Gulfstream G550 and two new Falcon 7X cost the country $154.3 million.
Business mogul and chairman of Globacom, Chief Mike Adenuga owns a Falcon 7X aircraft. Adenuga is said to own another luxurious Bombardier Challenger 604 which cost $30 million.
There are many other wealthy Nigerians who fly in state of the art of aircraft like Bombardier Global 600, Gulfstream G550, Embraer Legacy 650, Hawker 900XP and Learjet.
While the market for many products is shrinking, private jet manufacturers and dealers have found a ready market in Nigeria. Indeed, Bombadier and Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, both jet manufacturers, have never had it so good.
Overflying the Nigerian airspace today are some of the best and, of course, most expensive private jets these companies have on offer.
Ironically, the recession has led to sharp reduction in the quantity of commercial airlines making many affluent Nigerians to own private planes now.
Overflying the Nigerian airspace today are some of the best and, of course, most expensive private jets these companies have on offer.
Ironically, the recession has led to sharp reduction in the quantity of commercial airlines making many affluent Nigerians to own private planes now.
The combined estimated value of all the ten aircraft in the fleet of the Presidency is put at over $450 million.
Some of the aircraft are a Woleshadarenews learnt that many prospective buyers have been inspecting the aircraft with purpose of buying the equipment.
The aircraft is attracting a lot of attention because of the young age of the aircraft and high level maintenance given to it including few hours it has flown coupled with the interior that is said to be exquisite.
Government took delivery of the aircraft which cost $50 million in 2011. The Falcon 7X is a three-engine cantilever monoplane with a low-positioned, high swept wing , with a horizontal stabiliser at mid-height and a retractable tricycle landing gear.
It has three rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney PW307A turbofan engines, two on the side of the fuselage and one in a centre position The long-range trijet has room for 20 passengers and two crew.
It is the first fully fly-by-wire business jet. The Falcon 7X is notable for its extensive use of computer-aided design, the manufacturer claiming it to be the “first aircraft to be designed entirely on a virtual platform”, using Dassault Systemes.
According to an advertorial put up by the chairman, Panel for Sale of Aircraft, Office of the National Security Adviser, the performance data of the aircraft with registration number 5N-FGU with serial number 090 shows that it has 5850 nautical miles as range with take-off at sea level of 5, 555 feet and landing distance of 2, 070 feet, certified ceiling of 51, 000feet with cruise speeds of 488kts.
The interior of the airplane is pure luxury with 16 passenger capacity, three crew seating capacity, forward and Aft lavatories, four large screen monitors, six small adjustable seat mounted monitors and fully automated media centre.
For the Hawker 4000 aircraft with registration 5N-FGX with registration number 066, the aircraft entered service in 2012, and has flown for just 1178:15 hours. Its range is 3,190 nautical mile, 5, 068 feet as its take-off at sea level.
It has 2, 475feet as its landing distance; 45, 000 feet as certified ceiling and at 482 kts cruise speed.
The airplane which is in Zurich, Switzerland is also said to be a luxury for the rich. It has nine passenger seat capacity, aft lavatories, two monitors, fully automated media centre and power outlet in cabin and cockpit. The flight deck features a Honeywell Primus Epic avionics/Satcom.
Chief Executive Officer Omni-Blu Aviation Services, Mr. Akin Olateru lauded move. He urged government to do more in reducing further the fleet, describing them as needless.
“Cost of governance is too high in Nigeria. Toyota Prado costs N38 million each. Virtually all the Chief executives of aviation agencies and top government officials use this car type, asking why they can’t use cars far cheaper than Prado jeep.
A former commander of the Presidential Fleet, Captain Dele Ore said he would not know the motive for the sale of some aircraft in the fleet of the Presidency, saying that the Presidency needs back-up aircraft for the President to ensure his security.
He wondered what happens in the event that some of the airplanes are faulty, wondering where the back-ups would come from.
Former Chairman, Nigerian Aviation Safety Initiative (NASI), Capt. Dung Rwang Pan said the sale of two aircraft was a welcome development, saying the Presidency does not need more than three airplanes.
His words, “The Presidency has too many airplanes. There are just too many. This action would reduce huge maintenance cost and I am really excited about that.”
Just recently, Nigerians condemned the huge cost of maintaining 10 aircraft in the Presidential Aircraft Fleet (PAF) despite the biting economic recession in the country.
Woleshadarenews learnt that the Federal Government has spent the sum of N7bn on the 10-aircraft in 16 months.
PAF has the third largest fleet of aircraft in the country-a total of 10 airplanes, coming behind Arik Airline and before now, Aero Contractors.
