Buhari reportedly orders the disposal of 9 Presidential aircrafts to cut cost

There are reports that President Buhari
has directed that nine of the VIP transport
aircraft under the presidential fleet should be
sold as part of the federal government’s cost
measures.
Industry sources said that the presidential fleet,
which are registered as Nigerian Air Force
aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa and the
third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and
Aerocontractors.
According to a report by ThisDay, an aviation
source, who is aware of the directive to sell the
aircraft, said the presidency has a number of
serviceable and unserviceable aircraft that need
to be disposed of in order to reduce the amount
spent by the federal government for aircraft
maintenance annually.
“Nine, which still have market value, are
to be sold immediately to reduce
maintenance costs,” he said.
For years, the federal government has
spent over N12 billion annually for the
maintenance of the presidential fleet.
Although information on the exact size of
the fleet is treated as classified
information, the fleet, according to
aviation sources, is believed to comprise
about 16 aircraft, chief of which is the
Boeing 738 BBJ, NAF 001 or Eagle One,
used by the president for his travels.
With its luxury configuration comprising a
master bedroom, washrooms and
showers, a conference and dinning area,
and a living area, the plane seats 25 to
50 passengers and would cost at least
$100 million to replace today.
Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air,
covering 11,489 kilomtres or 6,200
nautical miles.
In addition to the Boeing 733 reserved for
the president, the fleet boasts two
Gulfstream 550 jets. The Gulfstream 550
can seat eight to 18 passengers,
depending on the configuration, and has
a cruiser range of 12,501 kilometres or
6,750 nautical miles. A new luxury
Gulfstream 550 would cost an estimated
$53.5 million.
According to Wikipedia, other planes in
the Nigerian Air Force VIP transport fleet
include two Dassault Falcon 7X jets, one
Hawker Siddeley 125-800 and one
Cessna 550 Citation II.
Information from a Nigerian web portal
and Nigerian Air Force sources further
revealed that the fleet also boasts two
Dassault Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream
IVSP, a Gulfstream V, a Dornier Do 228,
which can carry 19 passengers, one
Beechcraft King Air B200, and three
AugustaWestland AW139 helicopters.
Sources said each of the two Dassault
Falcon 7X jets were purchased for $51.1
million in 2010 while the Gulfstream 550
cost $53.3 million.
Aviation experts also put the average
price of the Falcon 900 at $35 million;
Gulfstream IVSP at $40 million;
Gulfstream V at $45 million; Cessna
Citation at $7 million; and the Hawker
Siddeley at $15 million.
It was also discovered that though all
the aircraft are under the presidential
fleet, about eight of the planes are
reserved strictly for the president.
These are the Boeing 737, the two
Gulfstream 550 jets, the Gulfstream V
jet, two Falcon 7X planes, the Hawker
Siddeley aircraft and one
AugustaWestland chopper.
Others are reserved for executive airlift.
Aircraft used for this function include the
two Falcon 900 planes, the Dornier, the
Cessna Citation, the Beechracft King Air,
and two AugustaWestland choppers.
Aircraft reserved for executive airlift are
used by the Vice-President, Senate
President, Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and could be used to convey
African heads of states visiting or
departing Nigeria.
Source: ThisDay

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