Presidential aircraft gets the green light

The presidential aircraft purchase got the green light after the PM’ decision to set up a special committee to be in charge of the entire procedure was published in the Official Gazette on Monday. The plane is to be bought by the end of the year.

The decision comes following debated in the Supreme Defence Council in March. An aircraft with a flight history of 3-4 years is envisaged.

According to the PM Ciolos’ decision, a special committee is to be set up, led by the Transports minister, with the aim of drafting a regulatory document stipulating the funds for the plane purchase. The committee also includes representatives of the PM Chancellery, Presidential Administration, Finance Ministry, Defence Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Romanian Intelligence Service, Foreign Intelligence Service, Special Telecommunications Service, Service of Guard and Protection, National Agency for Public Procurement, State Patrimony Authority and Civil Aeronautic Authority.

The aircraft is scheduled to become operational as of January 1^st, 2017.

At the end of April, Transports minister Dan Costescu made controversial statements when revealing that several aircrafts for “special flights” are to be bought.

Subsequently, he explained that the Government would purchase a second hand aircraft for the dignitaries’ transport depending on the money available at the budgetary rectification.

According to him, a presidential aircraft is first on the list, while in the future, the special fleet would reach 3-5 aircrafts.

“A single aircraft is to be bought, not three or five as it has been misinterpreted- three or five is the European standard- we’ll buy an aircraft, as a country that seeks to implement these standards. The budget will be set in the mid-summer rectification,” the Transports minister used to say, adding that in August they will know exactly what plane could be purchased.

According to the procedure, the National Agency for Public Procurement will start the bid through the State Protocol Administration (RA-APPS), which will be the aircraft’s owner.

The presidential aircraft that transported the Romanian President in the official visits was junked due to its age and its huge maintenance expenses.