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Florida To Unload Airplane From Underused Fleet

Florida Department of Management Services

An ad promotes the state of Florida's closed-bid sale of a 1985 Beechcraft King Air 300, which has an estimated resale value of $1.94 million.

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2008

OK, so it's not Sarah Palin trying to sell a state plane on eBay, but these tough economic times are prompting the state of Florida to sell off this 1985 Beechcraft King Air 300 twin-engine plane through a closed-bid sale. Estimated resale value: $1.94 million.

The state Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability reported this month that the state's executive fleet of aircraft - two prop planes and one jet - are underused. Used by Gov. Charlie Crist, lawmakers and other state VIPs, the planes also cost up to $7,887 more per passenger than commercial flights for a passenger flying roundtrip from Miami to Tallahassee.

With predictions that the state budget could be $3.5 billion in the hole next year, the high cost of state flying sparked a letter on Monday from Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, to the Department of Management Services Secretary Linda South, proposing that Florida sell off its jet and one of its prop planes. Wednesday, South confirmed that the King Air 300 is going on sale.

Cathy Schroeder, spokeswoman for South, said the state jet is actually leased. Discontinuing that service, she said, would require approval from lawmakers.

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