The three signatories behind the acquisition of a Cessna Aircraft Company Citation V Ultra, LV-KFB (msn 560-0270), by the Government of Rio Negro, an Argentinian province, could be taken to court for negligence on the basis that the purchase of the medevac aircraft resulted in the state incurring over USD1.1 million in losses.
Río Negro’s prosecutor’s office (Fiscalía de Investigaciones Administrativas - FIA) concluded that there were irregularities in the purchase of the aircraft, which had a cost of USD4.2 million, and it is now being sold with a base price of USD2.5 million, alongside one Piper (twin piston) Aztec, LV-JYL (msn 27-4723), ch-aviation reported earlier this month.
The acquisition of the bizjet was also controversial because it lacked the proper planning since the aircraft was only able to land in two of the seven airports in Río Negro - Viedma and San Carlos de Bariloche. Moreover, the province did not have the trained crew to fly it, forcing it to outsource its operation to private entities, the local daily Diario Río Negro reported.
According to the newspaper, the FIA proposes holding "liability trials" and embargoes for USD1.12 million against the three signatories: former general secretary José Apud, administration chief Gonzalo Regueira, and aeronautics director José María Scheverín.
ADS-B data shows that LV-KFB has not operated since July 4, when it was ferried from San Fernando, AR to Viedma.
According to Public Tender 30/24, the Cessna Citation V Ultra includes an HRG Ambulance Aeromed kit, an incubator, and a Covid-19 capsule, as it was formerly used as an air ambulance. However, it is no longer authorised to operate medevac services. Interested parties have until July 25 to participate in the process.
Overall, the FIA determined that the government had overpaid by 30.07% to acquire the bizjet, by 216.24% for the medical kit, and by 40.89% to provide maintenance to the unit.
