The Government of Rio Negro’s efforts to sell two aircraft, a Cessna Aircraft Company Citation V Ultra and a Piper (twin piston) Aztec, have flopped after failing to attract any serious buyers.
Nelson Cides, the state government's secretary general, told Radio Noticias there were no bidders and that the tender, 30/24, will be reflighted amid cautious optimism a gradually rebounding Argentine economy will see a more favourable turnout.
The Cessna Citation V Ultra's reserve price is listed as USD2.57 million, while the Piper was listed at USD75,000 but needing about USD100,000 worth of repairs. The jet also includes an HRG Ambulance kit, an incubator, and a Covid-19 capsule, as it was last used as an air ambulance, although it is no longer authorised to operate medevac services. However, the Cessna is also currently involved in a controversy, as the three signatories behind its acquisition could be taken to court for negligence, ch-aviation reported earlier this month.
“When we took office in December, at the express request of the governor, he asked me to analyse the situation of the planes and their expenses, and the result was that they were deemed inconvenient for us,” said Cides. He added that operating these bizjets costs the Río Negro province about USD18.10 per kilometre against a charter rate of USD6 and 7 per kilometre.
