✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Verified codes to save on your next trip.
Some time ago the intention of the State to sell an Ecuadorian Presidential plane was made public, What happened? was it sold or will it be sold? ¿Falcon o Legacy?
Here we update with the latest information.
It will be a year, when the 7 august 2017, the sale of one of the two Presidential aircraft that Ecuador has was announced, that operate under the Ecuadorian Air Force and the presidential squad, but so far, this has not been finalized.
New information indicates that this operation would have been canceled. Possible causes will be explained here., since no official pronouncement has been given on this operation, yet.
Although there would be no sale, this information could be updated and change quickly.
Sell a presidential plane
The main difficulty of the decision to sell one of the 2 presidential planes that Ecuador has passes through the market. The aircraft buying and selling industry is “collapsed” with private executive planes of all values, models, age and benefits.
Whatever it is, the plane that would have been sold, since it was never confirmed exactly which one was chosen, put it up for sale on the world market and make it attractive to all the existing supply, made its sale a great challenge.
Another problem is the complexity of selling a State asset, this legal issue is complex and extensive, non-aeronautical, so I won't go deeper, but that certainly affects the process.
Would there be interested?
Few, but if. Let's say an Arab Sheikh, who because of the exotic nature of having a plane where presidents flew, might consider it, but with the issues above, achieving it would be difficult whatever the potential buyer and would make it more expensive.
The plane that would have been sold
As it was told, officially or at least publicly, it was never stated which one would be sold, which should have been sold?
Personally, It depends a lot on each mission or the objectives. First, Ecuador should never have had 2 planes, one should have been purchased that achieves the transportation objectives of the President of Ecuador in its entirety, but talk about it, It's too late.
Maybe the Falcon 7X should have been the plane from the beginning or not, maybe something bigger like an Airbus A319ELR operated by Tame was another option, to carry the president and delegations in a single plane, but i did it, done is.
If I would have to choose between both planes, personally, would choose the Falcon 7X as the official aircraft used by the presidency of Ecuador. Its autonomy and operation on the same tracks where the Legacy can operate 600 makes it the most suitable operationally speaking.
Shorter travel times for a President is essential, but there are higher costs behind. comfort themes, security and technology is similar in both planes.
Now, if we go for the economic, the Falcon is considerably more expensive to operate and the Legacy makes its point, but it would also be necessary to analyze the true use that is given to each plane and if, for example,, the most number of calls that the Legacy does, ends up equaling the Falcon in operating costs.
The mission and actual use of the aircraft, should have determined the optimal aircraft, the rest, it is personal analysis.
If the objective is to recover money for the State, Given the economic situation of the country, by the Falcon 7X could recover about $21 millions of dollars approximately and by the Legacy 600 some $10 millions about.
Now, with 2 aircraft must be indicated, that each one is very different, Each has its advantages and disadvantages:
Dassault Falcon 7X FAE-052
The Falcon 7X arrived in Ecuador on 2 November of the year 2013, used, for a value of $48 million dollars as a plan to modernize and improve transportation services for the President and entourage.
Currently, this plane has been the most used by the current President and was the plane used in the most recent tour of Europe.
Advantages:
- Autonomy that allows direct flights to Europe from Ecuador.
- Until 16 passengers according to configuration.
- increased speed (up Mach 0.90)
Disadvantages
- Higher operating cost by having 3 engines, which implies higher expenses in maintenance and fuel.
Embraer Legacy 600 FAE-051
The Legacy 600 it was the first official Ecuadorian Presidential jet plane as a replacement for the old and reliable Avro, who served the presidents of Ecuador for years. bought new, directly to Embraer by $28 millions of dollars, arrived in Ecuador on 19 December of the year 2008.
Today, This aircraft has been seen performing several test and training flights in Ecuador thanks to Flight Radar 24.
Advantages:
- Lower operating cost by having 2 engines, which implies savings in maintenance and fuel.
- Convenient for regional flights 3 a 5 hours.
Disadvantages
- Less autonomy, requires more scales for eg, get to europe.
- Lower cargo and passenger capacity.
what to do with the plane?
Information, not official, indicates that it is almost a given that the Embraer Legacy 600 It will be the plane that is removed from the presidential fleet. The options that the State could work with this plane could be, among other:
- Sabreliner replacement: this plane is out of the FAE and the Legacy would be an excellent replacement for short distance transport for Generals, Ministers and even Vice President.
- Transfer it to another State entity: what along with leave it in the fae, It is the easiest option. Making the transfer of the plane between entities of the State itself is a much faster and simpler process.
- Incorporating it into the Petroamazonas EP fleet would help boost the air operation of this Public Company in the Amazon, would have to be reconfigured to increase its capacity. Petroamazonas currently operates an Embraer 145, older brother of the Legacy that is Embraer 135, so the adaptation of pilots and personnel, it would be faster.
- Pass it to Tame, for instance, to put it to fly on low demand routes could be interesting, although it would generate extra expenses for the airline in the training, spare parts, personal, etc. Too, would have to be reconfigured.
We will continue to report any changes or additional news about the sale or not of one of the presidential planes..
✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.
Well it's been over 1 year since it was announced that it was sold 1 wing transport plane 11, supposedly the Legacy 600, we see that it is not so, I saw him a few days ago in the VIP terminal in Quito, we see that it is a lie.
what happened to the finals with the Legacy?, I have been commented, I cannot certify that it is still flying and is used by the Vice President, that was seen in Tulcán a short time ago.
Yes, continues to operate normally alongside the Falcon.
¿Dos Gulfstream?, new?, the question is why 2 Gulfstream if we already have the FALCON and the LEGACY, but welcome, now if they sell the FALCON and the LEGACY since it is better to have two planes of the same type, facilitate logistics. In order to obtain commercial profitability from the LEGACY and/or FALCON, their configuration would have to be changed so that they carry 20 O 25 passengers instead of 13, could fly on unprofitable TAME routes, maybe QUITO-SANTA ROSA, GUAYAQUIL-CUENCA, a nice.
No, they are not new, they are some who have some 20 years that were seized for drug trafficking.
I am not surprised that people who do not know aviation make comments without foundation or common sense, but I suppose people who know something about airplanes and who know something about government management and security should have an opinion. To say that Ecuador does not need 2 airplanes without analyzing the way in which they are used or rather used by President Correa is unfortunate, I was a witness that even having 2 aircraft there were times when none were available due to last minute failures, the rush of the operation, etc.; the planes must be subjected to periodic inspections that last days or weeks in an authorized center, Likewise, if an incident or major failure occurs, they should be taken to Brazil or the USA., or wait several days for the replacement part to arrive (even having a contract for the supply of spare parts), Thus, Correa, who flew in and out of the country every week, had to resort to Petroecuador's ERJ or other FAE planes on more than one occasion. (especially to go to runways where jets did not operate), on one occasion when I had to fly from Tababela there was a last minute failure in the designated plane, I don't remember which one, so he had to fly on a police plane that was going to transport the Minister of the Interior and that was coincidentally ready in Tababela (something that for security should not do), on another similar occasion he simply had to make the trip by land and that supposedly counting on 2 jets. Now if we have a government that does not govern, who simply receives orders from a certain embassy or a certain mayor, maybe you don't need planes for the president; but even so that the FAE and therefore Ecuador have executive planes that allow people to be moved quickly, Government officials, guests of the state or even victims of massacres in Mexico is not a big deal, any country with the size and weight of Ecuador has executive planes for government use. The Legacy and the Falcon are Presidential aircraft only when carrying the President, as well as the rest of the state aircraft, when they are not assets of the FAE and the Ecuadorian state. No aircraft will be sold, It has been clear for a while now that what the government says is one thing and what it does is another.
Hello, Enrique, Thanks for your comment, leaving out the political that does not interest in this blog, It seems correct to you within the economy of our country to have double spending on VIP executive transport planes for use by the Presidency, if countries with large economies or more than ours, like Colombia and Peru do not have that luxury?
Nicolás, unfortunately, false premises are often used or, in any case, exaggerated. You comment "it seems correct within the economy of our country to have double spending on VIP executive transport planes for use by the Presidency", Ecuador is an economy of 100 billion that has grown almost steadily in recent 17 years, the crisis is the story to make the rich richer with everyone's money (that is a lot of money), but assuming we are “starving” there are many expenses that should be eliminated, perhaps eliminate the Armed Forces and strengthen the Police, maybe not have army aviation, nor naval aviation and strengthen the FAE, lack 4 military and police pilot schools, only one, have no fighter jets, Possible savings are wherever you want, Eliminating “unnecessary” expenses and institutions is easy on paper and according to each person's interests., Ecuador can have 2 executive jets, he has them for years, It doesn't make much of a difference in expense and those planes help prepare pilots with the latest technology., of course you owe them and can use them for important transport missions, It occurs to me that even in an emergency situation they can serve as long-range observation planes..
We must understand that aircraft FAE051 and FAE052 are not from the Presidency, nor of the President, they are FAE planes, of the ALA Special Transport Squadron 11, Latacunga. They not only transport the President but also other state officials, high-level guests or victims of certain crimes. If you want to compare with the neighbors we are not out of focus, Colombia in addition to a BBJ has a pair of FOKKERS, 1 Embraer 600, 2 Helos. Peru has a Boeing 737 and Mi-17 for "presidential transport" but also has Bech available 200, C-27J and An-32B that can be used for executive transport. chili has 737, Beech 200, Gulfstream, 767, of Argentina and Brazil not to mention. Finally I tell you that it is not luxury, it is necessity, just as it is necessary for the President to have security, have armored cars, etc. We are not Somali, this is Ecuador. But if, strictly speaking, the President of Ecuador can travel by taxi and commercial airline and the mayors can travel by bus, reports can be filled out by hand and not on a computer, a nice.
There's no doubt it's a must, I don't dispute that, for me a president should have his plane with the technological measures of the case, communication, etc. My point is just that, given the situation in the country, be it crisis or whatever you want to call it, have 2 aircraft of these characteristics is not logical, even more so when the FAE has the planes Casa, Beechcraft, Boeing 737 and soon they will activate 2 Gulfstream, then it is an excess of transport planes.
Yes, I would like to see that, for example, the Legacy, as I expose it in the post, be transferred to an institution where it is used more and even generates a return., why not.
what an absurd comment, without base. You must have knowledge of the facts to issue a positive opinion on the issue of "PRESIDENTIAL PLANES", that were acquired with other intentions….say eliminate the Armed Forces….It is something that does not even fit in the thought of the reason of a state.
Totally agree Nicholas and Gabriel, the terrible management of the previous government including the purchase of a plane for the presidency without the adequate vision in terms of functionality, range and capability had to buy the Falcon from France.
TAME needs a plane like the Legacy for airports with low demand, shortening distances because it is a jet, however I think it would be more expensive to operate than a turboprop at its comparative capacity, the ATR42-500 are perfect for local routes. Anyway, would be fine for TAME.
Yes, put it to fly and generate income, would possibly be, the best choice.
Your post is very interesting and timely.. Thank you for making known the mistakes made by the previous government regarding the acquisition of these aircraft.. For me the best option is for Lagacy to pass it on to Tame.
Hello Gabriel, the error is in having bought 2, being that a correct study could be carried out from the beginning. Greetings!
No, sir, they are not errors, they are lively Creoles, studies have always been delivered for these aviation issues by the Air Force, they never receive your recommendations.