April 21, 2011 - Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear on Wednesday announced plans to sell two aircraft from the Commonwealth’s air fleet as a part of his ongoing Smart Government Initiative (SGI).

Selling the aircraft is a cost-saving action the Governor will take as a result of SGI, a top-to-bottom yearlong examination of state government operations and processes to find additional opportunities to save taxpayer dollars and make state government more efficient.

“I to continue my efforts to make Kentucky government efficient and lean by putting these two planes up for sale on eBay,” said Gov. Beshear. “However, this is about more than selling these two planes. Since taking office, I have cut more than a billion dollars out of the state budget, and created the smallest state government in a generation. In the coming months, I will continue to announce further efficiency measures developed by my Smart Government Initiative in order to ensure the smartest use of taxpayer dollars.”

The aircraft, which Gov. Beshear displayed during a news conference at the Capital City Airport in Frankfort, are a twin-engine, 1975 Piper Navajo, and a single-engine, 1967 Cessna Skyhawk. The Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Division of Surplus Property will offer the planes for public sale on eBay, the online auction site.

The Piper Navajo Chieftain PA 31-3540 (N42E) equipped with a Panther II Colemill Conversion starting price on ebay is US $75,000.00. The aircraft was previously operated by the Kentucky State Police. The Kentucky Department of Aviation acquired it as surplus property in 1997. The aircraft was last overhauled 1999, ACTT 6491.8 ENGS, TT 1546.0 SMOH, Propeller 784.5 SMOH, Overhauled May 2004 Hartzell 4 Bladed HC-C4YR. Annual completed 2-30-2011.

The Cessna R-172-E (N609KY), previously operated by Somerset Community College, was acquired through surplus in 1998. Aircraft TT 5842.3, Engine TT 288.3    O/H 10-28-2001 Prop TT 244.9 O/H 4-28-2004. “Interior is in good shape. Paint is fair.  Aircraft maintained and operated IAW FAR 91 Operations.  All logs are complete and Aircraft has current Airworthiness Certification. There is no known damage." Annual Inspection Due 9-30-2011. The starting price on eBay is $15,000. 

Kentucky Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said overall use of the air fleet has declined during the Beshear administration. “We believe the Navajo and the Cessna can be sold without adversely affecting the mission of the Department of Aviation,” Hancock said. (see FL Governor Being Questioned On Decision To Sell State Aircraft)