Replaces 26-Year-Old Airplane For Official Use

The Alabama Department of Transportation has replaced a 26-year-old Cessna Citation II jet with a new CJ4 to be used by Governor Robert Bentley and other state officials for emergency, economic development, and other travel, according to the state DOT.

Agency spokesman Tony Harris told www.al.com that maintenance and reliability issues on the older jet make the lease a good deal for the state's taxpayers ... who will shell out $57,000 per month for the 7-year lease. The older airplane will be sold, according to Harris.

The replacement of the Citation II has been in the works for more than a year.

Bentley spokeswoman Jennifer Ardis said that the plane is essential for the governor to do his job. "He meets with constituents, has meetings with elected officials on local issues, participates in various events like job announcements and grand openings and, most importantly, meets with company officials to bring jobs to Alabama," Ardis told al.com.

"It is important that the governor be out of Montgomery and working on issues, like job creation, that are important to all of us. It is the safest and most efficient way for him to travel."

Bentley's use of the plane is made public on the governor's website.

The state also owns two Beechcraft Baron airplanes.

(Citation CJ4 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.dot.state.al.us