Aerospace selling jet
Benefactor's donation to be replaced by two additional training, transport aircraft.
Allison Krause
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: News
The University of North Dakota will soon be selling its Cessna Mustang in favor of a Beechcraft King Air. The plane was originally purchased with a donation from James Ray, one of UND's most generous donors. Both of the planes were intended to provide air transportation for university officials. The vision to provide this service was started by Ray, who has been a benefactor of the university, especially the School of Aviation, for the last decade.
"There's a fervor that's been going on with corporate jets at this moment, and [the jets were] primarily paid for by a benefactor with the intended use for the university to provide air service. There are times when you can't make a meeting without that kind of air service. If the president has a meeting in Minneapolis and an afternoon meeting in Bismarck, he's not going to get there commercially. You need that kind of transportation to conduct business. At the same time, [the Cessna] was pretty efficient, as opposed to bigger jets which need a lot more gas."
The School of Aviation had originally intended the jets they bought to be used in their training program as well as for transportation. However, they were unable to use the Mustang in the international program as they'd wanted, because of a higher weight requirement for the program's advanced course. To remedy this issue, they've purchased a King Air, a larger turbo-prop, which is bigger and more efficient than previous jets.
Now, the hope is to sell the Mustang in order to afford another King Air, adding to the university's training and transportation capabilities.
Through the years, the University of North Dakota has gone through numerous shifts in the air transportation it provides its officials.
Originally, the Aerospace Foundation had made down payments on two Eclipse microjets. While waiting for production on the Eclipses to be completed, the school purchased a Cheyenne II which would be used for air transportation until the Eclipses were ready and then be sold to help pay off the Eclipses.
"There's a fervor that's been going on with corporate jets at this moment, and [the jets were] primarily paid for by a benefactor with the intended use for the university to provide air service. There are times when you can't make a meeting without that kind of air service. If the president has a meeting in Minneapolis and an afternoon meeting in Bismarck, he's not going to get there commercially. You need that kind of transportation to conduct business. At the same time, [the Cessna] was pretty efficient, as opposed to bigger jets which need a lot more gas."
The School of Aviation had originally intended the jets they bought to be used in their training program as well as for transportation. However, they were unable to use the Mustang in the international program as they'd wanted, because of a higher weight requirement for the program's advanced course. To remedy this issue, they've purchased a King Air, a larger turbo-prop, which is bigger and more efficient than previous jets.
Now, the hope is to sell the Mustang in order to afford another King Air, adding to the university's training and transportation capabilities.
Through the years, the University of North Dakota has gone through numerous shifts in the air transportation it provides its officials.
Originally, the Aerospace Foundation had made down payments on two Eclipse microjets. While waiting for production on the Eclipses to be completed, the school purchased a Cheyenne II which would be used for air transportation until the Eclipses were ready and then be sold to help pay off the Eclipses.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Online Assignment Help
posted 7/30/09 @ 8:29 AM CST
"There's a fervor that's been going on with corporate jets at this moment, and [the jets were] primarily paid for by a benefactor with the intended use for the university to provide air service. (Continued…)
Post a Comment