New state airplane purchase approved

A bill that authorizes the purchase of a plane for state use was passed by the Legislature March 24.

Omaha Sen. Bob Krist introduced LB1016, which authorizes the state Department of Aeronautics to purchase a new aircraft and sell the state’s current plane.

The bill is the product of legislation passed last year that commissioned an independent study to determine whether the state should purchase an aircraft for state purposes. The completed study recommended that the state purchase a new aircraft.

The study commissioned by the Legislature indicated the King Air C90GTx would incur the lowest costs over a 20-year life cycle. A new King Air C90GTx retails for approximately $3.85 million.

The department is required to electronically file a quarterly report that details the name of the agency or entity using the plane, the name of all passengers, all purposes of the trip, the destination and intermediate stops and all miles flown.

Senators passed the bill on a 34-5 vote.