S. Korea pushing to introduce new presidential jet by 2014

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to introduce a new presidential
airplane by 2014, its defense procurement office said Wednesday, amid rising
safety concerns over the current presidential jet which has been in service for
nearly 25 years.
Despite its status as the world's 13th-largest economy, South Korea has operated
a superannuated presidential plane with only 40 seats and a limited flying
distance since 1985. Due to the limitations, South Korean presidents have
chartered commercial airlines for long-distance overseas trips.
The government has for years tried to replace the presidential plane with a
long-haul jumbo jet, but the National Assembly, citing an economic slump, refused
last December to approve its initial budget of 14 billion won (US$10.3 million)
requested by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
The cost of introducing a new, fully-equipped presidential airplane is estimated
to be about 190 billion won. The budget rejection was a blow to the government
that had initially sought to complete the replacement as early as 2012.
"We plan to receive bids for the new plane in January next year," a DAPA official
said, adding it would take approximately three years to refit a presidential
airplane and train its pilots after the purchase.
"We're likely to pick a passenger plane in the Boeing 787 or Airbus 340 class,"
the official added.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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