Alabama Department of Transportation spokesman Tony Harris confirmed the department was considering acquiring a new jet.
Harris said there are reliability concerns with the the state’s existing jet, a 1989 Cessna Citation II. The jet has been out of working order for about 30 percent of the year, he said.
"We have been reviewing options for rotating out the state plan due to the age and reliability of the existing plane,” Harris said.
“No decisions have been made. We are just reviewing options at this point,” Harris said.
Harris said three models are being reviewed as possible replacements. They are a Cessna Citation CJ3, Lear 70 or an Embraer Phenom 300.
Purchasing one of those models would cost the state between $8 million and $10 million, he said.
However, Harris said the department would lease the aircraft. That option has an estimated cost of $55,000 to $60,000 per month, he said.
“I think what we’ve concluded with an asset like a jet …. It is going to be better long-term for us to lease something from a reliability and operating cost standpoint,” Harris said.
Harris said a lease would allow for a scheduled rotation of planes so the state isn't trying to maintain an aging aircraft.
Alabama governors have been frequent passengers on the state jet over the years because it cuts down on travel time to events.
The purchase comes at a time of budget cuts among General Fund agencies.
Harris said the acquisition would be made with state DOT dollars and not from the state's General Fund pot of money. DOT gets its money, from among other sources, gasoline taxes.
The Department of Transportation currently has two prop airplanes.
Updated at 3:15 p.m. to clarify that the state would lease the plane
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