Slovak takes ownership of 'Air Force One' jet

An eleven-year-old Airbus A319-115 CJ, which is due to serve as the new Slovak 'Air Force One' aircraft, landed at Bratislava airport on Tuesday morning to replace an ageing Russian-built Tu-154 M, said Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák at a press briefing at the airport on the same day. The aircraft, worth €42 million, arrived from Ostrava, the Czech Republic, where it was given its new Slovak national livery. "There's a presidential cabin, premises for the entourage, for journalists, and, if necessary, part of the area on board can be converted into evacuation premises, doubling its capacity", said Kaliňák, adding that part of the plane can also be changed into a medical cabin with five couches for patients with medium and severe injuries. "So, for the first time we'll be able to transport injured Slovak citizens back to their homeland", said Kaliňák. According to the minister, the aircraft isn't new, but there's a very good ratio between its price and what it can deliver. For example, its fuel consumption is far lower than that of the two Tu-154 M aircraft, one of which has been unused for years because it was viewed as being too costly to repair. The state's newly bought A319 has a range of around 9,000 kilometres, making it possible to reach the eastern coast of the USA comfortably, for example. The aircraft, which was produced in 2005 and put into operation one year later, has spent some 4,400 hours in the air and has carried out 1,300 landings. Kaliňák announced that it should undergo an overhaul next year, after which it will be able to fly for another 30 years. Meanwhile, the state is planning to buy two medium-sized Fokker 100 aircraft. "The contract hasn't been fully concluded, but it appears that the first one could come in September - granted, if the contract is actually signed and [the aircraft] is repaired properly", added Kaliňák. After becoming prime minister for the first time, Robert Fico stated in 2006 that he will use insist on using commercial flights, instead of taking government planes, in order to save the state money. This new approach came to an end after only one commercial flight; a state visit to China.