Falcon business reverts to Execujet

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The South African Air Force has awarded Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd of Lanseria a R90 million contract for product support services for its small fleet of Dassault Falcon aircraft. Execujet maintained the aircraft up to 2009 but last year the work was moved to Adoair.

The SAAF’s 21 Squadron operates two Dassault Falcon 50 purchased second-hand in 1982 and 1985 respectively as well as a Falcon 900 operated since 1991. The SAAF has spent a fair amount of money earlier this decade upgrading these aircraft. In March 2006 over R62.2 million was spent with Duncan Aviation Inc of the US on three contracts to upgrade the Falcon 50’s. The Chief of the Air Force, Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano in March 2007 described the aircraft “as good as new.”

In August last year he noted that this notwithstanding, “you must remember our VIP fleet is very old as well. The Falcon 50s we bought second hand and they are coming up for 30 years now.” The Falcon 900 is currently used to transport Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and also provides back-up services to President Jacob Zuma.

Adoair has been described as a small aviation company owned by Nigerian businessman Adegboyega Olulade. The business was founded in 2005. The latest work takes the tally for the Falcon fleet to R116 801 424 from R26 801 424 since August 2009.

Provision of product support services for the South African Air Force Falcon 50 and 900 aircraft

ELGS/2010/527 11 Aug 2011 R90 000 000,00 Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

Product support services for the Falcon 50 and 900 aircraft

LGS/S2011/4727 26 May 2011 R2 872 807,00 Adoair Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

Provision of product support services for the South African Air Force Falcon 50 and 900 aircraft

ELGS/2010/37 5 Aug 2010 R9 000 000,00 Adoair Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

Product support services for the Falcon aircraft – extension of ELGS/2004/19

LGS/S2010/4441 15 Jul 2010 R789 473,00 Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

LGS/S2010/4377 20 May 2010 R2 000 000,00 Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

LGS/S2009/4311 14 Apr 2010 R3 070 175,00 Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

LGS/S2009/4238 28 Jan 2010 R3 508 771,00 Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd

LGS/S2009/4005 6 Aug 2009 R5 560 198,00 Execujet Maintenance (Pty) Ltd