FOI response from Arkansas State Police initiated Nov. 27,2007 regarding usage of the new ASP $4 million King Air aircraft.

As you may note from the FOI request, some of the vital information was not forwarded. Additionally it is of interest that the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, published Dec. 10, 2007 (2 weeks after our FOI request) printed an incomplete flight log of the aircraft.  

Some of the major areas of concern are:

1.       The Hobbes meter (a device in the cockpit that records flight time) showed 105.5 hrs of flying time on the first 30 minute training flight by the police. For a “new” plane to have logged that many hours indeed begs to be explored.  I assume that the ASP got a brand new airplane as they had advertised.

2.       The Democrat and the ASP both stated the cost per hour for flying the King Air is $875.00.  This figure is not accurate.  With the latest of avionics, horse power, etc. the cost is more likely to be between $1,000-$1250 per hour.

3.       The Democrat showed 52 flights beginning 5/15/07 through 12/4/07, with 53 hrs & 18 minutes of flying time.  From the same period of time shown by my actual flight log copies indicated 51 flights and 63 hrs & 30 minutes flying time.   This is a discrepancy of 10 hrs & 12 minutes.  The question then becomes who used the plane for 10 hrs, 12 minutes?

4.       On May 30^{th, 2007} ASP Director W. Phillips, C. Barfield, M. Davidson, T. Knuckles, J. Howard, and G. Grimes were flown to Huntsville, Arkansas.  Purpose?  “State Business” (?)  Total flight time 1.1 hours.  No charge.

5.       June 26, 2007 Lt. Gov. Bill Halter and one staff member flew to & from Rogers, Ark.  Flying time 1.1 hours.  Account status: paid. Who paid? How much? And to whom?

6.       Numbers 4 thru 9 were not reported by the Democrat-Gazette.

7.       Most of the logs did not indicate the names of the persons on board and specific purposes of flights.

8.       Also troubling is the fact that a number of Gov. Beebe’s flights could have been made in a state vehicle in about the same time and thousands of dollars cheaper, e.g. Wynne, West Memphis, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs, Brinkley, etc.

9.       The FOI did not reveal where Gov. Huckabee has used the King Air for his personal use. Early in 2007 Beebe stated if he used the plane for personal use he would pay for the use. The state does not have a commercial license…(plane for hire)..Therefore; if the Governor uses the plane as he so stated, he would be in violation of FAR #91.  The question remains, has the Governor used the plane for personal use?

Question: Who legally may fly on the state’s airplane?