Cabinet Nods For Purchase Of Two New Aircraft

[george]

Cabinet nods for purchase of two new aircraft

BANGKOK: -- The cabinet has approved in principle a plan to purchase two new aircraft from Brazil to be used for official operations.

The plan, proposed by a government panel chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya, was endorsed by the cabinet at its weekly meeting here on Tuesday, according to Deputy Government Spokesman Danuporn Punnakan.

The Royal Thai Army would partly support the procurement project of the two new aircraft, totally worth Bt 1.0 billion, Mr. Danuporn said.

"The Royal Thai Army has earmarked a budget of Bt100 million to support the procurement project; so the cabinet has assigned the Ministry of Defence to negotiate with the Brazilian authorities for a barter trade deal worth Bt 900 million--the rest of the aircraft price," he disclosed.

Under the planned barter trade deal, Thailand may ship its rice or other agricultural products to Brazil in exchange for the two new aircraft, according to the deputy government spokesman.(

--TNA 2005-09-28

[WISteve]

First it was chicken wings for jet fighters in Sweden.

Then longan for locamotives in China.

Now rice for aircraft in Brazil?

IF NOTHING ELSE you must admire their resourcefulness!

~WISteve

[ovenman]

Under the planned barter trade deal, Thailand may ship its rice or other agricultural products to Brazil in exchange for the two new aircraft, according to the deputy government spokesman.

I hear that there may well still be an over-supply of lamyai that could be traded for some planes.

[ilyushin]

From the first tender the aircraft were to be delivered 23 September 2005. The EMB 120 is an obsolete aircraft and logistics on spares will cost them millions to keep them from being AOG. No other operators in the area. Barter trade is now the policy of the PM's Cabinet which isn't clear even to CP Intertrade. I don't think this will ever fly.

[OldAsiaHand]

But they've delayed the purchase of new aircraft by Thai Airways because of the negative impact the expenditure would have on the balance of trade. Its 'toys for the boys', but screw the public. So what else is new?