Museveni's jet arrives this week

THE new presidential jet bought from a top American aviation company arrives this week, aviation sources said yesterday, reports Yunusu Abbey. "Brig Ali Kiiza, the chief presidential pilot, and Capt. Patrick Bogere, the co-pilot, will fly the brand new Gulf Stream 4 Special Performance jet from Georgia to Entebbe," a source said. "Unless the programme changes at the last minute, the aircraft is expected here before Saturday. This would be like a Christmas and a New Year's gift to President (Museveni)," the source said. On board the plane will be two officials from Gulf Stream AeroSpace Corporation, a renown American aircraft manufacturing company that assembled the jet. "Also on board will be Ssebuliba Busulwa and Barry Kashambo, both Civil Aviation Authority airworthiness surveyors, who flew to Georgia over two weeks ago to inspect the jet," the source said. "The jet was assembled and even underwent a flying test over four months ago. All that had remained was the interior fitting, configuration, fixing some devices and painting, among other specifications," added the source. Both the Government and the Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation Equator Bank, co-financed the purchase of the 16-seater US $31.5m plane. The ultra-modern and fast cruising jet will replace the old G.3 plane, which was taken to the US for repair on December 14, 1999. The jet can fly at an altitude of 45,000ft. It can also fly non-stop from Entebbe to London to New York, experts said. Ends