Council approves buying planes
Beech King Air nacelle
Davis Filfred
WINDOW ROCK
With a 13-5 vote, the Navajo Nation Council on Tuesday approved a measure calling for a $20 million loan to purchase three new King Air jets.
The vote followed a debate about safety, maintenance and whether lawmakers need planes to conduct business. The current fleet is more than 30 years old, and engines in each airplane have been overhauled three times – the maximum allowed by law, said legislation sponsor Davis Filfred (Mexican Water, To’likan, Teec Nos Pos, Aneth, Red Mesa).
Filfred pointed to an incident earlier this year when a jet carrying several delegates from Window Rock to Salt Lake City was grounded in Kayenta when one of the engines started leaking fuel. If the planes are not replaced, the entire fleet will be grounded next year, Filfred said.
Amber Kanazbah Crotty
“We need to buy those planes,” he said. “We’re long overdue for this.”
The legislation, which first went before the Council during its summer session in July, drew opposition from five delegates this week. Amber Kanazbah Crotty (Toadlena/Two Grey Hills/Beclabito/Gadii’áhi/To’Koi/Cove/Sheep Springs/Red Valley/Tsé Al Náoztii) questioned the necessity of purchasing the new jets.
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