Taiwan to donate executive jet to Panama

(etaiwannews.com) Panama City, Dec. 23 (CNA) Taiwan will donate an Embraer Legacy 600 jet to Panama as part of a cooperative program between the two countries, Republic of China Ambassador to Panama Simon Y.S. Ko said Wednesday.

The government's decision to donate the Brazilian-made executive jet to the Latin American country was based on consideration of the Panamanian government's need for planes that are safe and can be used for emergency patient transport services, according to Ko.

Most of the Panamanian government's existing fleet of planes are outdated and last May, a 40-year-old Panamanian National Air Service helicopter crashed into a building in Panama City, killing 11 people, including the head of Chile's national police Jose Alejandro Bernales, and injuring five others, Ko went on.

The Taiwanese government's decision to donate the executive plane instead of funds also took into account that in the past, former Panamanian government officials have been accused of misuse of funds donated by Taiwan.

The Embraer Legacy 600, which carries a price tag of US$27.45 million, is capable of carrying 16 passengers in outstanding comfort and has a range of 5,650 km.

The donation will be made at a public ceremony in early 2010, Ko added.

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Original Source: http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1140788&lang=eng_news
Date Retrieved: December 24, 2009