Governor McCrory To Sell State-Owned Helicopter To Cut Costs, Improve Government Efficiency | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Sale will save more than $250,000 annually

    Raleigh, N.C.     At the direction of Governor Pat McCrory and in the interest of efficiency, the N.C. Department of Transportation is placing its Sikorsky S-76 helicopter up for sale, based on a review of ways to operate more efficiently by consolidating the department's air fleet.

    The decision to sell the aircraft was due to a relatively low number of hours logged on a yearly basis and high cost of maintenance and operation. The helicopter cost $265,000 to operate and maintain in fiscal year 2013.

    "This is one more example of how state government is operating more efficiently by taking a close look at resources and finding ways to cut costs," said Governor McCrory.

    The helicopter was used by NCDOT and other state agencies to survey disaster recovery efforts and facilitate economic development activities. NCDOT also has two twin turbo-prop passenger aircraft and a Cessna Citation Bravo Jet in its fleet. The department is in the process of negotiating a contract with a private helicopter provider in order to have access to a helicopter as needed.

    The helicopter will be sold via the e-Bay online auction site. Proceeds of the sale will go to the state's general fund.