MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Opposition target plans for ‘AeroDilma’, 300 million USD Airbus 320

Brazil’s Air Force One will also refuel at midair

The Brazilian opposition has criticized the purchase of a new presidential aircraft for president-elect Dilma Rousseff claiming it is excessively luxurious and expensive.

“Aerodilma is too expensive and we see no reason for such an outlay when the government argues it does not have resources to help pensioners or give law enforcement officers a pay increase”, said Senator Alvaro Dias from the opposition Brazilian Socialdemocracy, PSDB.

According to the Sao Paulo press the Brazilian government is planning to purchase an Airbus 320, at a cost of 300 million US dollars and equipped for mid-air refuelling, and which should replace the Airbus 319 acquired in 2005 fro President Lula da Silva and identified as AeroLula.

“Now we’ll have the AeroDilma following on the AeroLula and the argument is that because of the purchase the Air Force will be able to modernize having to buy aircraft for midair refuelling of the new A320, but it’s all a huge pretext”, underlined Dias.

Another opposition Senator, Papaleo Paes also criticized the planned operation, the AeroDilma will be five times more expensive than the current A319 AeroLula, “we don’t need it, Brazil does not need to be that ostentatious”.