By fitsnews – August 26, 2009
A little over a week after serving as a very expensive taxpayer-funded taxi to a legislative boozefest in Winston-Salem, N.C. (just five hours away by car), South Carolina’s state-owned Beechcraft King Air is once again flying your friendly skies.
According to public flight data obtained by FITS, “Palmetto One” has been logging several short hops across the Pee Dee region of the state Wednesday, including a flight from Hartsville to Bennettsville (30 miles apart from each other) and another flight from Bennettsville to Cheraw (15 miles apart from each other).
Obviously, we’ll be interested in learning why the state plane is being used to fly such ridiculously short distances.
Ever since the Associated Press exposed S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s improper use of the state plane (just a few of his questionable travel decisions), scrutiny over the use of this aircraft has intensified dramatically.
As reported first by FITS – but then picked up by local MSM outlets – four S.C. lawmakers took the plane to Winston Salem last week for a “legislative convention” that was by all accounts an extended “away from home” cocktail hour.
S.C. Majority Leader Jimmy Merrill (RINO-Charleston) was joined on the plane by Reps. Bill Herbkersman (R-Bluffton), Shannon Erickson (RINO-Beaufort) and Anne Peterson-Hutto (D-Charleston).
Also aboard were two hospitality industry officials and one registered lobbyist.
As always, keep it tuned to FITS for the latest on who’s flying your taxpayer-funded skies …
