Correction: The Razorback Foundation, the private fundraising arm of the University of Arkansas athletics program, recently bought a $4.7 million used jet. This story's headline incorrectly implied the university bought the airplane.
FAYETTEVILLE - The Razorback Foundation, the private fund-raising arm for the University of Arkansas athletics program, recently bought a $4.7 million used jet which is expected to be in town and ready for use in September.
The seven-seat plane, a Learjet 40 purchased from Bombardier Inc., is a 2007 model that will replace the university’s 1988 Beechjet that had been in service since Ken Hatfield was the head coach. The older jet will be put on the market and sold, said Kevin Trainor, UA associate athletic director of public relations.
Sean Rochelle, executive director of the Razorback Foundation, said he recalled his first flight as a graduate assistant came on the Beechjet in 1989.
“That’s coming full circle, isn’t it? Rochelle said. “But then, it was cutting edge.”
Safety concerns and increased maintenance costs had both turned into bigger issues for the Beechjet, Rochelle and Trainor said.
“That was the impetus for moving forward on the purchase,” Rochelle said. “In this day and age, you fly more, not less.
“It [the Beechjet] did undergo maintenance and the projection was it was going to continue to undergo maintenance, and even possibly have an engine overhaul. When you start hearing things like that, it’s like a car. At some point you have to say am I going to put in a whole new engine and do these things or is it more cost effective now to move forward on purchasing something where the maintenance on it will be a lower price point?”
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and his coaches made frequent use of private jets when the Beechjet was being serviced for some of the recruiting period, causing the school to seek out other aircraft during that time, Trainor said.
The university also uses its plane to transport coaches to speaking engagements, such as the one Bielema has today at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, as well one-day trips to SEC media days, when the school usually sends a coach, a couple players and a media representative.
Bielema, for instance, flew around the state in the spring and summer, visiting more than 20 Razorback Club functions.
Rochelle said lead pilot Ken Haxel was instrumental in helping scout the marketplace for the 2007 Learjet, which will be used by the athletic department, the Razorback Foundation and the University of Arkansas.
The idea for acquiring a newer jet had been in the works for quite awhile, Rochelle said.
“We’ve had incredible support over the last few years that has allowed us to know for quite some time that this purchase was imminent,” Rochelle said.
“We’re very, very fortunate where we are financially as a foundation. Our board would never approve something where they didn’t feel confident there was a need, we could meet the need and still be really fiscally sound moving forward.”
Sports, Pages 22 on 08/21/2013