[Hardastarboard]

The reporter, given their extremely limited knowledge of business and economics, may be technically correct about the "loss". It may be that the state's books reflected the plane's value as one number, and it was sold for something less than that number.

Book value doesn't necessarily have ANYTHING to do with market value, so the plane could have been sold at a "book loss". I would bet everything I own that 9 out of 10 reporters could not explain or likely even understand what I just said.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

The public understands the sale of the Alaska governor's jet. It was a luxury the state could not afford.

It wasn't just the capital cost but the enormous operating and maintenance costs of owning a jet aircraft Governor Palin eliminated. Getting rid of the jet saved millions of dollars in fuel and maintenance costs that would accumulate quickly over a fairly short period of time.

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

I forgot to mention that most jets require a crew of two pilots who also have to be on the state payroll, sitting around waiting for the governor to decide to take another flight.