The Belgian army is preparing to save money by withdrawing one of its transport aircraft, a 41-year old Mystère (Falcon) 20 that has exhausted its potential. This aircraft in service with the 15th Wing Air Transport returned this Sunday from a two-day mission in Jordan.
"It was the last time it was a night stop abroad," told one of the crew members, while the fate of this aircraft, registered CM-01, is still uncertain.
This Mystère 20E, a product of the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault, must indeed undergo a heavy maintenance ("D-check" in aviation jargon). But it is too costly in view of the aircraft's age - it was received on March 26, 1973 and therefore has more than 41 years, although it has undergone, like its twin, CM-02, a modernization in 2004 with the installation of more modern avionics and more powerful and more fuel-efficient engines.
- CM-01 in Melsbroek 22SEP2014
Defence is affected, as other federal departments, by savings decided by the government, and announced last month that its "white" aircraft fleet (for transporting passengers) - an Airbus A321, four Embraer, two Mystère 20 and a Falcon 900 - would experience a reduction in its flight plan by some 40% next year.
