Donald Trump’s smaller jet has a huge problem
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Version 0 of 1. The familiar backdrop for Donald Trump’s airport rallies has been his dark-blue, red and white, $100 million Boeing 757 with his name emblazoned in gold on the side, but he also uses a smaller Cessna jet for much of his campaign travel. Like a car, he has to keep its registration up to date. He hasn’t, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Tuesday. The failure to keep the 1997 Cessna registration current could result in it being grounded for a least several days while the paperwork is brought up to date. In addition to the FAA, the company that insures the airplane isn’t likely to be pleased with a lapsed registration. That will leave the candidate to choose between the big Boeing or his $750,000 Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, one of three choppers in his personal fleet. The Cessna 750 Citation X, however, is perfect for flights to smaller airports that can’t handle the 757. The FAA website showed that the Cessna has been flying without proper registration, first reported by the New York Times, since Jan. 31. Trump’s aircraft holding company, DJT Operations, was notified of the pending lapse on Dec. 1 and received a second notification when the registration expired on March 1. He also received notification that the Cessna’s tail number — N725DT — might be reassigned to someone else’s airplane. FAA records show that the Cessna has been used frequently since it’s registration expired, an infraction for which the Trump company would be face up to $27,500 in civil penalties and $250,000 in criminal fines. |