The presidential ARG-01 aircraft, incorporated into the fleet in May 2023, has been the subject of multiple controversies due to technical failures, mandatory repairs, and complex tenders. The most recent technical issue reported involved a failure in one of the auxiliary fuel tanks, a defect that manifested during the last presidential trip to Miami, forcing an unscheduled stop in Lima to refuel. As the aircraft could not make the journey directly as on other occasions due to the malfunction, according to a report by Noticias Argentinas at the time.
In this situation, the Military House authorized a repair procedure through an express tender to solve the tank's problem, with a base price set in the call for tenders of approximately US$ 125,000. Specialized sources indicated to NA that the aircraft is currently in a workshop in Miami and that, after the repair, it could be returning to the country next Saturday.
Background The ARG-01 had to be sent to the United States in October of last year due to a mandatory major inspection («Check-C») that had expired, leaving the aircraft in a state of «non-airworthy». The Major Inspection «Check-C» (1C Check) is a comprehensive and mandatory review imposed by the manufacturer (Boeing) periodically to ensure the operability and safety of the aircraft. The aircraft was inoperative from June 2024 when the deadline for this inspection expired, preventing its use for official flights. The first call failed, as several offers were rejected due to technical issues or failure to meet deadlines, the second call was made at the end of 2024 and the tender was awarded to Commercial Jet Inc., a firm based in the United States. The amount paid to Commercial Jet Inc. to carry out this comprehensive review and associated repairs was US$ 883,739.
