Armed Forces Authorities have announced that they have completed the aircraft needs assessment stage, and will start preparing the bidding documents for the tender.
Elheraldo.hn reports that "...After completing the first review phase,"... we are now working with companies interested in carrying out the improvements and reparations, as a review must be carried out of the certificates of each of them to determine if they meet the quality requirements and standards established by the aircraft manufacturer's specifications."
The government is negotiating technical and financial arrangements with Brazil's Embraer for the recovery of the current fleet and eventual acquisition of new aircraft.
After the United States rejected the request to service the fleet of fighter jets, the Honduran government has announced that "...This week, President Juan Orlando Hernandez is scheduled to meet with representatives from the company Embraer to manage the upgrading of the fleet of the Honduran Air Force (HAF). "
The Government of Guatemala had to pay $600K for canceling a loan granted by the BNDES in Brazil to buy aircraft from Embraer, another Brazilian company.
S21.com reports that "The government paid $595,461.22 on 19 February because it did not confirm the adquistion of a $133 million loan from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for the purchase of six A-29 Super Tucano aircraft."
The President Otto Perez is to visit the country where he will arrange for the purchase of fighter jets after deciding not to buy them from Brazil.
The president announced a tour on the 9th and 10th of December in which he will be looking for "the support of the Israeli government on the issue of appropriate weapons for security forces in Guatemala and the possible acquisition of aircraft," noted an article in Estrategiaynegocios.net.
The suspension has been ordered of a $133 million disbursement for the purchase of six Super Tucano airplanes which were to be used to control of the country's airspace.
From a press release published in Diario de Centro América:
"We have doubts about whether the six Super Tucanos are overvalued. There were negotiated by the last government," indicated President Otto Perez Molina, referring to the suspension of the disbursement for $133 million for the acquisition of these light attack aircraft, to be used for airspace control.
The Salvadoran government plans to acquire a fleet of 10 A-37 aircraft which the Chilean government is selling in the amount of $8.6 million.
This was reported by the Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes during his speech at the celebration of the 189th anniversary of the founding of the Armed Forces and the Day of the Soldier.
"This fleet will strengthen (...) to our air force, which in recent decades has not had the necessary support," said Funes.
Embraer announced the sale to the Central American country of 6 Super Tucano fighter planes, plus 3 primary radars and a command control system, at an estimated cost of more than $170 million.
Although the Brazilian company did not disclose the amount paid by Guatemala, estimates made at the beginning of purchase negotiations last summer point to a minimum of $170 million as the amount of the contract, which includes logistical operational support and training for pilots and mechanics.
The Guatemalan Congress has approved borrowing from banks in Brazil and Argentina for the purchase of six Super Tucano aircraft and a tactical air control center.
Elperiodico.com.gt reports that the preamble refers to the need to monitor areas like Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz and Petén, to weaken the activities of organized criminals and drug traffickers in these regions under project entitled ‘Construction of a System for Monitoring and Protection of the Mayan Biosphere.
Representatives from chambers of commerce and from the Monetary Board have rejected contracts for 2 loans for $166 million for the purchase of aircraft.
Applications for loans of $133 million to the National Bank of Economic and Social Development of Brazil (BNDES) for the purchase of 6 Embraer aircraft and $33 million for the purchase of radars with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) of Spain are intended to finance a project submitted by the Ministry of Defense.
The country is negotiating the purchase of 10 EMB-312F Tucano aircraft used by the French Air Force.
Before, the Guatemalan Air Force had negotiated the purchase of new EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazilian company Embraer, negotiations which were unsuccessful.
"The Tucanos will be stationed at the Air Training School located in Provenza, near Marseille, where they will serve in missions to train fighter pilots," the article in Infodefensa.com stated.
The Panamanian airline raised investment plans for 2011-2012 between $200 and $ 300 million.
Pedro Heibron, Chief Executive Officer made the announcement, raising the projected capital expenditure from initial $ 150 million.
American Economy reports on their web site, "The company could announce new orders for Boeing jets, said Heilbron, and fund these investments with loans from the Export-Import Bank of United States, other commercial banks or from to their own resources."
The company Embraer could install a plane factory in Panama.
This was reported by Industry and Commerce Ministry Roberto Herníquez, when he was speaking about a recent trade mission by 140 Brazilian businessmen.
Prensa.com published related comments from Panama's vice president Juan Carlos Varela: "There are many Brazilian companies interested in establishing in our country, and also Brazilian banks are interested in financing infrastructure projects".
Brazil gave Guatemala a 12-year loan for the purchase of six Super Tucano Embraer aircraft and radars from Taiwan.
The Brazilian Export Bank confirmed the loan during the Brazilian President’s visit to Guatemala.
The credit will be applied toward the purchase of an aerial surveillance system and aerial interception in which the fighters are linked to a radar and satellite information system to help combat drug trafficking.