KRQE-13 in New Mexico aired a news broadcast last night questioning whether use of a state-owned airplane as a TV prop on the USA series ‘In Plain Sight’ was misuse of the property and violation of their “official use” only policy. This follows an earlier controversy from a prior investigation into the employment of official planes used to help NBC Universal scout filming locations for their television pilot, ‘The Crossing’.
Both stories made the news more prominent locally in that use of state-owned airplanes has been an ongoing controversy spanning the administrations of two governors, with current Governor Susana Martinez having made prior Governor Bill Richardson’s handling of the fleet a campaign issue when she sought the office. The two news stories reported on events during her own term to the elected office.
In the latest the report aired last night, the news program questioned the use of a state-owned plane as a prop on the series, ‘In Plain Sight’. General Services Department Edwynn Burckle said:
“Our belief is regulation applies when the aircraft is used, i.e. when it is in the air,” Burckle said. “The airplane never flew the aircraft never left the ground, and it was used really as a static display for most purposes.”
The video news report shows the plane taxi down the runway in the episode of the television series that was produced.
Burckle claims that Northern Entertainment was charged $8,925.00 to use the plane in the episode, and the state paid $790.00 for the fuel and pilots.
The video and full story can be found at www.KRQE.com (“State plane used for TV prop, ok?“) and the video can also be viewed below:
State plane used for TV prop, ok?: krqe.com
As noted, the use of state-owned airplanes has been an ongoing controversy in New Mexico politics. A few weeks ago, KRQE-13 broadcast an investigative report about the fleet of airplanes intended for the exclusive use of state officials. In this story, the news organization reported on the use of a plane for NBC Universal to scout filming locations for a TV pilot, ‘The Crossing’. KRQE questioned whether this was a violation of state regulation and policy.
The video and full story can be found at www.KRQE.com (“State plane fiasco: Oops not again?“) and the video can also be viewed below:
State plane fiasco: Oops not again?: krqe.com
As explained in this investigative report, two state pilots used the state aircraft to fly an actor, director, and three assistants. This entailed flights from Santa Fe, NM to Las Vegas, NV to Pagosa Springs, CO and back to Santa Fe. The request originated from the New Mexico State Film Office, with approvals from the state transportation director, two cabinet secretaries, two state lawyers and the governor’s office.
While the use in both cases appeared to be efforts to stimulate economic development, it has obviously caused some controversy as it has intersected politics and obvious arguments have been made about how these activities have conflicted with statutory rules and regulations.
Jason DeBord