Vice President John Mahama has commissioned the first of four new aircraft government has acquired for the Air Force. The 46-seater CASA 295 can take 71 troops and can also be used for humanitarian and medical evacuation flights and for maritime patrol duties. Speaking at a ceremony at Burma Camp in Accra Monday to commission the new jet, the Vice President expressed government’s commitment to replacing the air force’s obsolete aircraft. He said the second jet will be delivered by March next year. “This is the first of several equipment the Air Force is expected to receive… We also expect to receive some surveillance and trainer aircraft for the Air Force. Only recently, the parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior placed its report for approval of four new helicopters for the Air Force.” The Minister of Defence Joseph Henry Smith said the acquisition of the new aircraft will prove to be a worthy investment by government. “What is most exciting about these aircraft is that it is worthy replacement for the Fucker 27 which has been in the inventory of the Air Force for over 35 years… and in due course, the effectiveness of the investment will become clear.”