HARRISBURG -- Air Rendell is being cut in half.

Gov. Ed Rendell has decided to sell one of the two planes in the state's fleet, a 1981 Beechcraft King Air 200, which was bought in 1992 for "about $1 million," state officials said.

"It's in excellent condition," said Ed Myslewicz, spokesman for the Department of General Services, which is handling the sale.

The asking price is $1,427,000, which would be slightly more than what the state paid for it.

The plane carries six passengers and two pilots and is the smaller of the two planes in the state's fleet, Rendell aide Chuck Ardo said. An eight-seat plane, a King Air 350, would remain available.

Mr. Rendell, a Democrat, is sometimes accused by Republican legislators of borrowing too much money and spending too much on various programs, but Mr. Ardo said the plane sale is an example of responsible financial policy.

"The money that is now invested in that plane can be used more efficiently for other purposes at this time," he said. "It makes more sense to keep the larger plane. The governor is very careful about the use of the plane. He uses it only for official business."

The state Department of Transportation controls use of the planes, which are parked at a small airport across the river from the Capitol. The money from the sale will go into PennDOT's aviation account, Mr. Myslewicz said.

There have been occasional controversies in the past over use of the planes. Former Rendell chief of staff John Estey, a lawyer, flew to a meeting at the University of Pittsburgh in 2005, taking with him a gaming lobbyist and former client, Dick Gmerek, causing a stir. Mr. Gmerek later reimbursed the state $1,114 for the flight.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in 2006 that House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese, of Waynesburg, traveled on the plane 51 times from 2001 to 2006, the most of any legislator.

Last year, Auditor General Jack Wagner said that PennDOT needed to tighten its oversight of the state-owned airplanes.

PennDOT spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick said the governor has first priority for use of the aircraft, followed by the lieutenant governor, then statewide elected officials (such as the attorney general or auditor general), then members of the governor's senior staff and cabinet, members of state agencies such as the Liquor Control Board and Public Utility Commission and then legislative leaders.

"We ask for the purpose and justification for every trip, the name of the agency head who is signing off on the trip and whether commercial flights or driving would be less expensive," he said.

Anyone interested in buying the plane can call General Services' bureau of supplies and surplus operations.