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{{short description|Air Traffic Control call sign of the Aircraft carrying the Prime Minister or the President of India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
[[File:Air India One Chennai.png|thumb|300px|Air India One AI1/ AIC1]]

'''Air India One''' (also referred to as '''AI1'''<ref name="ie2010">{{cite news |last1=Nayyar |first1=Dhiraj |title=Air India One,Seat No 59G |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/air-india-one-seat-no-59g/ |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=26 September 2010 |language=en}}</ref> or '''AIC1''') is the [[call sign]] of the aircraft with the [[President of India|President]], [[Vice President of India|Vice President]] or [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] of [[India]] on board. The aircraft is operated as a [[VVIP]] flight by the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF).<ref name=zee>{{cite news|title=April 1 date for President with business jets |url=http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-03-16/515323news.html# |access-date=8 April 2011 |newspaper=Zee News |date=16 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507013949/http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-03-16/515323news.html |archive-date=7 May 2012}}</ref> The IAF's [[Air HQ Communication Squadron, Indian Air Force|Air Headquarters Communication Squadron]], based at [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] in [[New Delhi]], is in charge of operating these aircraft.

[[Boeing 777-300ER]] was selected as the next Air India One rather than the former [[Boeing 747-400]] series. The new jets were selected due to their fuel efficiency and can fly non stop without refuelling. The former Boeing 747-400 would have to land half way for refuelling. The new jets are fitted with Jammers and special defence features.

== Current fleet ==
Apart from the [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-300ER']]s owned by [[Indian Air Force]] used on international state visits, the IAF currently owns four 14 seater [[Embraer 135]], four 20 seater [[Embraer ERJ 145 family|Embraer 145]] and three customised 46 seater [[Boeing Business Jet]]s (BBJ) that have a VIP cabin and are used for VIP movement. Of these the Boeing 777s are used mainly by the Prime Minister, President or Vice President when on official visits.<ref name=th2009>{{cite news|title=India's own Air Force One takes to the skies |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200904011612.htm |access-date=9 April 2011 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=1 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926214104/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200904011612.htm |archive-date=26 September 2011 }}</ref><ref name=tfe2005>{{cite news|title=VVIPs get their special jets|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/vvips-get-their-special-jets/146415/1|access-date=8 April 2011|date=21 September 2005}}</ref>
Each Embraer 135 is equipped with missile-deflecting systems, modern flight management system including global positioning system, as well as category II instrument landing system. These aircraft cost the IAF {{INRConvert|1.4|b}} each.<ref name="tfe2005" /> The Three BBJs, named ''Rajdoot'', ''Rajhans'' and ''Rajkamal'' cost the IAF {{INRConvert|9.34|b}} each ({{INRConvert|7.34|b}} for the actual aircraft plus an additional {{INRConvert|2|b}} for Self Protection Suites).<ref name="zee" /><ref name="th2009" /> Self-protection suites include radar warning receivers, it also has highly trained commandos to protect the president/vice/prime minister, missile-approach warning and counter-measure systems. The aircraft has the capability to shoot [[Chaff (countermeasure)|chaff]] and [[Flare (countermeasure)|flares]] to deviate [[Air-to-air missile#Radar guidance|radar-guided]] and [[Infrared homing|heat-seeking missiles]] off their track along with other security tools. The other security instruments are undisclosed by the Indian Air Force.

The onboard electronics include about 238 miles of wiring (twice the amount found in a normal 777). Heavy shielding is tough enough to protect the wiring and crucial electronics from the electromagnetic pulse associated with a nuclear blast.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Know about Air India One! (Air India 1 – AI 1)|url=https://aviationthrust.com/know-about-air-india-one-air-india-1-ai-1/|access-date=19 November 2015|website=Aviation Thrust}}</ref>
The President is designated VIP 1, The Vice-President, VIP 2, and The Prime Minister, VIP 3. The BBJs have a four class configuration. For the President/Prime Minister, there is a separate enclosure in the aircraft which includes an office and a bedroom. Everyone aboard Air India One is required to wear a colour-coded identity card. Members of the official delegation (Joint Secretary level and above) are tagged in purple and sit in First Class while accompanying the VIPs. The accompanying officials (junior bureaucrats and support staff) are tagged in pink. The support staff, president's cooks and butlers join the security team from the Delhi police (not SPG) are tagged in red, while Journalists, sport a prominent Yellow tag.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nayyar |first1=Dhiraj |title=Air India One, Seat No 59G - Indian Express |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/air-india-one-seat-no-59g/687970/0 |access-date=4 October 2020 |work=Indian Express |date=26 September 2010}}</ref>

As they have become less cost-effective to operate, the Indian Air Force have replaced the present Boeing 747-400 with the [[Boeing 777-300ER]]. The planes in question have arrived at [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] (DEL) in [[New Delhi]].<ref name="arrival">{{cite news|last1=ANI|date=1 October 2020|title=First VVIP aircraft 'Air India One' for President, PM to arrive today {{!}} India News - Times of India|language=en|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/first-vvip-aircraft-air-india-one-for-president-pm-to-arrive-today/articleshow/78422961.cms|access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>

== Fleet Gallery ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Fleet
!Number
|-
|Boeing 777-300ER
|2
|-
|Boeing 737-700BBJ
|3
|-
|Mil Mi 8
|6
|-
|Embraer 135
|4
|-
|Embraer 145
|4
|-
|Total
|19
|}
{{Gallery
|title=
|width=180 | height=180
|File:Z2837 Mil MI-8 HIP Indian Air Force (8413509591).jpg
|[[Mil Mi-8|Mil Mi 8]] VIP helicopter used to ferry the Prime Minister and the President to the airport or for short distances
|File:Gagandoot IAF bird ERJ-135 K3604 (24647428233).jpg
|Indian Air Force Embraer 135 named ''Gagandoot' used for VIP transport
|File:Air India One 737.jpg
|[[Indian Air Force]] [[Boeing 737-700 BBJ1|Boeing 737-700BBJ]] named ''Rajhans'' used for nearby international trips and trips within India
|File:Air india.jpg
|Air India Boeing 747-400, which was formerly used as Air India One
}}

== Replacements ==

Two custom-made Boeing 777 jets (VT-ALV & VT-ALW), are being used to fly the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister since 24 November 2020, & are operated by pilots of the Indian Air Force. However, the new wide-body planes will be maintained by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which is a subsidiary of the Indian national carrier, [[Air India]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=IAF pilots to fly Modi on new 'Air India One' from next July |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/10/10/iaf-pilots-to-fly-modi-on-new-air-india-one-from-next-july.html |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=The Week |date=10 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
The planes in question landed at [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] (DEL) in [[New Delhi]] as of 1 October 2020.<ref name="arrival" />
The aircraft are fitted with encrypted satellite communication facilities and advanced navigation aids. The jets are also equipped with an advanced missile warning system, a missile deflecting shield, and electronic counter measures so as to provide protection from any ground-based or air-borne threats and flares and glares for misleading the missile.

== See also ==
*[[Air Force One]] - Official aircraft of the [[President of the United States|President of the United States of America]]
*[[Japanese Air Force One]] - Official presidential aircraft (currently two [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-300ER]]) of [[Japan]]
*[[Russian presidential aircraft]]
*[[Air transports of heads of state and government]]

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{Air India}}

[[Category:Presidential aircraft]]
[[Category:Call signs]]
[[Category:Boeing 747]]
[[Category:Air India]]

Air India One - Revision history

WilliamsLin216: expanded content

UpdateBot: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

>BilCat: Undid revision 1030165729 by Doctor.stevemarcusfernandez (talk) these photos are copyrighted - it's right on the photos!