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{{short description|Air Traffic Control call sign of the Aircraft carrying the Prime Minister or the President of India}} | {{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 Indian English|date=October 2020}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=April | {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} | ||
[[File:Air India One Chennai. | [[File:Air India One Chennai.jpg|thumb|300px|Air India One [[Boeing 777-300ER]] (K7066) ]] | ||
'''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> '''AIC1''' or '''INDIA 1''') is the [[air traffic control]] [[call sign]] of any Special Extra Section Flight (SESF) operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the [[President of India]], [[Vice President of India]] or [[Prime Minister of India]]. The IAF's [[Air HQ Communication Squadron, Indian Air Force|Air Headquarters Communication Squadron]], based at [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Air Force Station Palam]], is the unit responsible for coordinating the missions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AirHQ Communications Squadron, Indian Air Force - Database|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/AHQ%20Comm%20Sqn|access-date=25 September 2021|website=Bharat Rakshak|language=en-gb}}</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
Initially, the Air India One was an [[Air India]] [[Boeing 747-400]] which used to ferry the President, Vice President and the Prime Minister. | |||
[[Boeing 777-300ER]] was selected as | In 2016, the [[Boeing 777-300ER]] was selected as SESF (VVIP transport).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Raj|first=Ashoke|date=14 August 2020|title=Contingents of Air India, IAF, govt officials and security personnel leave for US to collect VVIP aircraft 'Air India One'|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/contingents-of-air-india-iaf-govt-officials-and-security-personnel-leave-for-us-to-collect-vvip-aircraft-air-india-one20200814180112/|access-date=25 September 2021|work=ANI News}}</ref> The new aircraft, with specially-designed liveries, entered service in October 2020, replacing the Boeing 747-400s operated for the missions by [[Air India]]. Unlike the 747s which were commercial aircraft, the newly inducted aircraft are military vessels formally owned and operated by the [[Indian Air Force]]. They bear no Air India markings and have no commercial dual-use. However, under a special contract, they will be maintained by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which has experience maintaining the Boeing 777 series aircraft for Air India's commercial fleet. | ||
The aircraft are fitted with encrypted satellite communication facilities and advanced navigation aids, an advanced missile warning system, a missile deflecting shield and electronic countermeasures so as to provide protection from any ground-based or airborne threats and flares and glares for misleading the missile. They are capable of long-range travel removing the need for [[Aerial refueling|air-to-air refueling]] (which is a feature on the [[VC-25A]]s though they have not been used at all in their service) . The 777-300ER's onboard electronics include about 238 miles of wiring (twice the amount found in a normal 777). The heavy shielding is crucial 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> | |||
[[File:Air India One 737.jpg|thumb|left|[[Indian Air Force]] BBJ 737 which is used as Air India One for domestic and short distance travels]] | |||
At a Boeing facility in [[Fort Worth]], Texas, two ex- Air India aircraft (VT-ALV and VT-ALW, now registered as K7066 and K7067 respectively) were specially outfitted with missile defense and countermeasures dispensing systems, including large aircraft infrared countermeasures [[Common Infrared Countermeasures program#Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)|(LAIRCM)]] self-protection suites (SPS). | |||
On Air India One flights, the President is designated as ''VIP-1'', the Vice President as ''VIP-2'', and the Prime Minister as ''VIP-3''. The BBJs have a four class configuration. For VIPs 1, 2 and 3, an executive enclosure in the aircraft includes an office and a bedroom. All other passengers aboard Air India One are required to wear colour-coded identity cards at all times. Members of the official delegation (at the rank of [[Joint Secretary to the Government of India]] and above) are tagged in purple and sit in first class. Personnel of the [[Special Protection Group]] are also tagged in purple to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister, and may carry close combat weapons for the duration of flights. Accompanying officials (passengers of rank below Joint Secretary) are tagged in pink, and sit in business class equivalent seats. Support staff, including cooks and butlers, and other security personnel (not including the [[Special Protection Group]]) are tagged in red, while journalists in the press pool are tagged in yellow. Both red and yellow-tagged passengers sit in economy class equivalent seats.<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> | |||
While [[Union minister|Ministers of the Union]] and senior staff officers of the Indian Armed Forces may use smaller aircraft for official travel, the 777-300ER's are exclusively used by the President, Vice President and Prime Minister.<ref name="th2009">{{cite news|date=1 April 2009|title=India's own Air Force One takes to the skies|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200904011612.htm|url-status=dead|access-date=9 April 2011|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|date=21 September 2005|title=VVIPs get their special jets|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/vvips-get-their-special-jets/146415/1|work=Financial Express|access-date=8 April 2011}}</ref> Additional [[Indian Air Force]] VIP Aircraft such as the [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|B737 BBJ]] and [[Embraer ERJ family|ERJ-135]] are also used by many government dignitaries (including the Prime Minister) for domestic and international medium-haul travel. | |||
|- | |||
}} | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
*[[Air transports of heads of state and government]] | *[[Air transports of heads of state and government]] | ||
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{{commons category}} | {{commons category}} | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Presidential aircraft]] | [[Category:Presidential aircraft]] | ||
[[Category:Call signs]] | [[Category:Call signs]] | ||
[[Category:Boeing 747]] | [[Category:Boeing 747]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Boeing 777]] | ||
Revision as of 20:30, 10 May 2022
Air India One (also referred to as AI1[1] AIC1 or INDIA 1) is the air traffic control call sign of any Special Extra Section Flight (SESF) operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the President of India, Vice President of India or Prime Minister of India. The IAF's Air Headquarters Communication Squadron, based at Air Force Station Palam, is the unit responsible for coordinating the missions.[2]
History
Initially, the Air India One was an Air India Boeing 747-400 which used to ferry the President, Vice President and the Prime Minister.
In 2016, the Boeing 777-300ER was selected as SESF (VVIP transport).[3] The new aircraft, with specially-designed liveries, entered service in October 2020, replacing the Boeing 747-400s operated for the missions by Air India. Unlike the 747s which were commercial aircraft, the newly inducted aircraft are military vessels formally owned and operated by the Indian Air Force. They bear no Air India markings and have no commercial dual-use. However, under a special contract, they will be maintained by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), which has experience maintaining the Boeing 777 series aircraft for Air India's commercial fleet.
The aircraft are fitted with encrypted satellite communication facilities and advanced navigation aids, an advanced missile warning system, a missile deflecting shield and electronic countermeasures so as to provide protection from any ground-based or airborne threats and flares and glares for misleading the missile. They are capable of long-range travel removing the need for air-to-air refueling (which is a feature on the VC-25As though they have not been used at all in their service) . The 777-300ER's onboard electronics include about 238 miles of wiring (twice the amount found in a normal 777). The heavy shielding is crucial to protect the wiring and crucial electronics from the electromagnetic pulse associated with a nuclear blast.[4]
At a Boeing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, two ex- Air India aircraft (VT-ALV and VT-ALW, now registered as K7066 and K7067 respectively) were specially outfitted with missile defense and countermeasures dispensing systems, including large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) self-protection suites (SPS).
On Air India One flights, the President is designated as VIP-1, the Vice President as VIP-2, and the Prime Minister as VIP-3. The BBJs have a four class configuration. For VIPs 1, 2 and 3, an executive enclosure in the aircraft includes an office and a bedroom. All other passengers aboard Air India One are required to wear colour-coded identity cards at all times. Members of the official delegation (at the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India and above) are tagged in purple and sit in first class. Personnel of the Special Protection Group are also tagged in purple to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister, and may carry close combat weapons for the duration of flights. Accompanying officials (passengers of rank below Joint Secretary) are tagged in pink, and sit in business class equivalent seats. Support staff, including cooks and butlers, and other security personnel (not including the Special Protection Group) are tagged in red, while journalists in the press pool are tagged in yellow. Both red and yellow-tagged passengers sit in economy class equivalent seats.[5]
While Ministers of the Union and senior staff officers of the Indian Armed Forces may use smaller aircraft for official travel, the 777-300ER's are exclusively used by the President, Vice President and Prime Minister.[6][7] Additional Indian Air Force VIP Aircraft such as the B737 BBJ and ERJ-135 are also used by many government dignitaries (including the Prime Minister) for domestic and international medium-haul travel.
See also
References
- ↑ Nayyar, Dhiraj (26 September 2010). "Air India One,Seat No 59G". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- ↑ "AirHQ Communications Squadron, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ↑ Raj, Ashoke (14 August 2020). "Contingents of Air India, IAF, govt officials and security personnel leave for US to collect VVIP aircraft 'Air India One'". ANI News. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ↑ "Know about Air India One! (Air India 1 – AI 1)". Aviation Thrust. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ↑ Nayyar, Dhiraj (26 September 2010). "Air India One, Seat No 59G - Indian Express". Indian Express. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ↑ "India's own Air Force One takes to the skies". The Hindu. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ↑ "VVIPs get their special jets". Financial Express. 21 September 2005. Retrieved 8 April 2011.