President Xi Jinping’s plane and Air Force One — South China Morning Post
Ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, United States, attention has been drawn to the aircraft he uses for foreign travel and its differences from the US Air Force One. China does not have a separate presidential aircraft: for the head of state’s overseas trips, aircraft from Air China’s fleet are used, specially refitted and inspected before the flight.
As South China Morning Post reports, Chinese state reports refer to such an aircraft as “special.” In 2013, Xi Jinping made foreign visits aboard an Air China Boeing 747-400, and recently arrived in New Delhi for the BRICS summit on a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental.
Refitting before the flight
In 2013, Lu Peixin, former acting director of the Protocol Department of China’s Foreign Ministry, explained the absence of a permanent presidential aircraft by the need to avoid unnecessary expenses and increase the use of aviation equipment. He also noted that an aircraft with millions of components should not remain idle for a long time without being used.
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According to the publication, for special flights, the Civil Aviation Administration of China assigns the task to Air China. A crew is then selected, security checks are conducted, and the cabin layout is modified. Some seats may be removed and replaced with sofas and beds. According to Lu Peixin, the refitted aircraft is usually divided into four sections: an area for the head of state with a lounge, office, and bedroom; seats for ministers and other senior officials; a section for bureau- and department-level officials; and a rear section for media and staff.
Permanently equipped Air Force One
Unlike the Chinese practice, the VC-25A aircraft, commonly called Air Force One, have a permanent configuration for US presidential travel. The term Air Force One is the technical call sign for any US Air Force aircraft carrying the president, but it usually refers to two specially modified Boeing 747-200B VC-25A aircraft with tail numbers 28000 and 29000.
According to the White House, Air Force One has an area of 372 square metres across three levels. On board are presidential quarters with an office, bathroom, and meeting room, as well as separate spaces for advisers, Secret Service agents, and journalists. The aircraft is also equipped with a medical compartment, two kitchens capable of preparing up to 100 meals at once, secure communication systems, and the ability to refuel in midair.
