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PAL@YWG Member
Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 438 Location: YWG, Canada
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2020 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Bapu espoused "Simple living, high thinking", todays leaders love extravaganza; "High living (on someone else's dime), narrow thinking"
Bapu used to march on bare feet to get India's freedom. Today, have-nots march on bare feet to their misery or death.
On the surface not much changed in last 75 years except one tiny group of suckers are enjoying the largesse, stashing away their wealth in Swiss banks or hiding in places like London or Antigua. _________________ Tally Sheet:
41 Countries ||55 Aircraft types ||60 Airlines ||75 Airports |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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iah87 wrote: | While I generally agree with you points in the cost of the aircraft etc. However India is no longer a desperately poor nation, it is more a middle income country, with ok healthcare (at private hospitals) and generally affordable to middle class.
Transportation has improved vastly. There is no other country, except China perhaps, that the railway system carries so many passengers at a very affordable price with decent comforts. And the Indian air travel has vastly improved domestic and in international (except may be AI still). Yes sanitation has to improve and agreed may be it is no better than Nigeria or many sub-Saharan countries. |
I used to try and believe that, but the covid crisis that has ripped the lid off the desperation of hundreds of millions and exposed the inadequacies of an already inadequate healthcare system, and my mother's death last year in an incompetent ICU in what is supposed to be one of Mumbai's best hospitals (Jaslok) have left me despondent at the state of affairs. Nearly 75 years after independence, the twin pillars of fabian socialism and robber baron capitalism have created a crisis economy that is still closer to Pakistan's than it is to, say, Sri Lanka's.
Anyways, back to the 777s. Sorry for hijacking this thread. Despite the $$$$, the livery does look pretty good. |
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The_Goat Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2020 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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Jaysit wrote: |
I used to try and believe that, but the covid crisis that has ripped the lid off the desperation of hundreds of millions and exposed the inadequacies of an already inadequate healthcare system, and my mother's death last year in an incompetent ICU in what is supposed to be one of Mumbai's best hospitals (Jaslok) have left me despondent at the state of affairs. Nearly 75 years after independence, the twin pillars of fabian socialism and robber baron capitalism have created a crisis economy that is still closer to Pakistan's than it is to, say, Sri Lanka's.
Anyways, back to the 777s. Sorry for hijacking this thread. Despite the $$$$, the livery does look pretty good. |
I'm sorry to hear about your mom. And I bet that in addition to the incompetency, the bill in Jaslok would have made the life of a small family.
Mumbai's hospitals are a bloody racket. _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 8:18 am Post subject: |
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The second of the two new "Indian Air Force One"s. This is the once registered VT-ALV "Punjab" with Air India, soon to become K7066 with the Indian Air Force.
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/5/18547_1597172126.jpg _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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https://www.deccanherald.com/national/air-india-officials-go-to-us-to-receive-custom-made-b777-plane-for-vvip-travel-873312.html
Air India officials go to US to receive custom-made B777 plane for VVIP travel
AUG 14 2020
Senior officials of Air India have gone to the US to receive from Boeing a custom-made B777 aircraft that will be used to fly Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top Indian dignitaries, senior officials said on Friday.
"Some senior officials of the central government are also part of the team that has gone to the US to receive the plane from Boeing," said an official of the national carrier. Another custom-made B777 plane is likely to be received from Boeing in September, the official added. It was expected that the delivery of these two planes, which are earmarked for VVIP travel only, would be done by July. However, due to Covid-19, their delivery has been delayed by a few weeks.
During the travel of the VVIPs, the two B777 aircraft will be operated by pilots of the Indian Air Force and not of Air India, said another official. Currently, the prime minister, the president and the vice president fly on Air India's B747 planes, which have the call sign ''Air India One''. Air India pilots fly these B747 aircraft for the dignitaries and the Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL) maintains them.
When these B747 aircraft are not flying the dignitaries, they are used by the Indian national carrier for commercial operations. The new planes will be used for travel of the dignitaries only. These two aircraft were part of Air India's commercial fleet for a few months in 2018 before they were sent back to Boeing for retrofitting them for VVIP travel. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 8:14 am Post subject: |
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/desi-air-force-one-for-prez-pm-to-arrive-next-week/articleshow/77686013.cms
Desi 'Air Force One' for Prez & PM to arrive next week
Aug 22, 2020
he spanking new, plush and secure ride for the President and the Prime Minister on long haul flights, an Indian version of the US president's iconic 'Air Force One', is all set to soon touch down in India.
Sources said the first of the two Boeing 777-300 extended range (ER) aircraft, retrofitted with advanced security systems to jam and defeat hostile incoming missiles and encrypted communication facilities, will arrive in India early next week. The second will be delivered by the end of the year.
The two wide-bodied 777-300 ER aircraft, which Boeing had delivered to Air India in January 2018, were to be equipped with "large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) self-protection suites (SPS) in the US. These security systems alone have cost 1,365 crore in the foreign military sales deal inked with the US, as was reported earlier by TOI.
The LAIRCM-SPS protects large aircraft from shoulder-fired and intermediate range missiles. It increases crew-warning time, decreases false alarm rates and automatically counters hostile missiles. The aircraft can fly non-stop for over 17 hours. It has been customised to have big cabins with bedrooms, apart from a mini hospital and conference room. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 6:25 am Post subject: |
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-gets-new-vvip-aircraft-b777-flies-in-from-texas-to-delhi/articleshow/78430083.cms
India gets new VVIP aircraft; B777 flies in from Texas to Delhi
Oct 1, 2020
The brand new chariot of the skies for Indian President, VP and PM flew into the country on Thursday afternoon straight from Boeing Defence base in Texas. The Boeing 777 with state-of-the-art communication and defence systems is likely to operate its first VVIP flight next month. An exact replica of this aircraft will also fly home in a few days.
For over past 25 years, Boeing 747s of Air India have flown dignitaries across the world as AI One. Now the two B777s will replace the ageing jumbos. Four pilots of Air India flew the B777 non-stop from Fort Worth, Texas, to Delhi, covering a distance of about 13,000 km in just over 15 hours. It touched down at IGI Airport at 3.11 pm. AI has deployed 10 to 15 of its most experienced B777 pilots for operating the two VVIP aircraft hat cut about Rs 8,500 crore.
“There will be a hybrid model for some time with AI crew operating the planes before Indian Air Force personnel being trained on the new plane are ready to take over,” said sources.
While it is not yet certain what the new VVIP chariot will be called, sources indicate it may be termed “India One”. “In last over
25 years, AI jumbo jets were knows as AI One while operating the VVIP flights. Now IAF will be doing the same with the new B777s. Calling them Air Force One could lead to confusion and India One is a likely name,” said sources.
AI Engineering will be maintaining the two planes. Two hangars will be built at Palam technical side for the new aircraft.
The two Boeing 777-300 extended range (ER) aircraft for Indian VVIPs are retrofitted with advanced security systems to jam and defeat hostile incoming missiles and encrypted communication facilities. The two widebody aircraft, originally delivered to AI in January 2018, are equipped with “large aircraft infrared countermeasures (LAIRCM) self-protection suites (SPS) in the US.
These security systems alone have cost Rs 1,365 crore in the FMS (foreign military sales) deal inked with the US government. The LAIRCM-SPS protects large aircraft from shoulder-fired and intermediate range missiles. It increases crew-warning time, decreases false alarm rates and automatically counters hostile missiles.
The defence system includes “radar warning receivers”, which basically sound an alert if a hostile radar “paints” the aircraft before letting loose missiles, and “missile-approach warning systems”. Advanced electronic counter-measures on board the aircraft will be able to jam enemy radars, along with defence systems geared to shoot metal chaff or flares to throw off-track radar-guided or heat-seeking missiles.
Unlike the jumbos that need a stopover in Europe while flying between India and the Americas, the new aircraft can fly non-stop for over 17 hours — basically they can fy from Delhi non-stop to almost any place on earth. They have been customised to have big cabins with bedrooms for the VVIP passengers, apart from a mini hospital, conference room and seats for accompanying officials. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2020 7:28 am Post subject: |
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_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:46 am Post subject: |
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747-237 wrote: | The second of the two new "Indian Air Force One"s. This is the once registered VT-ALV "Punjab" with Air India, soon to become K7066 with the Indian Air Force. |
This was the first airframe delivered. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2020 9:10 am Post subject: |
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The once VT-ALW "Rajasthan" with Air India, has been delivered as the second of two VVIP aircraft, soon to become K7067 with the Indian Air Force.
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/air-india-one-second-vvip-aircraft-for-president-pm-arrives-in-delhi-11603602828831.html
Second VVIP aircraft for President, PM arrives in Delhi
25 Oct 2020
The second B-777 VVIP's aircraft, Air India One landed at the Delhi airport on Saturday. Air India One aircraft is exclusively for the President, Vice President and Prime Minister. The first of the two VVIP aircraft Air India One arrived in India earlier this month.
Earlier in August, contingents of senior officials of Air India, security officers, and senior government officials visited the United States to accept the delivery of the SESF or VVIP aircraft Air India One.
Air India One is equipped with an advanced and secured communication system that allows availing audio and video communication functions mid-air without any worries of hacking or being taped, sources familiar with the details told ANI earlier.
The VVIP aircraft B-777 is a replacement of wide-body aircraft Boeing B-747 jumbo aircraft whose call sign is Air India One. The interior design of the aircraft is very attractive, which was modified recently by Boeing, apart from other customisations.
The new Boeing 777 aircraft for VVIPs guest is also equipped with advanced defence systems and will be operated fully by IAF pilots in due course of time.
The colour of Air India Boeing 777 had been totally changed including changes to the design of the aircraft as per the recommendations and further approval by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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HAWK21M Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 8132 Location: Mumbai, INDIA
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Why Three.
One + One backup is adequate _________________ Think of the Brighter side !!! |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:29 am Post subject: |
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HAWK21M wrote: | Why Three.
One + One backup is adequate |
You are reading the title (intended transfer of 777s) as opposed to the news content in the thread (actual transfer of 777s). _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2020 8:17 am Post subject: |
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/ai-one-crew-member-clicks-pic-suspended/articleshow/79071475.cms
AI One crew member clicks pic, suspended
Nov 6, 2020
He could not resist taking photos of the swanky interiors of the first VVIP aircraft after the Air India team he was part of brought it home from the Boeing facility in Texas last month. If that wasn’t enough, he bragged about it in front of his friends and relatives. What the senior official landed up with was a suspension.
“After photographs of the highly secure aircraft made their way to social media, an investigation was initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office and the source of the leak was traced. The crew member and the cabin supervisor have been suspended till further notice. The supervisor was suspended because it was her duty to ensure such omissions don’t occur,’’ said a source.
Action against the errant lot did not end here. “One of the officer’s relative who received the photo is a retired Air India employee. Air India has suspended her free passage and medical benefits,’’ the source said, adding that some more suspension orders were en route. Air India has refused to comment on the matter.
The aircraft is the first of the two retrofitted Boeing 777-300 ERs ordered by India. With the call sign “Air India One”, it will fly the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister on international state visits. The interiors include, among other details, two conference rooms, a press briefing room, a VVIP suite and a medical room.
“It’s no secret that the security norms surrounding VVIP aircraft are stringent. The crew is generally briefed about the dos and donts. It’s not clear why this crew member thought it was okay to take and share pictures,’’ said an airline official. “The pictures on social media show some of the layout and seats inside the aircraft. Irrespective of how serious that breach is, it’s not something that should have happened,’’ said an official. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 7:30 am Post subject: |
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/president-boards-air-india-one-b777-aircraft-for-its-inaugural-flight-to-chennai/articleshow/79381614.cms
President boards Air India One-B777 aircraft for its inaugural flight to Chennai
Nov 24, 2020
President Ram Nath Kovind boarded the Air India One-B777 aircraft on Tuesday for its inaugural flight to Chennai, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
Kovind is visiting Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, it said.
"This is the first flight of the Air India One-B777 aircraft with the head of State on board. The aircraft is fuel efficient and has a longer range than the B747-400 that are deployed for similar VVIP operations," the statement said.
The aircraft has state-of-the-art interiors with reduced noise levels, it added.
Air India One is the call sign for the VVIP aircraft used by the president, vice president and prime minister.
On the occasion of the inaugural flight of Air India One-B777, Kovind commended the pilots, crew members and the entire team of the Air India and the Indian Air Force for operating the state-of-the-art aircraft and facilitating VVIP movements within the country and on state visits abroad, the statement said.
_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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The_Goat Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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747-237 wrote: | https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/president-boards-air-india-one-b777-aircraft-for-its-inaugural-flight-to-chennai/articleshow/79381614.cms
President boards Air India One-B777 aircraft for its inaugural flight to Chennai
Nov 24, 2020
President Ram Nath Kovind boarded the Air India One-B777 aircraft on Tuesday for its inaugural flight to Chennai, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
Kovind is visiting Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, it said.
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Pres Kovind making hay on the taxpayers dime . He could have flown the IAF 737-700 BBJ directly from Delhi to Tirupati. The trip would have been considerably cheaper. Still he chooses to fly the palace in the sky and it has to go via Chennai as the 777 cannot land in Tirupati. Additional arrangements would have had to be made to move his entourage from Chennai to Tirupati.
He most likely had his extended family on either side all partaking on the taxpayer funded joyride, hence the need for the 777! What a shame!
_________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl |
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iah87 Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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The_Goat wrote: | 747-237 wrote: | https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/president-boards-air-india-one-b777-aircraft-for-its-inaugural-flight-to-chennai/articleshow/79381614.cms
President boards Air India One-B777 aircraft for its inaugural flight to Chennai
Nov 24, 2020
President Ram Nath Kovind boarded the Air India One-B777 aircraft on Tuesday for its inaugural flight to Chennai, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement.
Kovind is visiting Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to offer prayers at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple, it said.
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Pres Kovind making hay on the taxpayers dime . He could have flown the IAF 737-700 BBJ directly from Delhi to Tirupati. The trip would have been considerably cheaper. Still he chooses to fly the palace in the sky and it has to go via Chennai as the 777 cannot land in Tirupati. Additional arrangements would have had to be made to move his entourage from Chennai to Tirupati.
He most likely had his extended family on either side all partaking on the taxpayer funded joyride, hence the need for the 777! What a shame!
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Not defending the President, but here is a possible explanation: This is a new plane and due to Covid restrictions, cannot fly to other countries, so had to try and use within India.
And usually the first flight is to a temple for some Indians and Tirupati of course is famous as one of the most visited religious sites in the world. |
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GF1011 Member
Joined: 02 Jan 2015 Posts: 87
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Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2021 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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iah87 wrote: |
Not defending the President, but here is a possible explanation: This is a new plane and due to Covid restrictions, cannot fly to other countries, so had to try and use within India.
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Agree.
This was probably also a great opportunity for a 'Dry Run' for all associated crew-members. (flight crew, logistics & protocols team, security personnel, etc) to get familiar with the new, 'modified' B777 whilst carrying an actual VIP on board.
Better to get acquainted with all the 'bells and whistles' of the bird whilst staying over Indian soil before venturing abroad. |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11347 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2021 8:13 am Post subject: |
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https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/pioneer-exclusive/pm-boards-air-india-one-first-time-to-fly-to-dhaka.html
PM boards Air India One first time to fly to Dhaka
27 March 2021
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for the first time boarded the Air India One aircraft to fly to Bangladesh. The newly-inducted custom-made Boeing 777 aircraft has been acquired to facilitate VVIP movements within India and on state visits abroad.
The B777 aircraft, which has registration number VT-ALW, was delivered by Boeing to the Indian Government in October last year. President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated Air India One when he boarded the B777 aircraft on its inaugural flight to Chennai in November 2020.
The aircraft, which has call sign AI1 or Air India One, departed from Delhi around 8 am and landed at the Dhaka airport around 10.30 am on Friday, officials said.
Another custom-made B777 aircraft, with registration number VT-ALV, was also delivered by the American aircraft giant to the Indian Government in October last year. Both of them will be on par with the US President’s Air Force One in terms of security measures.
The planes are to fly only President, Vice President and Prime Minister. These two aircraft were part of Air India’s commercial fleet for a few months in 2018 before they were sent back to Boeing for retrofitting for VVIP travel.
_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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