The new aircraft that PM Modi is about to travel from July next year will be piloted by Indian Air Force pilots. Two specially designed B777 aircraft used by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top dignitaries of India from July next year will be piloted not by Air India but by the Indian Air Force. Its biggest feature is that the aircraft will be equipped with anti-missile technology. It has signed a 190 million deal with America. This aircraft has been given Air India One.
An official said that the maintenance of the aircraft would be done by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), a subsidiary of Air India. Presently President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi use Air India aircraft B747. These aircraft are flown by Air India pilots and the responsibility of their maintenance is with AIESL. When these B747 aircraft do not fly for dignitaries, Air India uses them for commercial operations.
A senior Air India official said, two new B777 aircraft will be brought to India from Boeing's US plant in July next year. These will have 'Air India One' written on them. Only Air Force pilots will fly these two new aircraft for the Prime Minister, President and Vice President.
The official said that four to six pilots of the Air Force have been trained by Air India for the B777 aircraft. Some other Air Force pilots will also be trained soon. The new aircraft will only be used to visit dignitaries.
The B777 aircraft will have a state-of-the-art missile defense system, called Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) and Self-Protection Suite (SPS). In February, the US agreed to sell two defense systems to India at a total cost of US $ 190 million.
