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Details emerge about the luxury jet Trump received from Qatar...
A billion dollars to make Qatar's Boeing 747 suitable to become an Air Force One. Another 134 million, per year, in operating costs, slightly less than the real value of the four-engine aircraft. In the background, the issue becomes increasingly political and delicate. With the leader of the Democratic senators, Chuck Schumer, who – writes the website Axios – wants to block the use of a foreign aircraft as a state aircraft through parliament. As details emerge about how the Trump administration ended up choosing the four-engine Doha royal family.
Searching for a replacement
In two articles, CNN and the New York Times explain that rather than a "gift" from Qatar, the Middle East Boeing 747-8 — a more modern version of the two 747s used by the White House as Air Force One — was chosen after an international search by men close to the US president. There were only 8 aircraft in circulation with the desired characteristics. But it was decided to focus on the Qatari one because of the intense relations with the country and the personal ones between Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, and Doha.
Selected aircraft
The royal family's Boeing 747, registered P4-HBJ – as Corriere predicted in recent days – left Boeing's factories in Everett, near Seattle, a little over thirteen years ago. Its market value, given the VIP configuration, is around $150 million, as it is a specimen that is halfway through its life cycle. According to aviation data, the giant of the skies in December 2023 passed from the royal family to Global Jet from the British Isle of Man.
Qatar 747 movements
Trump was able to inspect the plane in person while at West Palm Beach International Airport. According to tracking sites, the 747-8 landed in Florida on February 15. The New York Times reports that the US president went to see it around 10 a.m., only to be struck by it. On February 16, he returned to Doha, also flying over Italy. The next day, the plane returned to the US. Then on March 30, it flew to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. On April 2, it landed in Bangor, Maine. On April 3, in San Antonio, Texas. And from there, it never left.
Boeing delays
Trump's rush is also the result of persistent delays in deliveries from Boeing. The United States signed a deal in 2018 – worth $3.9 billion – to receive two new 747s that will be used starting in 2024 as the new Air Force One. Now those planes could arrive when Trump has already completed his second term. If – as requested by the American aeronautical giant – certain procedures are eased and then Boeing could deliver the planes as early as 2027. However, too late for the Republican president.
Protection systems
Making Qatar's 747-8 a truly presidential jet—that is, one that meets the required safety standards—could take two years of work and over a billion dollars in costs. Each of the Air Force Ones currently in service is equipped with various infrared systems capable of deflecting air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. These are supplemented by countermeasures to "confuse" an incoming missile as "animal" and "flame." The two presidential jets are also equipped with ultraviolet sensors that detect and track threats by detecting the thermal signature of a missile in flight.
Telematics devices
The Boeing's body is also reinforced with a protective layer that protects it from electromagnetic damage caused by some explosions. While at the electronic level, the communication lines are encrypted and "protected" by jammers capable of blocking the radar systems of any nearby aircraft while flying through dangerous airspace. The presidential 747 can fly for 14-15 hours, but can be refueled in flight through the nose.
Daily management
But how much does it cost to run an Air Force One? The Pentagon document calculates that operating costs are $134 million annually, more than $367,000 per day. Of this, $37.7 million is for personnel alone, $27 million for maintenance, and nearly $17 million for ongoing system upgrades. In fact, the Qatari plane would cost what would be paid for thirteen months of operation of one of the current presidential jets. / Adapted from "Corriere Della Sera"
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