Being Confused for Air Force One? REALLY???!!!!

[Ravenkeeper]

This is one of the two aircraft that I work on each night. Pay particular attention to the tail markings ("AF-01").

MDS: F-35A
Tail#: AF-01 (She is the first F-35A built, not to be confused with X-35A nor F-35A "AA-01.")

Base OPS was being "STUPID" today, made our flight, today, 2 hours late, so we didn't get as much range time, nor completed all of the test points that we needed to do today. Her tailnumber is "AF-01," and it's written that way on the paperwork at OPS, for today's flight. Flight Call-Sign was "Jester 11," and was also annotated as such on the same paperwork. For whatever stupid reason, Base OPS was not going to let her fly as "Air Force One." She's only been flying here at Edwards for 12 year.

Big differences between AF-01 and AA-01, NLG door(s) (AF-01 and all F-35s, have 2 NLG doors, AA-01 had a giant crosswind catcher door), and paint scheme (AA-01 didn't have "flashy" tails like AF-01).

 

[techman210]

And this, boys and girls, is how to eliminate that pesky line that states: “Active Secret Clearance” on your CV.

 

[JDrisc3480]

I guess operational security is not harped on these days like it was when I was in.

 

[Ravenkeeper]

I guess operational security is not harped on these days like it was when I was in.

OH, OPSEC is still there, just don't think that the current staff at base ops has any common sense.

 

[chrismol1]

This plane is all over the net, pics and all. I dont think its that much of a deal. Nothing the Chinese don't already know. LOL Air Force One AF-01
How about Alpha Foxtrot One?

 

[motorcoachdoug]

Well everyone show know that no matter what airforce aircraft that POTUS is on ,it is automatically called Air; Force 1 since it is the personal call sign of POTUS and only he can use that call sign when he is aboard an airforce aircraft. If he should be aboard an army aircraft then it becomes Army 1 and same with the navy. I know of a G5 aircraft called Presidential 69 for all the atc coms and they had to sign a bunch of FAA paperwork in order to get that permanent call sign as well,so instead of using N*** for all atc coms, they use the Presidential 69 instead.

 

[AirScan]

Apart from POTUS and VPOTUS (1 and 2) and there any other times the "Air Force" callsign is used ? Is there an Air Force 3 ?

 

[buddrousa]

Not when NANCY flies.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Apart from POTUS and VPOTUS (1 and 2) and there any other times the "Air Force" callsign is used ? Is there an Air Force 3 ?

There is no "Air Force 3".
Below is from Chapter 2 Section 4 of FAA 7110.65Y

7. Presidential aircraft and Presidential family aircraft:
a. When the President is aboard a military aircraft, state the name of the military service, followed by the word “One.”
EXAMPLE-
“Air Force One.”
“Army One.”
“Marine One.”
b. When the President is aboard a civil aircraft, state the words “Executive One.”
c. When a member of the President's family is aboard any aircraft, if the U.S. Secret Service or the White House Staff determines it is necessary, state the words “Executive One Foxtrot.”
REFERENCE-
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-4, Operational Priority.
8. Vice Presidential aircraft:
a. When the Vice President is aboard a military aircraft, state the name of the military service, followed by the word “Two.”
EXAMPLE-
“Air Force Two.”
“Army Two.”
“Marine Two.”
b. When the Vice President is aboard a civil aircraft, state the words “Executive Two.”
c. When a member of the Vice President's family is aboard any aircraft, if the U.S. Secret Service or the White House Staff determines it is necessary, state the words “Executive Two Foxtrot.”
REFERENCE-
FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-4, Operational Priority.

 

[FIRE321FIGHTER1985]

I was in the USAF over 30 yrs ago with a top secret clearance. I really do not believe that this kind of information should be posted for security reasons. Anybody in or out of the military should not be sharing this type of Info.

 

[motorcoachdoug]

That info has been posted in the local news paper and it is here online as well. It is no long TS info.

 

[AirScan]

I really do not believe that this kind of information should be posted for security reasons. Anybody in or out of the military should not be sharing this type of Info.

The only thing I see that might be problematic is the OP calling Base Ops stupid. In the civilian world a similar type post online might be construed as a violation of the code of conduct rules companies make you sign as a term of employment. I've seen people fired for less after posting flippant comments about their company online. I have no idea how this is handled in the military.

So how sensitive a security risk it is knowing that Base Ops might be "allegedly" stupid ? In this case the allegation doesn't really stand up as it would seem there are obvious reason why you would not want to use the "Air Force 1" callsign for any other reason than as specified above in the FAA regulations.

As to the rest of the thread I can't see anything that might be considered a security risk ? The fact that AA-01 had a giant crosswind catcher door and flashy tail ? Is this a secret ?

Just wondering

 

[AirScan]

There is no "Air Force 3".

I have a vague recollection of hearing a USAF aircraft once using the "Air Force" callsign with a number other than 1 or 2. Like Air Force 100 or something ? This was a few years ago, maybe it was at an airshow, or I just have a bad memory ?

 

[alcahuete]

I know of a G5 aircraft called Presidential 69 for all the atc coms and they had to sign a bunch of FAA paperwork in order to get that permanent call sign as well,so instead of using N*** for all atc coms, they use the Presidential 69 instead.

There's nothing special about that. PRD is just an ICAO call sign for Presidential Aviation, just like AAL, DAL, etc. It's a charter company.

 

[alcahuete]

I have a vague recollection of hearing a USAF aircraft once using the "Air Force" callsign with a number other than 1 or 2. Like Air Force 100 or something ? This was a few years ago, maybe it was at an airshow, or I just have a bad memory ?

You don't have a bad memory. "A" with darn near any number after it is an Air Force call sign. A68773 would be Air Force Six Eight Seven Seven Three, for example. You come across those all the time. The exception is Air Force One and Two, which use AF1 and AF2, instead of A. They used to use A1 and A2, but that changed quite a few years ago.

 

[AirScan]

A68773 would be Air Force Six Eight Seven Seven Three, for example. You come across those all the time.

I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing here ? I'm talking about the voice callsign used with ATC on the radio. I've never heard an "Air Force 68773" callsign like that ? What type are you talking about ? The one I vaguely remember hearing used a 3 digit flight number, and I've only heard it once in 40 years of aircraft monitoring.

 

[alcahuete]

I'm not sure we are talking about the same thing here ? I'm talking about the voice callsign used with ATC on the radio. I've never heard an "Air Force 68773" callsign like that ? What type are you talking about ? The one I vaguely remember hearing used a 3 digit flight number, and I've only heard it once in 40 years of aircraft monitoring.

Yes, we are talking about the same thing...voice call signs used with ATC. You see A with a bunch of numbers fairly regularly. Why you have only heard it once, is beyond me. Generally speaking, they do use their tactical call signs way more frequently than Axxxxx, but Air Force whatever is used commonly as well, generally on cargo and transport planes. I can't say I have ever seen a fighter use Air Force whatever as their call sign.

 

[dlwtrunked]

I was in the USAF over 30 yrs ago with a top secret clearance. I really do not believe that this kind of information should be posted for security reasons. Anybody in or out of the military should not be sharing this type of Info.

My post with all the info above is from a public US government document--and in fact came from a public FAA website. It is not classified nor considered sensitive information and is well-known. In fact, you can get your own copy here.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/7110.65Y.pdf

 

[dlwtrunked]

Well everyone show know that no matter what airforce aircraft that POTUS is on ,it is automatically called Air; Force 1 since it is the personal call sign of POTUS and only he can use that call sign when he is aboard an airforce aircraft. If he should be aboard an army aircraft then it becomes Army 1 and same with the navy. I know of a G5 aircraft called Presidential 69 for all the atc coms and they had to sign a bunch of FAA paperwork in order to get that permanent call sign as well,so instead of using N*** for all atc coms, they use the Presidential 69 instead.

Presidential 69 N269WR

A rendition of the livery for Presidential Aviation's Gulfstream GIV, Registration Number N269WR, Call Sign Presidential 69 (Actual) made famous by the Corporate Pilot Life Channel on YouTube. Download file and unzip to your X-Plane 11\Aircraft\Business Jets\Gulfstream G-IV SP_11.3.1\liveries Fol...

forums.x-plane.org

 

[AirScan]

Why you have only heard it once, is beyond me. Generally speaking, they do use their tactical call signs way more frequently than Axxxxx, but Air Force whatever is used commonly as well, generally on cargo and transport planes.

Now you've got me curious ? I can say for sure that in the last 10 years I've never heard a USAF transport (C-5, C-17, C-130, etc.) use "Air Force" in their callsign. Plus I can't recall ever seeing any transports identified by Axxxxx on ADSB-X. Can you give me more context on where you are hearing this and seeing Axxxxx ?