There can be one and only one aircraft using the callsign AF1. That is simply because AF1 means the President is on board. Obviously the President cannot be on two separate aircraft at the same time.
For that matter, regardless of the actual aircraft being used, it is always designated AF1. It doesn't even have to be an Air Force plane. Were the President to whimsically decide to use his "Trump 1" aircraft, it would become AF1, but of course the crew would still be from his assigned Air Force pilots and stewards. He would be strongly discouraged from doing so because his aircraft has never been updated with the specialized communications equipment, as well as other counter air strike defenses!
All
aircraft, including the
two that serve as
Air Force One, are housed and maintained at Andrews, just 10 miles southeast of the White House. The wing employs 80 pilots and 89 flight attendants who are handpicked for this mission from the greater
Air Force pool. Pilots with fewer than 2,500 hours of flight
time won't even be considered, and most have several thousand hours of experience flying fighter jets or other military aircraft. Though their tailored blue business suits and uniforms might suggest otherwise, these people are all battle-ready, field-trained and prepared to defend their aircraft and passengers on a moment's notice.
The same principle applies to the V-P. Whatever aircraft Pence happens to be aboard is designated AF2.
If only direct family is aboard, then the designation is Executive 1 or Executive 2 respectively.
In these days of ADSB in and out, the practice of having an identical 'dummy' aircraft seems a bit archaic and silly, but then again our government is rife with silliness and waste.
