
Executive One is the
call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
designated
for any United States civil
aircraft
An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
when the
president of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...
is on board. Typically, the president flies in military aircraft that are under the command of the
Presidential Airlift Group, which include
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control-designated Aviation call signs, call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the president of the United States. The term is commonly used to denote U.S. Air Force aircraft modifie ...
,
Marine One,
Army One,
Navy One and
Coast Guard One.
On December 26, 1973, President
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 until Resignation of Richard Nixon, his resignation in 1974. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...
became the only sitting president to travel on a regularly scheduled commercial airline flight when he flew on
United Airlines
United Airlines, Inc. is a Major airlines of the United States, major airline in the United States headquartered in Chicago, Chicago, Illinois that operates an extensive domestic and international route network across the United States and six ...
Flight 55 from
Washington Dulles International Airport to
Los Angeles International Airport, "to set an example for the rest of the nation during the
current energy crisis" and to "demonstrate his confidence in the airlines". Nixon, first lady
Pat Nixon
Thelma Catherine "Pat" Nixon (; March 16, 1912 – June 22, 1993) was First Lady of the United States from 1969 to 1974 as the wife of President Richard Nixon. She also served as the Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States, second lady ...
, daughter
Tricia Nixon, and 22 staffers, security, and pool purchased 13 first-class tickets at $217.64 and 12 coach tickets at $167.64 aboard the
DC-10 on what was traditionally not a very busy flight, and, with an eye to security, quietly boarded the plane without fanfare to maintain secrecy prior to departure. A Nixon aide carried a suitcase-sized secure communication device on board the plane, so that the President could remain in contact with Washington in the event of an emergency.
If the president's family members are aboard, but not the president himself, the flight can, at the discretion of the White House staff or Secret Service, use the callsign Executive One Foxtrot (EXEC1F).
"Foxtrot" is the
phonetic alphabet designation for the letter "F", with that being the first letter of "family".
The military helicopter that normally has the call sign "
Marine One" is assigned the "Executive One" call sign when it transports the outgoing president on their final flight from the Capitol, after the inauguration of their successor, as was done on January 20, 2009 for
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
, January 20, 2017 for
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who was the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first African American president in American history. O ...
, and January 20, 2025 for
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
.
Executive Two
Executive Two is the
call sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign (also known as a call name or call letters—and historically as a call signal—or abbreviated as a call) is a unique identifier for a transmitter station. A call sign can be formally as ...
designated for any United States civil
aircraft
An aircraft ( aircraft) is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, i ...
when the
vice president of the United States
The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest ranking office in the Executive branch of the United States government, executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks f ...
is on board.
Typically, however, the vice president flies in military aircraft that are under the command of the
Air Mobility Command
The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri, ...
's
89th Airlift Wing, based at
Joint Base Andrews in
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County (often shortened to PG County or PG) is located in the U.S. state of Maryland bordering the eastern portion of Washington, D.C. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the population was 967,201, making it ...
.
One notable exception was when
Nelson Rockefeller was named
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...
's vice president in 1974. He owned a
Grumman Gulfstream II jet that he preferred to the much slower prop powered
Convair C-131 Samaritan that was then the primary
Air Force Two
Air Force Two is the air traffic control designated call sign held by any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the vice president of the United States, but not the president. The term is often associated with the Boeing C-32, a modified ...
aircraft. Being a private plane, the Gulfstream's call sign was Executive Two while Rockefeller was in office and on board.
On February 2, 2000, a bill was on the Senate agenda that looked as if it might end up in a tie, requiring the vice president to cast the tie breaking vote. A
US Airways Shuttle flight was the fastest way to get from New York City, where Vice President
Al Gore
Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American former politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He previously served as ...
was, back to the Capitol. As it turned out, his vote was not needed.
If the vice president's family members are aboard, but not the vice president themself, the flight can optionally use the callsign Executive Two Foxtrot, just like Executive One Foxtrot.
[
]
See also
* Transportation of the president of the United States
References
{{PresidentialCallsigns
1973 in American politics
December 1973 in the United States
Presidential aircraft
Transportation of the president of the United States
Call signs
Aviation in the United States
1973 oil crisis
Presidency of Richard Nixon