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'He's showing up.' Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO Ortberg. Can he keep it going?
'He's showing up.' Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO Ortberg. Can he keep it going?

NBC News

time28-07-2025

  • Business
  • NBC News

'He's showing up.' Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO Ortberg. Can he keep it going?

After spiraling from crisis to crisis over much of the past seven years, Boeing is stabilizing under CEO Kelly Ortberg 's leadership. Ortberg, a longtime aerospace executive and an engineer whom the manufacturer plucked from retirement to fix the problem-addled company last year, is set this week to outline significant progress since he took the helm a year ago. Boeing reports quarterly results and gives its outlook on Tuesday. So far, investors are liking what they've been seeing. Shares of the company are up more than 30% so far this year. Wall Street analysts expect the aircraft manufacturer to halve its second-quarter losses from a year ago when it reports. Ortberg told investors in May that the manufacturer expects to generate cash in the second half of the year. Boeing's aircraft production has increased, and its airplane deliveries just hit the highest level in 18 months. It's a shift for Boeing, whose successive leaders missed targets on aircraft delivery schedules, certifications, financial goals and culture changes that frustrated investors and customers alike, while rival Airbus pulled ahead. 'The general agreement is that the culture is changing after decades of self-inflicted knife wounds,' said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, an aerospace consulting firm. Analysts expect the company to post its first annual profit since 2018 next year. 'When he got the job, I was not anywhere as near as optimistic as today,' said Douglas Harned, senior aerospace and defense analyst at Bernstein. Ortberg's work was already cut out for him, but the challenges multiplied when he arrived. As the company hemorrhaged cash, Ortberg announced massive cost cuts, including laying off 10% of the company. Its machinists who make the majority of its airplanes went on strike for seven weeks until the company and the workers' union signed a new labor deal. Ortberg also oversaw a more than $20 billion capital raise last fall, replaced the head of the defense unit and sold off its Jeppesen navigation business. Ortberg bought a house in the Seattle area, where Boeing makes most of its planes, shortly after taking the job last August, and his presence has been positive, aerospace analysts have said. 'He's showing up,' Aboulafia said. 'You show up, you talk to people.' Boeing declined to make Ortberg available for an interview. Another turnaround Boeing's leaders hoped for a turnaround year in 2024. But five days in, a door-plug blew out of a nearly new Boeing 737 Max 9 as it climbed out of Portland. The almost-catastrophe brought Boeing a production slowdown, renewed Federal Aviation Administration scrutiny and billions in cash burn. Key bolts were left off the plane before it was delivered to Alaska Airlines. It was the latest in a series of quality problems at Boeing, where other defects have required time-consuming reworking. Boeing had already been reeling from two deadly Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that sullied the reputation of America's largest exporter. The company in May reached an agreement with the Justice Department to avoid prosecution stemming from a battle over a previous criminal conspiracy charge tied to the crashes. Victims' family members slammed the deal when it was announced. For years, executives at top Boeing airline customers complained publicly about the manufacturer and its leadership as they grappled with delays. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told investors in May 2022 that management needed a 'reboot or boot up the arse.' Last week, O'Leary had a different tune. 'I continue to believe Kelly Ortberg, [and Boeing Commercial Airplane unit CEO] Stephanie Pope are doing a great job,' he said on an earnings call. 'I mean, there is no doubt that the quality of what is being produced, the hulls in Wichita and the aircraft in Seattle has dramatically improved.' United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby cast doubt over the Boeing 737 Max 10 after the January 2024 door-plug accident, as the carrier prepared not to have that aircraft in its fleet plan. The plane is still not certified, but Kirby has said Boeing has been more predictability on airplane deliveries. Still, delays for the Max 10, the largest of the Max family, and the yet-to-be certified Max 7, the smallest, are a headache for customers, especially since having too few or too many seats on a flight can determine profitability for airlines. 'They're working the right problems. The consistency of deliveries is much better,' Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said in an interview last month. 'But there's no update on the Max 7. We're assuming we are not flying it in 2026.' Not out of the woods Boeing under Ortberg still has much to fix. The FAA capped Boeing's production at 38 Maxes a month, a rate that it has reached. To go beyond that, to a target of 42, Boeing will need the FAA's blessing. Ortberg said this year that the company is stabilizing to go beyond that rate. Manufacturers get paid when aircraft are delivered, so higher production is key. 'I would suspect they would be having those discussions very soon,' Harned said. 'It's 47 [a month] that I think is the challenging break.' He added that Boeing has a lot of inventory on hand to help increase production. Its defense unit has also suffered. The defense unit encompasses programs like the KC-46 tanker program and Air Force One, which has drawn public ire from President Donald Trump. Trump, frustrated with delays on the two new jets meant to serve the president, turned to a used Qatari Boeing 747 to potentially use as a presidential aircraft, though insiders say that used plane could require months of reoutfitting. Ortberg replaced the head of that unit last fall. A strike could also be on the horizon at the defense unit after factory workers 'overwhelmingly' rejected a new labor deal, according to their union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 837. 'The proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce,' the union said Sunday. 'Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future.' There is a seven-day cooling off period before a strike would begin, if a new deal isn't reached. 'They're not totally out of the woods,' Harned said. Boeing and Ortberg also need to start thinking about a new jet, some industry members said. Its best-selling 737 first debuted in 1967, and the company was looking at a midsize jetliner before the two crashes sent its attention elsewhere. 'Already there's been a reversal from 'read my lips, no new jet.' I would like to see that accelerate,' Aboulafia said. 'He is the guy to make that happen.'

'He's showing up.' Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO Ortberg. Can he keep it going?
'He's showing up.' Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO Ortberg. Can he keep it going?

CNBC

time27-07-2025

  • Business
  • CNBC

'He's showing up.' Things are getting better at Boeing under CEO Ortberg. Can he keep it going?

After spiraling from crisis to crisis over much of the past seven years, Boeing is stabilizing under CEO Kelly Ortberg's leadership. Ortberg, a longtime aerospace executive and an engineer whom the manufacturer plucked from retirement to fix the problem-addled company last year, is set this week to outline significant progress since he took the helm a year ago. Boeing reports quarterly results and gives its outlook on Tuesday. So far, investors are liking what they've been seeing. Shares of the company are up more than 30% so far this year. Wall Street analysts expect the aircraft manufacturer to halve its second-quarter losses from a year ago when it reports. Ortberg told investors in May that the manufacturer expects to generate cash in the second half of the year. Boeing's aircraft production has increased, and its airplane deliveries just hit the highest level in 18 months. It's a shift for Boeing, whose successive leaders missed targets on aircraft delivery schedules, certifications, financial goals and culture changes that frustrated investors and customers alike, while rival Airbus pulled ahead. "The general agreement is that the culture is changing after decades of self-inflicted knife wounds," said Richard Aboulafia, managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, an aerospace consulting firm. Analysts expect the company to post its first annual profit since 2018 next year. "When he got the job, I was not anywhere as near as optimistic as today," said Douglas Harned, senior aerospace and defense analyst at Bernstein. Ortberg's work was already cut out for him, but the challenges multiplied when he arrived. As the company hemorrhaged cash, Ortberg announced massive cost cuts, including laying off 10% of the company. Its machinists who make the majority of its airplanes went on strike for seven weeks until the company and the workers' union signed a new labor deal. Ortberg also oversaw a more than $20 billion capital raise last fall, replaced the head of the defense unit and sold off its Jeppesen navigation business. Ortberg bought a house in the Seattle area, where Boeing makes most of its planes, shortly after taking the job last Augustand his presence has been positive, aerospace analysts have said. "He's showing up," Aboulafia said. "You show up, you talk to people." Boeing declined to make Ortberg available for an interview. Boeing's leaders hoped for a turnaround year in 2024. But five days in, a door-plug blew out of a nearly new Boeing 737 Max 9 as it climbed out of Portland. The almost-catastrophe brought Boeing a production slowdown, renewed Federal Aviation Administration scrutiny and billions in cash burn. Key bolts were left off the plane before it was delivered to Alaska Airlines. It was the latest in a series of quality problems at Boeing, where other defects have required time-consuming reworking. Boeing had already been reeling from two deadly Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that sullied the reputation of America's largest exporter. The company in May reached an agreement with the Justice Department to avoid prosecution stemming from a battle over a previous criminal conspiracy charge tied to the crashes. Victims' family members slammed the deal when it was announced. For years, executives at top Boeing airline customers complained publicly about the manufacturer and its leadership as they grappled with delays. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary told investors in May 2022 that management needed a "reboot or boot up the arse." Last week, O'Leary had a different tune. "I continue to believe Kelly Ortberg, [and Boeing Commercial Airplane unit CEO] Stephanie Pope are doing a great job," he said on an earnings call. "I mean, there is no doubt that the quality of what is being produced, the hulls in Wichita and the aircraft in Seattle has dramatically improved." United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby cast doubt over the Boeing 737 Max 10 after the January 2024 door-plug accident, as the carrier prepared not to have that aircraft in its fleet plan. The plane is still not certified, but Kirby has said Boeing has been more predictability on airplane deliveries. Still, delays for the Max 10, the largest of the Max family, and the yet-to-be certified Max 7, the smallest, are a headache for customers, especially since having too few or too many seats on a flight can determine profitability for airlines. "They're working the right problems. The consistency of deliveries is much better," Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said in an interview last month. "But there's no update on the Max 7. We're assuming we are not flying it in 2026." Boeing under Ortberg still has much to fix. The FAA capped Boeing's production at 38 Maxes a month, a rate that it has reached. To go beyond that, to a target of 42, Boeing will need the FAA's blessing. Ortberg said this year that the company is stabilizing to go beyond that rate. Manufacturers get paid when aircraft are delivered, so higher production is key. "I would suspect they would be having those discussions very soon," Harned said. "It's 47 [a month] that I think is the challenging break." He added that Boeing has a lot of inventory on hand to help increase production. Its defense unit has also suffered. The defense unit encompasses programs like the KC-46 tanker program and Air Force One, which has drawn public ire from President Donald Trump. Trump, frustrated with delays on the two new jets meant to serve the president, turned to a used Qatari Boeing 747 to potentially use as a presidential aircraft, though insiders say that used plane could require months of reoutfitting. Ortberg replaced the head of that unit last fall. "They're not totally out of the woods," Harned said. Boeing and Ortberg also need to start thinking about a new jet, some industry members said. Its best-selling 737 first debuted in 1967, and the company was looking at a midsize jetliner before the two crashes sent its attention elsewhere. "Already there's been a reversal from 'read my lips, no new jet.' I would like to see that accelerate," Aboulafia said. "He is the guy to make that happen."

Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say
Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say

Yahoo

time14-05-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say

Converting a Qatari-owned 747 jet into a new Air Force One for President Donald Trump would involve installing multiple top-secret systems, cost over $1 billion and take years to complete, three aviation experts told NBC News. They said that accepting the 13-year-old jet would likely cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over time, noting that refurbishing the commercial plane would exceed its current value of $400 million. The project might also not be completed by the end of Trump's term in 2029, at which time the plane is expected to be handed over to Trump's presidential library foundation. Richard Aboulafia, an analyst and consultant on commercial and military aviation, said he thought turning the Qatari jetliner into Air Force One would cost billions and take years. 'You're taking a 747, disassembling it, reassembling it, and then jacking it up to a very high level,' said Aboulafia, a managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, a consulting firm. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Aviation experts refer to Air Force One as the most complicated aircraft on the planet. The plane is meant to serve as a secure communication center in the sky — including command and control of nuclear weapons — and allow the president to issue orders to military and government agencies in the event of war or other emergency. Experts said the idea made no financial or practical sense given that Boeing is already deep into a multiyear effort to convert two 747s to replace current Air Force One planes. They said that the contract for refurbishing the Qatari 747 would likely go to Boeing as its original manufacturer. 'Since you're also disassembling and reassembling the jet for security reasons, you're probably going to go with the people who know it better,' Aboulafia said. 'If you have to rip the plane apart, that's more of a Boeing job.' Some of the work could be done by L3 Harris, which specializes in this kind of work. The work would likely be done in Greenville, Texas. Qatari officials have said that the possible transfer of an aircraft for use as a new Air Force One plane is under consideration but no final decision has been made. The Qatari jumbo jet would have to be effectively dismantled, part by part, to ensure there were no listening devices, spyware or other security vulnerabilities that could allow foreign powers to eavesdrop on the president's plane. It would then have to be fitted with costly, sophisticated systems for secure government communications, midair refueling, missile defense, countering electronic jamming and protecting against electro-magnetic pulse attack. There would likely need to be quarters added for White House medical staff and the Secret Service. Installing the new systems could push the project into the 2030s, according to Aboulafia, who said that equipping the plane with midair refueling capability alone would be 'enormously time-consuming.' The White House has said the jet would be handed over to Trump's presidential library foundation by the end of his term, in January 2029. That would presumably require the removal of all the sensitive government equipment installed on the aircraft. Trump could override current Air Force security rules but usually employees working on presidential aircraft or similar sensitive projects need a high-level security clearance, known as a 'Yankee White' clearance, according to an industry member who asked not to be named. In the past, Boeing has struggled to find enough workers with the necessary security clearances to do the work. In 2018, the Air Force issued a contract to Boeing to convert two 747s to eventually serve as new Air Force One aircraft, for $3.9 billion. In 2019, the Pentagon estimated that the total estimated cost of building, equipping and testing the planes would be higher, at about $5.3 billion. The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. The jets were supposed to be ready by last year but may not be delivered until 2029. At a congressional hearing on May 8, Darlene Costello, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, told lawmakers that the new planes could be ready by 2027 by reducing some of the requirements for the aircraft. In 2022, Boeing's then-CEO, Dave Calhoun, suggested the firm should not have accepted the Trump administration's terms in 2018 on the new Air Force One. For Boeing, converting the Qatari jetliner under a new contract could be good news as it has lost money on the fixed-cost contract it agreed to during Trump's first term, as it has had to absorb major cost overruns, Aboulafia said. 'This would be a real relief for Boeing,' he said. This article was originally published on

Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say
Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say

NBC News

time13-05-2025

  • Business
  • NBC News

Turning Qatari 747 into Air Force One could cost $1 billion and take years, experts say

Converting a Qatari-owned 747 jet into a new Air Force One for President Donald Trump would involve installing multiple top-secret systems, cost over $1 billion and take years to complete, three aviation experts told NBC News. They said that accepting the 13-year-old jet would likely cost U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over time, noting that refurbishing the commercial plane would exceed its current value of $400 million. The project might also not be completed by the end of Trump's term in 2028. Richard Aboulafia, an analyst and consultant on commercial and military aviation, said he thought turning the Qatari jetliner into Air Force One would cost billions and take years. 'You're taking a 747, disassembling it, reassembling it, and then jacking it up to a very high level,' said Aboulafia, a managing director at AeroDynamic Advisory, a consulting firm. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Aviation experts refer to Air Force One as the most complicated aircraft on the planet. The plane is meant to serve as a secure communication center in the sky — including command and control of nuclear weapons — and allow the president to issue orders to military and government agencies in the event of war or other emergency. Experts said the idea made no financial or practical sense given that Boeing is already deep into a multiyear effort to convert two 747s to replace current Air Force One planes. They said that the contract for refurbishing the Qatari 747 would likely go to Boeing as its original manufacturer. 'Since you're also disassembling and reassembling the jet for security reasons, you're probably going to go with the people who know it better,' Aboulafia said. 'If you have to rip the plane apart, that's more of a Boeing job.' Some of the work could be done by L3 Harris, which specializes in this kind of work. The work would likely be done in Greenville, Texas. Qatari officials have said that the possible transfer of an aircraft for use as a new Air Force One plane is under consideration but no final decision has been made. Dismantled, part by part The Qatari jumbo jet would have to be effectively dismantled, part by part, to ensure there were no listening devices, spyware or other security vulnerabilities that could allow foreign powers to eavesdrop on the president's plane. It would then have to be fitted with costly, sophisticated systems for secure government communications, midair refueling, missile defense, countering electronic jamming and protecting against electro-magnetic pulse attack. There would likely need to be quarters added for White House medical staff and the Secret Service. Installing the new systems could push the project into the 2030s, according to Aboulafia, who said that equipping the plane with mid-air refueling capability alone would be 'enormously time-consuming.' The White House says the jet would be handed over to Trump's presidential library foundation by the end of his term in January, 2029. That would presumably require the removal of all the sensitive government equipment installed on the aircraft. Trump could override current Air Force security rules but usually employees working on presidential aircraft or similar sensitive projects need a high-level security clearance, known as a 'Yankee White' clearance, according to an industry member who asked not to be named. In the past Boeing has struggled to find enough workers with the necessary security clearances to do the work. 'A real relief for Boeing' In 2018, the Air Force issued a contract to Boeing to convert two 747s to eventually serve as new Air Force One aircraft, for $3.9 billion. In 2019, the Pentagon estimated that the total estimated cost of building, equipping and testing the planes would be higher, at about $5.3 billion. The project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. The jets were supposed to be ready by last year but may not be delivered until 2029. At a congressional hearing on May 8, Darlene Costello, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics, told lawmakers that the new planes could be ready by 2027 by reducing some of the requirements for the aircraft. In 2022, Boeing's then-CEO, Dave Calhoun, suggested the firm should not have accepted the Trump administration's terms in 2018 on the new Air Force One. For Boeing, converting the Qatari jetliner under a new contract could be good news as it has lost money on the fixed-cost contract it agreed to during Trump's first term, as it has had to absorb major cost overruns, Aboulafia said. 'This would be a real relief for Boeing,' he said.

Qatar's Royal Boeing 747-8 Gift To Trump Is A Vanity Air Force One
Qatar's Royal Boeing 747-8 Gift To Trump Is A Vanity Air Force One

Forbes

time13-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Forbes

Qatar's Royal Boeing 747-8 Gift To Trump Is A Vanity Air Force One

US President Donald Trump gestures as he walks to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in ... More Maryland on May 12, 2025. President Trump is travelling to the Middle East, where Saudi Arabia will be the first stop on a four-day trip. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) President Trump could receive a VIP-configured Boeing 747-8 as a gift from the Qatari royal family. The aircraft would serve as Air Force One throughout the president's term in office. Aircraft ownership would transfer to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation at the end of his term rather than remain a U.S. Air Force asset to serve future presidents, as other Air Force One aircraft do. As such, the Qatari luxury plane could become the president's private aircraft after he leaves office, replacing his aging Boeing 757 Trump Force One. However, Trump has denied he would use the aircraft, so it might just become a museum piece like Ronald Reagan's Air Force One. Whatever its fate, the $400 million gift has raised some ethical and technical concerns. While the debate on these is ongoing, experts agree that the Qatari 747-8 is unlikely to meet current and future Air Force One standards. As Richard Aboulafia, an industry analyst and managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, told DefenseNews: 'It's all based on an embarrassing misunderstanding of what Air Force One is meant to do. If it's a gold-plated palace in the sky and nothing more, have at it. If it's an actual tool [to be used in a] Air Force One is the military handle given to the U.S. Air Force planes carrying the president of the United States. So, being labeled Air Force One is a low bar. If Trump chose to fly on the Qatari 747 during his term, it would be Air Force One regardless of its capabilities. However, the presidential aircraft built for and operated by the U.S. Air Force currently serving as Air Force One are not ordinary 747s. They are VC-25, based on the 747 airframe but equipped with multiple additional features that ensure the president's security and the continuity of the administration under the most dire circumstances, including in cases of nuclear war. The contract to build two new Air Force One VC-25B aircraft to the latest U.S. Air Force specifications was awarded to Boeing during Trump's first term under a $3.9 billion fixed-price contract. Boeing has incurred over $2 billion in losses on the program and has yet to complete the aircraft. The impact of COVID-19 on production, supplier issues, and other Boeing complications have significantly delayed the new VC-25Bs. When Trump took office for his second term, the two new planes were not expected to be delivered until 2029. That has recently changed to as early as 2027. As such, Trump has expressed his displeasure with Boeing's delays on several occasions. In February, he visited the 12-year-old Qatari 747-8 parked at Palm Beach International Airport in what seemed to be another message to Boeing to hurry the program along. However, converting the second-hand Qatari royal aircraft to meet the full VC-25B specifications is likely a prolonged and costly effort. That would not satisfy Trump's urgency to fly on a new Air Force One. The U.S. Air Force's two new presidential aircraft are built on a 747-8I (intercontinental 747-8 base) but equipped with advanced technologies that help the aircraft serve as a flying situation room, enabling the President to direct the U.S. military and the government in flight during a catastrophic event. For example, Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, described the advanced communications systems of the VC-25 to Defense News as 'one of the most exquisite comm suites on the planet,' adding, 'It functions as a command and control center under some of the most trying conditions [imaginable]. Even just day-to-day, that thing is hyper connected.' The aircraft also has multiple classified electronic and defense systems installed and redundant systems to ensure the safety and security of its passengers. The two existing Air Force One VC-25As in service can remain in flight indefinitely during a crisis through air-to-air refueling capabilities, though that capability was not specified for the new VC-25Bs. According to the U.S. Air Force, the current presidential transport's other unique features include a self-contained baggage loader and front and rear airstairs. Onboard, the aircraft has an executive suite for the president, including a stateroom with a dressing room, lavatory and shower. It also holds the president's office and a conference dining room for the president. The aircraft has separate accommodations for staff, Secret Service, security and media personnel. Two galleys onboard can prepare up to 100 meals per service. There are six passenger lavatories onboard, plus a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew. Additionally, the aircraft has a room equipped to handle 'minor medical emergencies' with adequate medical equipment and supplies. The unclassified December 2022 U.S. Air Force specifications for the VC-25B call for 'an electrical power upgrade, dual auxiliary power units that are usable in flight, a mission communication system, an executive interior, military avionics, a self-defense system, autonomous enplaning and deplaning, and autonomous baggage loading.' Upgrading the Qatari royal family's 747-8 to meet VC-25B standards would be costly and time-consuming. 'If [Trump] wants all the capabilities and features of Air Force One, this would be a step backwards,' Aboulafia told Defense News. 'They'd have to start over again with what they've been working on with the other 747-8 [in the VC-25B program].' Fully equipping the Qatari 747-8 to VC-25B standards is unlikely during the rapid conversion Texas-based L3Harris plans to perform on the second-hand aircraft. The company, which is a contractor to Boeing on communications systems for the VC-25 program, has said it would complete the conversion by the end of this year. However, at most, L3Harris would adjust the interior to meet the President's needs and enhance communications services onboard. The aircraft might also get Trump's preferred Air Force One red, white and blue livery, despite the heat exposure issue of the darker blue paint. However, no contractor could install the VC-25B's unique defense systems and redundancies in that timeframe. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to address criticism of the possible Qatari gift, arguing, 'So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane.' As Trump plans to transfer the plane to his Presidential Library Foundation, the gift would not be to the Defense Department but to himself. Also, there has been no indication that the president would cancel the existing VC-25B program, so the Defense Department would not save anything through the transaction. Another concern is that free sometimes also comes at a price. Experts point out that the Defense Department would first need to clear the Qatari plane for any security vulnerabilities, such as listening devices hidden onboard, before it could be converted and deployed into service for the president. 'It would present a major security concern,' Aboulafia said. Technically, the 12-year-old Qatari 747-8 would neither be a new Air Force One (except in the sense that it has not previously operated under that handle) nor a fully-equipped Air Force One. However, it would be called Air Force One as soon as Trump steps onboard and Trump could routinely fly on his vanity Air Force One while he is in office. The president would still have two fully capable Air Force One aircraft at his disposal, ready to go into service when needed. The VC-25A planes could be deployed at a moment's notice from Andrews Air Force Base when the president requires proper defense. The main concern for national security would be to ensure that the VC-25B program go ahead as planned so that the updated Air Force Ones can serve the next president of the United States.

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