Operation Japanese Air Force One

both aircraft parked @ kuala lumpur during 11th asean summit , east asia summit

although aircraft operated prime minister s office civil aircraft, transferred japan defense agency control in april 1992 , re-registered defense aircraft. operated special airlift group, 701st squadron (特別航空輸送隊 第701飛行隊, tokubetsu kōkū yusō-tai dai-nana-hyaku-ichi hikō-tai) of japan air self-defense force, , based @ chitose air base in hokkaido. each aircraft operates standard crew complement of 17 19 personnel, consisting of 2 4 pilots, 3 communications operators , twelve flight attendants.

for shorter vip flights, government uses eurocopter ec225 helicopters (gsdf 1st helicopter brigade) , gulfstream iv business jets (asdf, known u-4 in japanese defense parlance). gulfstream iv used prime ministerial aircraft once, yasuo fukuda travel beijing nagasaki @ short notice when 747 unavailable.

unlike american air force one, japanese government aircraft may used government business, , cannot used personal travel imperial family or prime minister.

during emergency evacuations of japanese citizens particularly dangerous areas overseas, personnel guide unit of 1st airborne brigade, along officials mofa travel on aircraft, in order assist retrieval , transport of evacuees evacuation points.

japan airlines provided ground support services aircraft until december 2010, shortly prior jal s retirement of 747 fleet. since december 2010, these services have been provided nippon cargo airlines.