A proposal to convert a Qatari-owned Boeing 747 into an Air Force One for President Trump has raised concerns among aviation experts due to significant costs and lengthy timeframes. Refurbishing the plane, including installing top-secret systems, could exceed $1 billion and may not be finished by Trump's term end in 2029. Experts argue that Boeing should handle the project, given their expertise with the aircraft. The complexity of Air Force One, meant for secure presidential communications, adds to the practical and financial challenges of such a conversion.
"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.
"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."
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