Who's in charge on Air Force 1/Marine 1? POTUS? Pilot? Secret Service?

MAJ Jeffrey Frankart — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:52:14 -0400

The captain of an airplane is said to have absolute control - it's his airplane. When your boss's boss's boss's boss is also on board, is he in charge? Is the secret service in charge?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 1:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:56:04 -0400

Each are in charge of their respective areas, I would think.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Nov 3 at 2016 1:58 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:58:32 -0400

The pilot is in command of the aircraft (that is why they are officers) and all that pertains to flying that aircraft. The POTUS can tell the aircraft commander where to go, but not how to do it.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Nov 3 at 2016 2:02 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:02:30 -0400

SrA Private RallyPoint Member? Bueller?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2016 2:16 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 14:16:01 -0400

I would imagine it works like the majority of the armed forces. If someone is attached to you, they may be a higher pay grade, but fall under your authority.

If an E-4 is the stick leader on patrol, and they get an E-6 attached for any purpose, the E-4 is still the one who owns and runs the patrol.

Better yet, if there is an armed escort for a General, the ncoic, sncoic or oic has the final say. That oic is the subject matter expert not the General.

So if a Colonel is piloting for the president, the Colonel is the subject matter expert for the flight, not the president.

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 3 at 2016 8:21 PM

SFC George Smith — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 20:21:41 -0400

most interesting...

Response by CPT Nicholas D. made Nov 4 at 2016 6:58 AM

CPT Nicholas D. — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:58:41 -0400

I would say that in the air, the Pilot in Command of the aircraft is squarely in charge of what the aircraft does. That doesn't mean that he won't suffer consequences for decisions he makes once they are on the ground. This happens a lot actually. As a unit commander, I still fly with my guys. However if I am not the designated Pilot in Command on the flight (Top block on the -12), then the decisions in flight fall on the guy that is. If one of my guys makes a decision (on the conduct of the aircraft... not the flavor pop tart I have in my pocket, not my phone schedule when I get back to the office, or not the priority of work for my duty day)... and it is a decision within the scope of being a Pilot in Command, I have no issue complying. If I don't like his decision (because it stranded a passenger, violated a regulation, put the unit in bad light, etc), then when we are done playing PC and PI, we'll be stepping into my office to play Commander/Subordinate. Pilot in Command status can be revoked. So, there is a mutual respect that needs to be there. With that said, the President of the United States can order the Pilot in Command of AF 1 to fly Warp 10 to Mars all they want, the PC is beholden by regulation to "with all due respect", smile and say "unable."

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Nov 4 at 2016 11:22 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 11:22:51 -0400

The aircraft commander or PIC is in command while the aircraft is on operation. For VIP/SAM airlift, this is from engine start to engine shutdown. There is typically a mission commander or mission liaison officer (who may be the Principal's executive or chief of staff) who can give direction on the mission or changes to the mission, but safety-of-flight decisions remain with the PIC. This was reinforced following the 1996 CT-43 crash that killed Sec. Ron Brown.