Anniversary of the first flight by a US President… It took 4 days…
Before World War II, overseas travel for the president was extremely rare. The lack of wireless telecommunication and available modes of transportation made long-distance travel impractical, as it took much time and isolated the president from events in Washington, D.C. In the 1930s, all-metal aircraft, more reliable engines, and new radio aids to navigation had made commercial airline travel safer and more convenient.
The first flight ever by a US President was 1943. President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled to North Africa during World War II (Read more about it here >). It is no surprise that the flight took 4 long days at that time. Today, the typical flight to Morocco would take 9 hours and 28 minutes. The trip was necessary because of global threats. However, the United States Army officials became concerned with the security of presidential transportation via commercial airlines.
One decade later, the first official Air Force One was constructed. Air Force one is the official air traffic control call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the United States president.
Huge technological improvements are rapidly surfacing in the United States and it is essential to stay updated on the most current developments. Especially, when the amount of threats continues to increase as well. According to security experts, airlines today are at risk of cyber-attacks that could lead to safety issues and force carriers to ground their fleets to protect passenger welfare, causing major financial damage. To deviate the possibility of cyber-attacks, frequent updates to the airline’s main systems and devices are necessary.
Resources
- “First Presidential Flight 1943.” First Presidential Flight 1943 – CECOM Historical Office. U.S. Army Live Blog, n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.
- “Security experts warn airlines face threat of cyber attacks.”Financial Review. N.p., 05 July 2015. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.