Some U.S. states have aircraft that are at the disposal of the governor or other state elected officials to easily travel around the state or make official trips out of state such as Federal meetings in Washington, DC. Air travel may also be opted for when ground transportation may pose security concerns or would not fit within a busy schedule with multiple stops across different parts of a state. Like air transports of heads of state and government of sovereign states, these usually consist of private executive aircraft or police and other state agency aircraft that can be also be used for passenger transport. Some states have acquired their fixed-winged aircraft at a discount through military surplus programs. As many of these aircraft tend to be smaller and may have smaller ranges, longer-distance trips (including out of state and international ones) or trips that have a larger entourage may be done on commercial aircraft.

Summary list + Governors' access to state executive air transportation State Airplane Helicopter Receives travel allowance Reimbursement for travel expenses

Alabama

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has a fleet of 8 Bell OH-58 helicopters and two airplanes that can be used for executive transportation. These aircraft are also used for prisoner transportation, criminal pursuits, and search and rescue. The fixed-wing fleet includes a 15-seater Beechcraft C-12 Huron.

The use of government aircraft came under scrutiny when a state aircraft was used in December 2014 to retrieve Governor Robert Bentley's wallet that he had forgotten in his Fort Morgan home.

Alaska The state used to have Westwind II jet which was purchased for $2.7 million in 2005 by the Murkowski administration. His successor, Sarah Palin, sold the jet as part of a campaign promise. It was originally listed on eBay in August 2007, but was ultimately sold by a private brokerage firm for $2.1 million.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section has 44 aircraft (both fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters) in its fleet which the Governor may use in certain cases.

Arizona The Arizona state government has 2 Beechcraft Super King Air 200s that can be used by state officials. In 2015, Governor Doug Ducey downsized the fleet which totaled at 10 aircraft at the time and acquired two M-28 Sky Trucks for free from the Federal government. The fleet is managed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

In 2022, Republican gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson came under fire for using a state plane to return from a campaign event. She had traveled earlier on the day on her own jet from campaign event in Peoria to Marana and then onto Tucson with Governor Ducey and former Vice President Mike Pence. However Pence left Tucson on Robson's private jet to Reno, Nevada, whereas Robson and Governor Ducey took the state aircraft back to Phoenix. The Governor's Office confirmed that the cost of using the state aircraft would be billed to the Robson campaign.

Arkansas The Arkansas State Police (ASP) Air Support Unit provides transportation for the Governor. The fleet comprises a Bell 407 helicopter, Cessna 206, and a Beechcraft B200 King Air.

In a state audit of flight logs between June 2022 and December 2023, 57% of the flight hours on the ASP airplane were governor-related whereas 2% of the flight hours on the helicopter were governor-related. A law was passed during Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' term that shielded much of the expenditures of the Governor's Office from the public's review, including the cost for the use of state aircraft.

California

During Governor Jerry Brown's second term, he occasionally used California Highway Patrol Beechcraft Super King Air 200 airplane for business related to the law enforcement department, but he mostly relied on commercial air travel for official business. During his first term between 1975 and 1983, he sold the governor's plane.

During his term, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commuted from his home in Los Angeles to the state capital of Sacramento using his own private Gulfstream III jet, which he also used to travel around the state for official duties.

Out-of-state trips are usually done using commercial air travel and are funded by the California State Protocol Foundation, a non-profit which also pays for ceremonial events like the gubernatorial inauguration and state of the state speeches.

Colorado

The Colorado State Patrol operates a Beechcraft King Air B200 plane that is available for use by any state agency. It is mostly used by the Governor's Office and to transport prisoners across the mountainous state.

Delaware The Delaware State Police Aviation Unit operates helicopters which per Delaware State Code may be used by the Governor or certain other cabinet officials during an emergency for surveying damage – unless it is in use for an emergency mission.

Florida

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) currently operates a Cessna Citation Latitude which was acquired in 2020. Previously, the FDLE operated a refurbished Beechcraft King Air which was purchased from the federal government as a surplus. In a January 2019 incident, this King Air had to make an emergency landing while Governor Ron DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody were aboard. The previous government airplane was sold in 2002 by Governor Rick Scott as he utilized his own private jet.

In 2022, Senate Bill 2512 proposed that the state develop a new executive fleet: Aircraft 1 would be for exclusive use by the Governor, Aircraft 2 would be available to the Lieutenant Governor, cabinet members, Chief Justice and Justices of the Florida Supreme Court, and Aircraft 3 would be for use by the Florida Senate President or Speaker of the House, along with other high level executive branch departments and select public commission chairs.

The bill made it through both the houses of the Florida Legislature, however was ultimately vetoed by the Governor.

Georgia The Georgia Aviation Authority was created in 2009 to manage state aviation assets, including about 85 aircraft used for executive travel as well as law enforcement, forestry, and other purposes. Governor Sonny Purdue was an avid aviator being certified to fly both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. While governor, he often also served as the copilot for the state Beechcraft King Air plane when using it. Currently, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Secretary of State are able to reserve state aircraft for travel.

Idaho The Idaho Transportation Department Division of Aeronautics operates a fleet of aircraft that can be reserved by government officials and also is used for other tasks like search and rescue. The fleet consists of a King Air 200 turboprop, Cessna 182 3-passenger plane, and a Cessna 206 5-passenger plane. A 2018 Quest Kodiak 100 was added to the fleet for added capability to land at shorter runways in rural locations of the state.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker frequently charters private jets for out-of-state travel for his staff and himself. For instance, in February 2019, Governor Pritzker flew from Chicago Executive Airport to Washington Dulles Airport aboard a Gulfstream G200 private jet. Governor Bruce Rauner in a bid to cut state spending, grounded the state fleet in 2015 that was formerly used to transport officials.

Indiana The state owned a 2001 Beechcraft Super King Air B200 which was sold in 2014 with funds going to support the Indiana State Police.

Iowa Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has faced criticism for using a private plane provided by a donor to attend events like the 2017 Liberty Bowl. Concerns were raised that this violated ethics laws that forbid state officials from receiving gifts.

Kansas The Kansas Highway Patrol Air Support Unit maintains the State of Kansas Executive Aircraft. This Raytheon King Air 350 plane is used to transport the governor and other cabinet officials.

Kentucky The Kentucky State Police (KSP) purchased in 2024 a Super King Air 300 to transport the executive branch officials replacing the aging fleet of a Beechcraft King Air 200 and a Learjet. The King Air 200 was one of the oldest of its model still in operation in the United States and was facing mechanical issues. Besides its use for executive transport, the planes are also used for prisoner transport, law enforcement, disaster response, honor guard use for funerals, and by the Cabinet for Economic Development. Before the Super King Air 300 was purchased, Governor Andy Beshear utilized KSP helicopters and an aircraft from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to travel for official duties in the meantime. The Governor's office posts flight logs on its website.

Louisiana In 2024, the Louisiana State Police purchased a Pilatus PC-12 to transport the governor and other police-related operations. Previously, the Governor traveled around the state on helicopters operated by the Louisiana State Police, with out-of-state travel either utilizing commercial airplanes or private aircraft chartered by donors. A recent law was passed by the Legislature to make the Governor's flight logs harder to access by the public.

Maryland The Maryland Department of State Police Aviation Command operates a fleet of 10 Leonardo AW-139 helicopters and one fixed-wing Piper Saratoga aircraft which are used for a variety of cases. The state formerly also operated a King Air 350 which was purchased in 2001 to transport state executives, however this aircraft appears to have been retired from use.

Michigan Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics Air Transport Unit operates a fleet of five aircraft for use by state officials and agencies. This consists of two 9-seater Beechcraft King Air 200s, two 5-seater Beechcraft Baron 58s, and one Cessna 206.

Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics Services operates two Beechcraft King Airs that are available MnDOT employees along with constitutional officers and the Legislature for official business. One of the aircraft can seat eight passengers, and the other can hold five.

Mississippi Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration's Office of Air Transport Services (OATS) operates a Beechcraft King Air 350 for state executives and other state agencies use. Priority to reserve the plane is given first to the Governor, and then to Lieutenant Governor, followed by other statewide elected officials, then to the Mississippi Development Authority, and all other state agencies.

Missouri The Missouri State Highway Patrol Aircraft Division operates a Beechcraft King Air 250 as part of its fleet that is used to transport elected and appointed officials alongside its use for law enforcement activities. Its fleet also includes three helicopters and five Cessna fixed-wing aircraft. The state's fleet also included a Beechcraft King Air C90 that was sold in 2017. Governor Eric Greitens committed at the start of his term to not using state aircraft as a campaign promise and has mostly used commercial flights or private aircraft during his tenure.

Montana The state government of Montana operated a 1989 Beechcraft King Air for executive transport, however, Governor Greg Gianforte cut its operating budget when he became governor in 2021. Governor Gianforte has used a Pilatus Aircraft PC-12/47E aircraft while on official travel, which is owned by Bozeman Technology Incubator, Inc. – a company held by the Governor and his wife. Governor Gianforte holds private liability insurance for the aircraft, however the state's self-insurance plan also covers the airplane while being used for official business.

Nebraska