WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, will use military planes to fly back and forth to her San Francisco district, a senior Democratic leadership aide tells CNN.

The House Sergeant at Arms recommended that Pelosi use military aircraft, as her predecessor, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert did, when he traveled home to Illinois, the aide said.

The practice of using military aircraft for the Speaker of the House was instituted after 9/11 for security reasons. As Speaker, Pelosi is second in line to the president in presidential succession.

To date, Pelosi has traveled once to California on a military plane. The aide said the speaker's office is in discussions with the Pentagon about when to use military planes for travel other than between Washington, DC and San Francisco.

Pelosi‘s office is requesting to use military aircraft for trips home to her district and for trips for official business in other locations, but not for political travel.

Asked if Pelosi's office also requested that her family members use military planes, the Democratic aide said that if her family is going with her home they would ask to travel with her, but emphasized, "They are not asking for separate use of it."

Referring to the report in the Washington Times that the Speaker was "pressing" for access to military planes, the aide added, "this is nothing new, Hastert did it every time he went back home and they said it's fine for her to do the same when she goes back home."