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Author Topic: Local fighter wing to be converting from F-16s to unmanned drones  (Read 3829 times)

Offline KSYR-pjr

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Our local, public class C airport in Syracuse, NY, is home to an Air National Guard base that operates F-16 fighters, having switched from A-10s back in the late 80s. 

A local news agency just confirmed rumors that this base is again transitioning, this time to unmanned drones.  This may be one of the first bases in the US to undergo such a transition that will result in an eventual phase out of all the F-16s now based here.  No mention of the fate of the many F-16 pilots affected by this change, though. Article link is here.

A file picture of one type of drone:



For those who may not be aware, there is disagreement between civil and military aviation officials as well as pilots in the US regarding the allowance of unmanned drones in civil airspace.  This article touches on the controversy by stating that as of now these unmanned drones will not be allowed to fly in civil airspace and that temporarily these drones will operate out of a US Army base approximately 60 nm north of here.  Military officials admit that they expect approval soon, though.   

The controversy is that currently there is an FAA regulation requiring ALL aircraft operating in civil airspace to see and avoid other aircraft when visibility permits.  As to how drones can technically operate under this regulation is the question of the day.

It will be interesting to hear on the frequency, "Comair 123, traffic 12 o'clock and three miles, an unmanned drone at 5,000 feet, opposite direction.  Expect further climb instructions once past the drone." 

At 1904z on August 14th, 2008, Skynet became self-aware (a Terminator joke).






Offline NWA ARJ

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Re: Local fighter wing to be converting from F-16s to unmanned drones
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2008, 10:14:18 AM »
Thats a bummer. That happend to us in Fargo, they retired our F-16's and gave the ANG a bunch of learjets. Not as cool as F-16's. We had an F-16 in Fargo yesterday that was going to Syracuse, callsign was Fast 16.