174th Attack Wing commander outlines expansion of MQ-9 operating airspace

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Ricky Best | The 174th Fighter Wing, working out of its launch and recovery site at Wheeler-Sack Army Air Field (AAF) on Ft. Drum N.Y., flew its own MQ-9 Reaper for the first time. The 174th has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to receive permission to fly and just last week was approved for flying. The fighter wing will fly the remotely piloted aircraft in restricted airspace around Fort Drum to train pilots and sensor operators working from Syracuse's Hancock Field. (US Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Ricky Best)  

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

08.05.2013

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Col. Greg Semmel, commander of the New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing, will host members of the press this morning at 11 a.m. to discuss the expansion of the airspace in which the wing operates the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft.

WHO: Col. Greg Semmel, commander of the 174th Attack Wing.

WHAT: A press conference announcing that the Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the wing to operate the MQ-9 in airspace south of Fort Drum in the Syracuse region.

WHEN: 11 a.m. Members of the Media MUST call Major Jeff Brown no later than 9:30 a.m. to attend the press conference and MUST be at the main gate Of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base NO LATER THAN 10:45 p.m.

WHERE: Main Hanger, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, 6001 East Molloy Road, Syracuse, NY 13211. Entry through Molloy Road gate.

Members of the media must contact Major Jeff Brown, the wing Public Affairs Officer NLT 9:30 a.m. at [phone] for access to this secure military facility.

Coverage Opportunities:
Col. Greg Semmel, commander of the 174th Attack Wing will outline the scope of the new airspace the wing will operate the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft in, and take questions from the media. The event will take place in a hanger with an MQ-9 aircraft. Maps indicating the airspace will be available.

BACKGROUND:
The 174th Attack Wing is the only attack wing in the total Air Force. The wing trains all MQ-9 maintenance technicians for the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve as well as training some personnel from allied nations. The wing also conducts training for MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base and Fort Drum, operating out of Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

At the same time the wing deploys members oversees to support MQ-9 operations and other Air Force commitments and operates MQ-9s in the Central Command area of operations from a facility at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base.

The wing also maintains the air-to-ground gunnery range at Fort Drum which is used by Air Force, Air Guard and Air Force Reserve units across the northeast and provides forces to respond to state emergencies at the direction of the governor.

• Date Taken: 08.05.2013
• Date Posted: 08.05.2013 05:15
• Story ID: 111337
• Location: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, US