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    New York Air Guard unit reaches milestone with remotely piloted aircraft

    SYRACUSE, NY, UNITED STATES

    08.19.2014

    Story by Master Sgt. Eric Miller 

    174th Attack Wing Public Affairs

    HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing conducted the unit's first operation of an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) on the ramp of Hancock Field International Airport.

    The 174th welcomed members of the news media to view the operation and speak with wing commander Col. Greg Semmel about future MQ-9 flights in Central New York. Following Col. Semmel's remarks the 174th performed its first taxi of the MQ-9 Reaper on Hancock Field.

    The commander of the New York Air National Guard, Maj. Gen. Verle Johnston, also spoke to members of the media about the 174th mission and its impact on the Central New York area. Johnston is responsible for the combat readiness of five New York air wings and the Eastern Air Defense.

    Currently, all flight operations of the MQ-9 aircraft are conducted at Wheeler Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum. The taxi operation in Syracuse is one further step toward the launch and recovery of MQ-9 aircraft at Hancock Field. The FAA modified airspace around Hancock Field in 2013 to expand available training areas and provide transition from high altitude down to Hancock Field. It is expected that the FAA will ultimately approve for the departure and return of MQ-9 aircraft from Hancock Field to fly to Fort Drum or transition to the area's restricted airspace for military training.

    The 174th Attack Wing was established in 1947 as the first Air National Guard flying unit in New York State. It currently flies the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The wing also 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 qualification 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.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.19.2014
    Date Posted: 08.21.2014 16:27
    Story ID: 140055
    Location: SYRACUSE, NY, US

    Web Views: 100
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN