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Author Topic: Three miles of airplane catcher!  (Read 9322 times)

airtac

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Three miles of airplane catcher!
« on: March 06, 2008, 05:40:45 PM »
I was in Arizona this week for spring training and we were doing ILS approaches into Ft Huachuca when I happened to glance out the side window and saw a balloon nearby above me--turns out it has something to do with border security and it's tethered at about 15,000 feet and only about 7 miles or so from the airport  ::eek::
The cable, of course, is not visible and because of wind at altitude has a horizontal component which gave me the willies every time Approach Control would vector us South of the airport ::sweat::
On top of that, we were informed that there were to be some Predators flying in the vicinity----I gotta tell ya, I don't like sharing airspace with unmanned aircraft or invisible wires.

Training was fun as usual and now we're just waiting for the first fire bust---company has 2 new airplanes on line for a total of eight now |:)\

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Offline Rooster Cruiser

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2008, 07:49:49 PM »
I am smelling the beginning of a plot for a strip...   ::)
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Offline TheSoccerMom

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2008, 09:48:00 PM »
Hey Airtac! 

Glad to hear you got to go zoom around in Arizona....  that must mean spring really is almost here!!   :D

We were working down there a lot of years ago, and they had put up that spooky tethered balloon, and were trying hard to get the word out to all the pilots in the area.  It seemed to be working -- everyone was aware, and was spreading the word --  but apparently when the wind blows hard (geee...  down THERE?   ::loony::  ), they would have to lower it for maintenance.  A LOT!  They stewed about the best way to inform everyone about those times when it was lowered, and of course, the sensible solution was to NOTAM it.

Well, maybe it's just me, but it seemed pretty silly to think this zillion-dollar balloon was the cure-all for border security, when ANYONE could call FSS and find out in about 2 minutes if it was PARKED on the ground, hence, NO surveillance!!     ::loony::      ::loony::      ::loony::

Ahhh...  your tax dollars, and all that......    ::loony::   

It sure WAS spooky, though, when it would get smoky and you KNEW that damned thing was just standing out there, waiting to snag you......   ::sweat::

Glad you're back!!    ::wave::
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Offline Baradium

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2008, 09:55:28 PM »
Seems like it'd be a good idea to put some massive streamers on the cable to make it more visible...


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Offline spacer

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2008, 04:53:04 AM »
Heh... airplane catcher.

I'm picturing a nutty inventor's giant baseball catcher's mitt on a swivel arm. It doubles as a Texas fly swatter.
 ::rofl::
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Offline Fabo

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2008, 07:46:46 AM »
 ::loony::
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Offline Oddball

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2008, 07:52:12 AM »
here's an idea why not dy glo cable for the baloon?  ;D ::whistle::
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Offline PiperGirl

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2008, 11:46:48 AM »
Quote from: velojym on March 07, 2008, 04:53:04 AM
Heh... airplane catcher.

I'm picturing a nutty inventor's giant baseball catcher's mitt on a swivel arm. It doubles as a Texas fly swatter.
 ::rofl::

Hehehehe  ::rofl::
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Offline undatc

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2008, 07:13:48 AM »
FYI, if you're on with ATC there is no need to worry about either one of these things.  By reg's we have to keep you 5 miles from any structure (which would include the balloon)..

Also UAV's operating in US airspace and not in MOA's or other military use airspace are required to in contact/file flight plans with us.
« Last Edit: March 19, 2008, 07:15:48 AM by undatc »
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airtac

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2008, 03:14:28 PM »
Aware of the regs----they do not, however, reduce the "CREEPY" feeling of flying in the vicinity of 3 miles of invisible wire  ::sweat::
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Offline G-man

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #10 on: March 19, 2008, 03:36:56 PM »
Quote from: undatc on March 19, 2008, 07:13:48 AM
FYI, if you're on with ATC there is no need to worry about either one of these things.  By reg's we have to keep you 5 miles from any structure (which would include the balloon)..

Also UAV's operating in US airspace and not in MOA's or other military use airspace are required to in contact/file flight plans with us.

I talk to ATC for less than 1% of my flight time.
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Offline Mike

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #11 on: March 19, 2008, 04:15:15 PM »
Quote from: G-man on March 19, 2008, 03:36:56 PM

I talk to ATC for less than 1% of my flight time.

same here . . . not to mention the altitudes we fly at... (oh . . . I just DID mention them didn't I?!)


Hey Airtac! Are these balloons mentioned in a NOTAM or on the sectional ??
I have to admit, it is a creepy feeling....
I do remember something like that on my way home from Florida when I was flying close to the border (El Paso area? can that be?) . . .
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Offline TheSoccerMom

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2008, 04:50:02 AM »
Quote from: Mike on March 19, 2008, 04:15:15 PM
Quote from: G-man on March 19, 2008, 03:36:56 PM
I talk to ATC for less than 1% of my flight time.

same here . . . not to mention the altitudes we fly at... (oh . . . I just DID mention them didn't I?!)

Ha, it'd be nice to be able to hit ATC even half the time...  or even 1/4 of the time...  haaaa!!   ::silly::
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Offline chuckar101

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2008, 09:30:26 PM »
Hey Mike there is a restricted area near el paso that is a circle.  That is your mark.  The airway bumps up against it to the south.
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airtac

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Re: Three miles of airplane catcher!
« Reply #14 on: March 23, 2008, 02:31:49 AM »
Quote from: Mike on March 19, 2008, 04:15:15 PM
Quote from: G-man on March 19, 2008, 03:36:56 PM

I talk to ATC for less than 1% of my flight time.

same here . . . not to mention the altitudes we fly at... (oh . . . I just DID mention them didn't I?!)


Hey Airtac! Are these balloons mentioned in a NOTAM or on the sectional ??
I have to admit, it is a creepy feeling....
I do remember something like that on my way home from Florida when I was flying close to the border (El Paso area? can that be?) . . .
Yeah Gordy, it's a circular restricted area on the sectional--------pretty easy to miss if you have a fire-bust nearby.
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