Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, Sept. 21 2018

Remotely-piloted Navy jet damaged in California accident
An unmanned Navy reconnaissance air- craft was damaged in a belly-landing at a Southern California base last week.
Navy officials tell the Ventura County Star a remotely piloted MQ-4C Triton was on a flight Sept. 12 when it experienced mechanical issues and was turned back to Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu.
The jet’s landing gear failed to deploy and it skidded down the runway on its belly. Cmdr. Dave Hecht says the Triton sus-
tained significant damage.
Base spokeswoman Theresa Miller says
the Triton costs approximately $110 mil- lion.
The Northrop Grumman-built Triton is the Navy’s version of the Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk, which have been operated for 20 years.
The Triton can fly intelligence, surveil- lance and reconnaissance missions lasting more than 24 hours at altitudes above 10 miles (16 kilometers). AP
Navy photograph by Theresa Miller
The first MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP) 19, Detachment Point Mugu, arrives at Naval Base Ventura County, Calif. The MQ-4C took off from Palmdale Airport and was remotely controlled from NAS Pax River.
New bus service to West LA VA picking up
LANCASTER, Calif.—The Antelope Valley Transit Authority is working on providing the most convenient bus schedule to ac- commodate veterans who need a lift down to the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center.
“We are really working to work out the schedule that is most convenient for our veterans,” AVTA Outreach spokeswoman Kelly Miller said at a recent breakfast meeting of dozens of vet- erans. ”We really want to serve as many veterans as possible.”
To help inaugurate the new service, which provides greater access to health care for local veterans and active duty service members, Rep. Steve Knight, R-Calif., an Army veteran who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, joined representatives from different branches of the armed forces recently on a trip aboard the bus down to the VA facility, located at 11301 Wilshire Blvd.
“Ensuring that our local heroes receive the medical treatment they need from the VA is a passion of mine,” Knight said.
Knight added, “The new service being offered by AVTA will allow many veterans to travel to the West LA Medical Center for treatment without having to worry about finding a ride.”
Rep. Knight and the veterans, along with regular commuter pas- sengers on their way down to Los Angeles, enjoyed a comfortable ride and free Wi-Fi on AVTA’s air-conditioned 45-foot bus. The agency operates a fleet of 30 commuter buses, making daily trips from Lancaster and Palmdale down to Los Angeles, Century City and the San Fernando Valley.
“It really is first-class transportation,” Army paratrooper veteran Juan Blanco told dozens of veterans gathered at Coffee4Veterans. “It was a very comfortable ride.”
“We think helping veterans get to their VA appointments is re- ally important,” added Marine Corps veteran Kevin Sanders, who joined Knight on the trip downtown.
With the Antelope Valley’s large veteran and active duty mili- tary population, the connection to the largest veteran facility in the
Courtesy photograph
Army paratrooper veteran Juan Blanco joined Marine vet Kevin Sanders and Rep. Steve Knight on new AVTA commuter bus run to West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
VA health care system is intended to provide a needed transporta- tion solution for veterans who cannot drive themselves, or do not have access to a ride.
With a cost of $10.50 round-trip, veterans and active duty per- sonnel with military I.D. or an AVTA-issued military card can take the bus from Sgt. Steve Owen Memorial Park in Lancaster at 5:20 and 5:40 a.m. and the Palmdale Transportation Center at 5:35 and 6:00 a.m.
“The Antelope Valley has a rich history associated with military service, and the health and welfare of our local veterans and ac- tive duty military continue to be a priority for us as a board,” said
AVTA Board Chair Marvin Crist. “Making sure that they have a convenient and affordable transportation option to the VA is one way we can show our gratitude and appreciation for their service to our country.”
Returns trips to the Antelope Valley will depart the VA at 3:35 and 4:05 p.m. In the event that health care services extend beyond the time frame of return departures, AVTA and the Veterans Ad- ministration will work together to ensure that patient has trans- portation back home to the Antelope Valley.
AVTA provides local, commuter and dial-a-ride service to a population of more than 450,000 residents in the cities of Lan- caster and Palmdale as well as the unincorporated portions of northern Los Angeles County.
Its total service area covers 1,200 square miles and it is bounded by the Kern County line to the north, the San Bernardino County line to the east, the Angeles National Forest to the south, and Interstate 5 to the West.
The Commuter Route 786 runs 4 & 5 stop at the VA.
Morning departures from the AV and arrival at the VA:
Run #4 - Departs Owens Memorial Park at 5:20 a.m. and de- parts Palmdale Transit Center at 5:35 a.m., arrives at VA at 7:58 a.m.
Run #5 - Departs Owens Memorial Park at 5:40 a.m. and de- parts Palmdale Transit Center at 6 a.m., arrives at VA at 8:23 a.m.
Afternoon departures from VA and arrival at AV:
Run #4 - Departs VA at 3:35 p.m., arrives at Palmdale Transit Center at 6:36 p.m. and arrives at Owens Memorial Park at 6:51 p.m.
Run #5 – Departs VA at 4:05 p.m., arrives at Palmdale Tran- sit Center at 7:13 p.m. and arrives at Owens Memorial Park at 7:28 p.m.
September 21, 2018
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