Page 7 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, July 23, 2021

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MQ-9 Agile Combat Employment:

A big stEp ClosEr to rEAlity

U.S. Senator

viSitS CreeCh, An MQ-9 Reaper from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., prepares to take off using the Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability at Holloman
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Jessica Sanchez

looks for ways to AFB, N.M., July 8, 2021. This capability is a key enabler for MQ-9 Agile Combat Employment and, combined with the MQ-9’s next software
upgrade and receipt of the portable aircraft control station, will change how it will be employed in theaters worldwide.
support military The 556th Test and Evaluation Squad- Initially published ATLC procedures a clear win and I couldn’t be prouder

ron proved the MQ-9 Reaper’s Automatic required an MQ-9 to be at the airfield of the team that put this test together,
Air Force News Takeoff and Landing Capability is ready of operation, to taxi down the runway, this quickly, to include the support we
as of July 8, 2021, enabling crews to divert and have the aircrew electronically mark received from Air Force Special Op-
On July 8, 2021, U.S. Senator Jacky to airfields without traditional launch reference points when the aircraft was erations Command and the 27th Special
Rosen visited the men and women of the and recovery infrastructure or personnel. physically in position on the runway. Operations Wing at Cannon, as well as
432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary This capability is a key enabler for This week’s sorties proved that require- Air Education and Training Command Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Jessica Sanchez
Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. MQ-9 Agile Combat Employment and, ment obsolete. The technology and 556 and the 49th Wing at Holloman. Their An MQ-9 Reaper from Creech Air Force
“Today I met with Airmen at Creech combined with the MQ-9’s next software TES-derived tactics are ready today for support and patience made the impact Base, Nev., flies over Holloman AFB, N.M.,
Air Force Base to discuss how Congress upgrade and receipt of the portable air- the aircraft to divert to a foreign field of this test what it needed to be and we July 8, 2021. This is the first time an MQ-9
can strengthen our military capabilities craft control station, will change how it where an MQ-9 has never been before, are grateful for the opportunity to work has arrived at HAFB from a different base
and support our men and women in will be employed in theaters worldwide. and there is no longer a requirement for with them.” using a recently approved Automatic
uniform here in Nevada and around the Previously, all MQ-9 takeoffs and specialized infrastructure to land the The 556th further proved the divert Takeoff and Landing Capability.
world,” said Rosen. “As a member of the landings required a specialized launch Reaper. feasibility and the simplicity of the ATLC
Senate Armed Services Committee, I’m and recovery crew located wherever the “We’re taking up the Chief of Staff system by using non-qualified launch capability will shift the Remotely Piloted
proud to support our service members Reaper intended to land. But this time, of the Air Force’s charge to acceler- and recovery pilots and sensor operators Aircraft Enterprise’s mindset. It sets the
Air Force photographs every day.” with aircrew controlling the MQ-9 via ate change,” stated Lt. Col. Michael that had never taken-off or landed an enterprise up to become more agile with
satellite from their operating location at Chmielewski, commander of the 556th MQ-9 in their careers to fly these sorties. the next scheduled software release in
FAA certification, authorization required for drone usage near Nellis Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., the MQ-9 Test and Evaluation Squadron. “This is According to Chmielewski, the ATLC Spring of 2022.
taxied to the runway and took-off from
Creech AFB, Nev., 55.6 miles away from
the crew controlling it. The 556th TES
The Federal Aviation Ad- which will include altitude recently proved this concept and landed
ministration has deemed the limitations and operational at Creech using ATLC while under satel-
airspace at Nellis Air Force provisions. Pilots are asked to lite control from the aircrew at Nellis, but
Base, Nev., a Class Bravo air- reach out to the FAA via the this week’s sorties pushed the envelope
space. FAA’s B4UFLY application. much further.
With this designation, pro- All sUAS activity outside On the first day of the two-day test,
fessional small unmanned FAA rules and guidelines is a the 556 TES flew the MQ-9 Reaper from
aircraft systems pilots, com- violation of Nevada statute and Creech AFB to Cannon AFB, N.M., landed,
monly referred to as “drone the Code of Federal Regula- taxied, and took-off again before returning
pilots,” are advised that in tions. to Creech AFB -- all under satellite control.
order to fly in this airspace they Although the base does not In this instance, the aircrew used imagery
must be licensed and possess discuss specific force protection in the cockpit to generate the reference
an FAA-issued Certificate of measures, DOD personnel re- points for the automated landing system.
Authorization. tain the right to enforce federal On the second day, the destination changed
This authorization can be law to ensure the safety of per- to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and the
obtained via the FAADrone- sonnel and military operations. team again proved the capability, this time
Zone application online. Please feel free to reach out using the targeting pod to survey the run-
Recreational sUAS pilots to the FAA if you have any way, feed the ATLC system the data needed Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Jessica Sanchez
must receive an Airspace Au- questions or concerns prior to to fly an airport traffic pattern, land, and An MQ-9 Reaper from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., lands at Holloman AFB, N.M., July 8, 2021. The 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron
thorization from the FAA flying a sUAS. take off again. performed a successful two-day test of the MQ-9 Reaper’s Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability by piloting the Reaper from Nellis
AFB, and flying the aircraft from Creech AFB to Hollomon AFB.