Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, April 2, 2021

vol. 5, no. 7 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR april 2, 2021

An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com

556th TES successfully launch, land first Creech AFB ATLC test

An MQ-9 Reaper
by Airman 1st Class William Rio Rosado is parked on the
Creech AFB, Nev. flight line before
The 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron recently making history at
completed the first Air Combat Command test of the Creech Air Force
Automatic Takeoff and Landing Capability for the MQ-9 Base, Nev., Feb. 26,
Reaper at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 26, 2021. 2021. The 556th
Originally tested by the Air Force Lifecycle Man- Test and Evaluation
agement Office in October 2020, this is the first test S q u ad r on
executed by operational test pilots. s u c c e s s f u l l y
True to name, ATLC allows crews to take off and land per formed the
the Reaper automatically, which will reduce the need first Air Combat
for hand-flown takeoff and landings. ATLC is possible Command test
through software enhancements, which allow the pilot of an automatic
to activate and monitor a pre-planned mission profile. takeoff and landing
The success of these tests were a marked milestone at Creech AFB.
toward reaching the desired end-state of combat Air-
See test, on Page 9

Maintainers from the 432nd Maintenance Group prepare
an MQ-9 Reaper to takeoff via the Automatic Takeoff and
Landing Capability at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 26,
2021. The ATLC is being pursued in order to provide enhanced
capabilities to forward deployed locations via more agile Air Force photographs by Staff Sgt. Omari Bernard
launch and recovery operations, faster employment of RPA An MQ-9 Reaper performs an automated takeoff at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 26, 2021. The Automatic Takeoff
assets, and a reduced manpower footprint, which ultimately and Landing Capability is possible through software enhancements, which allow the pilot to activate and monitor a
ensures more Airmen are kept out of harm’s way. pre-planned mission profile.

AlwAys free Access!

Frequent Updates – Breaking News – Local • Regional • National