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Grand Forks AFB hosts civilian tour group interested in unmanned aviation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Susan L. Davis
  • 319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Ten civilians from both the public and private sectors visited the base Aug. 13, 2014, to learn more about unmanned aircraft and how they could benefit each of their respective fields.

The group began the afternoon with a briefing by Lt. Col. Brent Dorsey, 348th Reconnaissance Squadron director of operations. Dorsey's presentation focused on the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40, a high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) with an integrated sensor suite that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability around the globe.

He explained how the Global Hawk complements manned and space reconnaissance systems by providing persistent near-real-time coverage using imagery intelligence and signals intelligence sensors.

He went on to highlight some of the major achievements by the 69th Reconnaissance Group since it stood up Sept. 19, 2011.

"We've got our fair share of bragging rights here at Grand Forks," said Dorsey. "Back in March, we broke two records with an all-female flight and support crew that flew a Global Hawk for 34.3 straight hours, the longest flight without air refueling on record for a military aircraft. And just last year, our HALE UAS achieved a milestone by reaching and surpassing 100,000 flight hours."

He also touched on the most recent milestone for unmanned aerial vehicle aviation that happened here August 1 when, for the first time, the Federal Aviation Administration gave the green light for two UAVs to operate simultaneously in a traffic pattern of unrestricted airspace, as well as the Global Hawk's impeccable safety record.

The group also heard from the North Dakota Air National Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Northrop Grumman and General Atomics. They were even able to tour the hangars and ground control stations where the aircraft are piloted from.

Each group member was interested in the UAV program for unique reasons, ranging from peacekeeping, humanitarian and disaster relief, to the greater cost-effectiveness and flexibility of operations UAVs offer.

Rebecca Chadwick, representing Marriott International, explained her company's interest in UAVs.

"Marriott hotels host a number of very important and high-profile guests, including Secretary of State John Kerry, just recently at one of our locations in New York," she said.

Chadwick also referenced an attack carried out on a prestigious Islamabad, Pakistan, location Sept. 20, 2008, where 54 people were killed and another 200-plus were injured. The hotel was located near government buildings, diplomatic missions and embassies.

"Marriott International wants to ensure the safety and security of all of its guests, and we believe the use of UAVs might be a good way to do that."

Among the group were also representatives from the Phoenix Police Department Air Support Unit in Arizona, emergency management companies and corporations specializing in public policy.