Civil Air Patrol provided essential aircrew services this week, allowing an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft to visit Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.
The 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s 89th Attack Squadron flies the MQ-9 from Ellsworth as a tenant of the 28th Bomb Wing. MQ-9s are launched at locations around the world.
The Ellsworth visit demonstrated the 89th’s capability for Agile Combat Employment by landing the Reaper at a Global Strike base for the first time. It also allowed the base population to better understand the attack squadron’s mission.
“This mission would not have been possible without the endless support from the South Dakota Wing, starting with Lt. Col. Mike Cassidy (CAP’s director of operations in South Dakota and project officer for the MQ-9 mission). This was not an easy task to execute multiple Air Force firsts and helped to sharpen the skills of the 89th Attack Squadron in a training environment,” said a spokesman for the attack squadron.
“The flawless execution and coordination between the attack squadron and CAP helped to open the door to future flight opportunities, and we look forward to working with CAP for the next event in the near future.”
News media representatives and others in the base community, including Civil Air Patrol cadets, were invited to an open house to show off the vital air power asset.
In some cases, Federal Aviation Administration rules don’t allow remote-piloted aircraft in civilian airspace without a crewed escort or “chase plane.” The CAP aircrew met the MQ-9 flying out of military airspace in Wyoming and escorted it to Ellsworth. The drone returned home three days later, again with a CAP escort.
“It was a great privilege, and learning experience, working with all the professionals from the 89th Attack Squadron,” Cassidy said. “To ensure mission success, the South Dakota Wing asked the Texas Wing to provide a highly experienced drone escort aircrew while South Dakota provided mission staff, oversight, and logistical support.
“We look forward to working more with the 89th. The Texas crew was superb, but we look forward to future missions when the South Dakota Wing provides the crew, the aircraft, and all the other mission support.”
Civil Air Patrol performed the MQ-9 escort mission in its role as the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, part of the Air Force Total Force.
