CBP To Conduct First-Ever Test of Predator Drone at Civilian Airport

By
T. Grant Benson
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SAN ANGELO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations will be testing the feasibility of operating an Unmanned Aircraft System Predator B, out of San Angelo Regional Airport, also known as Mathis Field.

The three- to four-week deployment, which began today, is a first-ever UAS deployment at a civilian airport. AMO aircrews normally operate the UAS above 18,000 feet, using Instrument Flight Rules, and while in constant communications with Air Traffic Control. AMO will operate the UAS in accordance with an approved Certificate of Authorization.

SIERRA VISTA, AZ - OCTOBER 30: The new MQ-9 Predator B, an unmanned surveillance aircraft system, unveiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is seen at Libby Army Airfield at Ft. Huachuca October 30, 2006 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. CBP will use the new MQ-9 Predator aircraft to patrol the southern border of the United Sates in order to stop the illegal entry of thousands of Mexican nationals and drug runners who use the vast expanses of the Sonoran desert to cross into southern Arizona, daily. The new unarmed plane flew briefly for the press to show off its surveillance capabilities by pilots of the contractor, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Agents of CBP will start training on the use of the aircraft very soon. The Predator will start full scale flight operations along the Mexico-Arizona border today. (Photo by Gary Williams/Getty Images)
SIERRA VISTA, AZ – OCTOBER 30: The new MQ-9 Predator B, an unmanned surveillance aircraft system, unveiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is seen at Libby Army Airfield at Ft. Huachuca October 30, 2006 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. CBP will use the new MQ-9 Predator aircraft to patrol the southern border of the United Sates in order to stop the illegal entry of thousands of Mexican nationals and drug runners who use the vast expanses of the Sonoran desert to cross into southern Arizona, daily. The new unarmed plane flew briefly for the press to show off its surveillance capabilities by pilots of the contractor, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Agents of CBP will start training on the use of the aircraft very soon. The Predator will start full scale flight operations along the Mexico-Arizona border today. (Photo by Gary Williams/Getty Images)

AMO conducts its law enforcement and homeland security missions at and beyond the nation’s borders. During this proof-of concept, AMO will operate the UAS from San Angelo and conduct its border security mission along the Texas border. AMO selected San Angelo because of its favorable weather conditions, central location and the existence of a current AMO operating location.

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