TFR over El Paso?

Barrett50 said:
A spat between FAA, DOD sort of puts FAA in a no win position. I dont know who's drone, or what was being used to find and disable it. If a medium size drone goes thru a RR commercial engine on short final for ELP there is going to be hell to pay at FAA hdqtrs. Not saying specifically I support the shutdown, but not sure what alternatives there were if the ATC had intel about drones in the zone.
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It doesn't sound to me like drones, per se, were the issue. It sounds more to me like the FAA wanted more time to understand/approve the use of whatever anti-drone countermeasures Ft. Bliss was intending to deploy. Ft. Bliss said, "Nah, we're not going to wait." If the FAA wasn't sure the countermeasures wouldn't endanger civilian air traffic in the area, they may have felt compelled to close the airspace in an abundance of caution.

It could also have been an overblown pi$$ing match between two gov't entities.

But given the "recent" collision between the helicopter and airliner in D.C., maybe the FAA reasonably decided that an airspace shutdown was the lesser evil compared to the possibility of another DoW/civilian catastrophe. I dunno.
 
Barrett50 said:
Jim ^ You may be right, but the US Transportation sec said drones:
www.yahoo.com

Transportation Secretary: El Paso Airspace Closed Due to ‘Cartel Drone'

Elected officials are pushing back on the FAA amid confusion and competing explanations.
www.yahoo.com www.yahoo.com
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Yes, I know he did. I'm not sure I'm ready to believe that's the final answer, though.
www.cbsnews.com

Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say

Pentagon officials had undertaken planning to use military technology near Fort Bliss, in El Paso, to practice downing drones.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
 
Jim_R said:
Yes, I know he did. I'm not sure I'm ready to believe that's the final answer, though.
www.cbsnews.com

Airspace closure followed spat over drone-related tests and party balloon shoot-down, sources say

Pentagon officials had undertaken planning to use military technology near Fort Bliss, in El Paso, to practice downing drones.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
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"Unnamed sources". Of course we agree that CBS is fully supportive of, and in no way biased against the admin. (Where is the sarcasm emoticon?) I guess we will see, or we wont see any results that all can agree on either way.
 
Barrett50 said:
"Unnamed sources". Of course we agree that CBS is fully supportive of, and in no way biased against the admin. (Where is the sarcasm emoticon?) I guess we will see, or we wont see any results that all can agree on either way.
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CBS is owned by David Ellison (the son of Oracle founder and Trump über supporter Larry Ellison) and is fully supportive of the administration, especially because the are using their influence with the US Department of Justice to block the Netflix acquisition of Warner Brothers.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
FTFY.

Four Seasons Total Landscaping was funny. This ain't funny any more. I expect better of our government no matter who or which party is in charge. This is like putting a "kick me" sign on your own back, and it's not good for any of us.

Anyone still expect that the FAA/DOT and DOD/DOW are going to be able to work together to put a new modernized ATC system in place?
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Since when is the FAA Administrator in charge of our military?
 
Barrett50 said:
"Unnamed sources". Of course we agree that CBS is fully supportive of, and in no way biased against the admin. (Where is the sarcasm emoticon?) I guess we will see, or we wont see any results that all can agree on either way.
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How's Fox News for you?

US military shot down balloon near El Paso after drone concerns | Fox News

The U.S. military shot down what was later identified as a party balloon near El Paso, Texas, after drone concerns triggered a temporary FAA airspace restriction.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
 
flyingcheesehead said:
How's Fox News for you?

US military shot down balloon near El Paso after drone concerns | Fox News

The U.S. military shot down what was later identified as a party balloon near El Paso, Texas, after drone concerns triggered a temporary FAA airspace restriction.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
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Did you read your own source material? "On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA and Department of War had "acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion." ". It appears this party balloon was not this Wed event. Thus, allowing a window for obfuscation.
 
Barrett50 said:
Did you read your own source material? "On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the FAA and Department of War had "acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion." ". It appears this party balloon was not this Wed event. Thus, allowing a window for obfuscation.
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It has been edited since I read it.
 
Barrett50 said:
"Unnamed sources". Of course we agree that CBS is fully supportive of, and in no way biased against the admin. (Where is the sarcasm emoticon?) I guess we will see, or we wont see any results that all can agree on either way.
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Oh good grief. With the recent changes at CBS, they're probably the most pro-administration news organization after Fox.

But my point was simply that there's a bunch of noise out there and I don't yet see a clear and compelling picture of exactly what happened, so I'm waiting to see if the picture gets any clearer, that's all.
 
1. Within the last 30 days, DOD turns over to the Department of Homeland Security a high-power laser system.
2. The Army at Fort Bliss (the air defense center of excellence, located in El Paso) engages in discussion with FAA about potential tests of anti-drone systems.
3. Earlier this week DHS opens fire on presumed hostile drones, apparently with little or no coordination with either the FAA or the or the Army (that perhaps was supposed to have had some oversight over DHS's use of their weapon). Inspection of the debris reveals that what were thought to be drones were, in fact, mylar party balloons.
4. U.S. military officers object up their chain of command to what they perceived as uncontrolled "combat" activities on the part of DHS inside the U.S.
5. FAA freaks out, and closes airspace around the DHS anti-aircraft emplacement for the next 10 days.
6. El Paso local officials and airlines erupt, news spreads on social media.
7. Someone in the federal government calls a halt to everything. Secretary of Transportation Duffy issues a statement implying that innocent El Paso citizens had been saved from "cartel drones" by prompt U.S. military action, and that the threat was now ended.

There's nothing to see here. We can resume arguing about whose Super Bowl halftime show was more offensive.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021594420806639787

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021715134742184415

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021718856272589114
 
So, its been centuries since I wore a uniform, and I wanted to know more about this 'northcom' outfit that is protecting US from attack. I did what any blue blood would do and I duckducked them. I got this link, appears to be legit:https://www.northcom.mil/About/US-Northern-Command-Mission-Vision/

The site says its an official US website. Got a couple of US flag ranks. So, why is there a Canadian flag on the splash page? Anyone with an idea on this? I called them in Co Springs and left a vmail. Seems strange to me.
 
Barrett50 said:
The site says its an official US website. Got a couple of US flag ranks. So, why is there a Canadian flag on the splash page? Anyone with an idea on this? I called them in Co Springs and left a vmail. Seems strange to me.
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Yeah, the last thing we want is a bi-national effort in defending the continent. Next thing you know we'll all be putting gravy on our fries and staring down signs saying 'Sortie' on our freeways.

cvFmVxQ.gif
 
Baked Potato said:
Yeah, the last thing we want is a bi-national effort in defending the continent. Next thing you know we'll all be putting gravy on our fries and staring down signs saying 'Sortie' on our freeways.

View attachment 149841
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I try to avoid quoting, but - huh? Can you clarify some? I see that NORAD is called a bi-national command. But that is one part of northcom, ans Canada is not mentioned anywhere. Our last exercise with them was 2023, almoat 3 years gone.
 
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Barrett50 said:
...

The site says its an official US website. Got a couple of US flag ranks. So, why is there a Canadian flag on the splash page? Anyone with an idea on this? I called them in Co Springs and left a vmail. Seems strange to me.
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*cough* NORAD *cough*
 
So, NORAD which is in Co Springs decides to put the Canadian flag on a US mil website? I know what NORAD does. Not much from CA there except a few ground sensors around Baffin and NW Terr.
 
Barrett50 said:
So, its been centuries since I wore a uniform, and I wanted to know more about this 'northcom' outfit that is protecting US from attack. I did what any blue blood would do and I duckducked them. I got this link, appears to be legit:https://www.northcom.mil/About/US-Northern-Command-Mission-Vision/

The site says its an official US website. Got a couple of US flag ranks. So, why is there a Canadian flag on the splash page? Anyone with an idea on this? I called them in Co Springs and left a vmail. Seems strange to me.
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Weird that a former member of the US military (SOCOM?) isn't aware of.NORAD.
 
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Barrett50 said:
So, its been centuries since I wore a uniform, and I wanted to know more about this 'northcom' outfit that is protecting US from attack. I did what any blue blood would do and I duckducked them. I got this link, appears to be legit:https://www.northcom.mil/About/US-Northern-Command-Mission-Vision/

The site says its an official US website. Got a couple of US flag ranks. So, why is there a Canadian flag on the splash page? Anyone with an idea on this? I called them in Co Springs and left a vmail. Seems strange to me.
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It hasn’t been centuries since I wore a uniform. NORTHCOM is one of the 11 combatant commands. CENTCOM and EUCOM are among others. The Commander, NORTHCOM is dual hatted as the commander of NORAD, which is a bi-national (US/Canada) command and has been since inception in 1958.
 
We should write Hegseth a letter thanking him for protecting us from those dangerous and deadly Cartel Balloons!! Who knows what kinda helium they use in those things!!!

99Luftballons
 
Lindberg said:
Since when is the FAA Administrator in charge of
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BigghHauss78 said:
We should write Hegseth a letter thanking him for protecting us from those dangerous and deadly Cartel Balloons!! Who knows what kinda helium they use in those things!!!

99Luftballons
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Helium is non flammable and non explosive as far as know, it maybe suffocating if somebody breaths it!
 
Cap'n Jack said:
Maybe hydrogen? More lifting power than helium and explosive too!
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Actually, if I were making a covert unmanned balloon, darn right I'd pick hydrogen. More lift, and the explosive potential is minimal. Plus it's far cheaper than helium and lends itself better to low-tech production.

Ron Wanttaja
 
Folks, I know that NORAD is part of northcom, knew it before asking my question on the flag at northcom website. They are one part of a defense of the US, CA, Mex and Bahamas. I read all that before asking. So far, no one has given a justification for the Canadian flag there. Why not the Mex flag too, or Bahamas? Northcom is a US command, staffed entirely by US mil. CA contribution is nanoscopic consisting of some ground and maybe some radar sites. Ergo - they get to have their flag rep our armed force command? Not seeing the logic.
 
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