The Air Force’s Global Hawk high-altitude reconnaissance UAV has become the first unmanned system to receive an airworthiness certification stamp of approval. The Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, recognized the momentous event with a ceremony on Jan. 25. This means that the FAA has faith in the UAV’s reliability in flight, now that it has passed more than 500 technical criteria, according to ASC officials. Next, they want to take the Navy version of the Global Hawk through the same process.
Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said the service must improve its readiness in his first public remarks as Air Force Chief of Staff, made during a ceremony marking his ascension to the service’s top job Nov. 18.
