The Air Force put its high flying Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle to work for the first time in the US for a civil support mission when it aided California firefighting efforts, according to a US Northern Command release. The RQ-4 Global Hawk was not the only Air Force ISR asset; the Air Force also engaged its high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. Both ISR aircraft flew out of Beale AFB, Calif. They were joined by a Navy P-3 flying out of NAS North Island, Calif. Imagery from these aircraft provided firefighters with near-real-time images to aid in tracking the fires and for humanitarian support.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
