Low-Level Flight Will 'Let Everybody Know We're On The
Job'
The Super Bowl has become a de facto American holiday to many...
and, sadly, that also means it is an attractive potential target
for terrorists. One of the numerous security precautions to be
undertaken this Sunday, will involve pilots assigned to the 162nd
Fighter Wing's Alert Detachment at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ
flying air patrols and air defense deterrence missions.

Arizona's Air Guardsmen are teaming up with the North American
Aerospace Defense Command in a consolidated effort with federal,
state and local agencies to provide security for the National
Football League's championship game, to be held at 73,719-seat
University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ on February 3.
"We have the best jobs in the world," said Lt. Col. Moon Milham,
the alert detachment commander. "We get to defend our country and
our way of life, and we get to do it from the cockpit of a high
performance fighter jet."
Colonel Milham, a 21-year F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, and his
team of aircrew and aircraft maintainers are well-seasoned in the
area of homeland defense having provided a 24/7365 rapid response
force in support of Operation Noble Eagle, the US air defense
mission which began in the wake of the September 11 terrorist
attacks.
The pilots will fly about 0800 February 1 over the Phoenix
metropolitan area and Nogales to make a visual show of capability
to the general population and the aviation community in order to
deter threats, and to reassure the public of their safety.
"Over the Phoenix area, we'll have two F-16s flying in low
formation at a medium speed just to let everyone know we are on the
job," Colonel Milham said.
It's extremely rare that F-16s would fly at 2,000 feet over the
city; therefore the pilots are coordinating with Phoenix approach
and local airports to ensure the sorties do not interfere with
normal flight activity in the area, the colonel said.
The jets will make approaches at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport,
Sky Harbor Airport, Goodyear, Glendale, Deer Valley and Scottsdale,
and then press south near Nogales to demonstrate US air defense
capability near the border.
During the Super Bowl, an undisclosed number of F-16s will
perform air patrols to enforce the Federal Aviation
Administration's temporary flight restriction over the area. In
accordance with NOTAM FDC 7/6849, only
approved military, law enforcement and emergency medical flights
will be authorized within two nautical miles of the stadium between
1300 and 1500 MST.
Within 10 nautical miles of the stadium, between 1500 and 2230,
authorization extends to regularly-scheduled commercial passenger,
private charter and all-cargo flights that meet or exceed approved
security programs. From 10 to 30 nautical miles, all other aircraft
arriving or departing local airfields will be authorized to pass
through, but will be required to maintain constant radio
communication with air traffic control.

"We won't be as visible to people on the ground during the game
on Sunday, but we'll be up there," Colonel Milham said.
(Aero-News salutes Capt. Gabe Johnson, 162nd Fighter Wing
Public Affairs)