They'll Fly Along The NORTHERN Border

Aircraft flying border patrols between the US and Mexico are a rather common sight. Somewhat less common are the patrols flown over the US-Canadian border -- even though they've been flying for the past 20 years. Now, the US is beefing up its northern border patrols, adding new aircraft and a new command center in Bellingham (WA).

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation quotes Gary Bracken at the US Office for Air and Marine Operations as saying, "We're bringing in a brand new aircraft to the air marine fleet which is the Pilatus PC-12 (file photo of type, above) which is a turbo-prop aircraft outfitted with quite a bit of sensory equipment." Bracken told the CBC his agency has also purchased new rotorcraft.

The aircraft will cover the mountain trails and open fields in a 240-mile radius around Bellingham, Bracken said, looking for smugglers and potential terrorists. But Bracken said neither US planes nor helicopters would violate Canadian airspace.

"Smuggling of illegal narcotics, migrants, weapons, potential terrorists –- those are the types of activities we are targeting," Bracken told the CBC.

The new aircraft begin their patrols on Friday.

FMI: www.ice.gov/graphics/amo/index.htm