Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing to Taxi MQ-9 on Syracuse International Airport

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An MQ-9 operating from the launch and recovery site at Wheeler-Sack Army Air Field.

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE (12/06/2014)(readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing expands its taxi operations of the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft today to include all taxiways and ramps of the Syracuse International Airport.

Weather permitting, the taxi operations will occur between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.

Expanding taxi operations outside the 174th ramp will better familiarize aircrews with ground operations and local air traffic control measures at Syracuse International Airport. The training will exercise proper procedures and communications with the FAA controllers at the Syracuse Air Traffic Control tower.

The 174th Attack Wing began its first taxi operations of the MQ-9 on August 18 earlier this year, consisting of operations on the wing's taxiway only.

All flight operations of the 174th Attack Wing MQ-9 aircraft continue to be flown from Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield at Fort Drum, New York.

The 174th Attack Wing was established in 1947 as the first Air National Guard flying unit in New York State. It currently flies the MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The wing also trains all MQ-9 maintenance technicians for the Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserves as well as training some personnel from allied nations. The wing conducts qualification training for MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, launching and recovering the aircraft from Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.

The wing also maintains an air-to-ground gunnery range at Fort Drum which is used by Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves units across the northeast and provides forces to respond to state emergencies at the direction of the governor.