Airspace Above San Angelo Closed for Special Security Reasons

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) around a 10-nautical mile radius of a point eight miles southeast of Mathis Field. The TFR is listed under the Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Fort Worth Air Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that owns the airspace above much of west Texas.

The NOTAM was issued at 9:37 a.m. Central Standard Time. It reads,

“No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described).

• Except as specified below and/or unless authorized by ATC:
• All aircraft entering or exiting the TFR must be on a discrete code assigned by an air traffic control (ATC) facility.
• Aircraft must be squawking the discrete code at all times while in the TFR.
• All aircraft entering or exiting the TFR must remain in two-way radio communications with ATC.”

A witness at Mathis Field told San Angelo LIVE! late this afternoon that “a drone landed here and it was hidden in a hangar here.”

This afternoon at 4:30 p.m., Dennis Smith, Spokesman for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that his agency would be conducting Air and Marine Operations in the San Angelo area.

They will be testing the feasibility of operating an Unmanned Aircraft System Predator B, out of San Angelo Regional Airport, also known as Mathis Field, Smith stated in a news release.

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Above: CBP Air and Marine Operations began testing an Unmanned Aircraft System today at San Angelo Regional Airport. (CBP photo)

The drone will be here in a three- to four-week deployment, which began today,

This is a first-ever UAS deployment at a civilian airport. AMO aircrews normally operate the UAS above 18,000 feet, using Instrument Flight Rules, and while in constant communications with Air Traffic Control. AMO will operate the UAS in accordance with an approved Certificate of Authorization, Smith stated.

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The exact location of the drone test will likely be the area cordoned off by the TFR via NOTAM. It is defined as a 5 NM radius of Latitude: 31º15'14"N, Longitude: 100º23'21"W. Off the KSJT TACAN; it is 5 NM around the 145/08. The TFR restricts airspace from 3,500 MSL (above sea level) to Flight Level 180, or approximately 18,000 feet MSL.

From the air, the area is east of U.S. 277 northeast of Christoval and southwest of Wall.

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AMO conducts its law enforcement and homeland security missions at and beyond the nation’s borders. During this proof-of concept, AMO will operate the UAS from San Angelo and conduct its border security mission along the Texas border. AMO selected San Angelo because of its favorable weather conditions, central location and the existence of a current AMO operating location, Smith stated in the release.

Several NOTAMS restrict airspace in this area from Jan. 29 through Feb. 5. Pilots should check NOTAMs before flight for specific time periods of the TFR.