Somewhere over the desert in southern Arizona, close to the state line with New Mexico and less than 10 miles from the Mexican border, a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182 is flying in circles.
The ground 9,000 feet below is sprawling untouched desert in all directions, interrupted only by the bisecting border wall, the occasional abandoned crop circle and towering mountains like islands in the sky. There is not a structure nor person anywhere in sight.
The aircraft is in a holding pattern in the Tombstone Military Operations Area (MOA) — a section of airspace in southern Arizona reserved for military training.
“We just are going to loiter in this area until it's time to execute the mission,” says Capt. John Giddings, the pilot for this mission.
His aircraft — flying under call sign CAP279 — is holding in place waiting for the go-ahead to fly its set course, directly into a restricted airspace.
Aircraft usually need permission to enter the MOA when it is active. In this case, the Civil Air Patrol is part of the military operation and has permission to enter, but for the purpose of intentionally violating airspace.
It’s part of a mission the Civil Air Patrol regularly flies. Momentarily, CAP279 will be intercepted by two F-16s from the Arizona Air National Guard.
Maj. Brett Russo of the Civil Air Patrol is the incident commander for the mission. He said the mission helps certify pilots to defend America’s skies.
“We're qualifying actual alert pilots that do real-world interceptions to protect TFRs [temporary flight restrictions] like the president and sporting events and the border and other different situations,” Russo said.
It's called Operation Noble Eagle. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. Air Force and NORAD keep fighter jets on standby to enforce temporary-flight-restriction areas.
When a pilot is unresponsive and off-course, fighter jets are scrambled to get the pilot’s attention and to assess potential threats.
But fighter jets are not meant to fly as slowly as civilian aircraft, so pilots need to train for the difficult maneuver.
When a pilot violates a TFR, they are likely either lost and unknowingly violating the airspace, or they are intentionally and maliciously violating the airspace. The Civil Air Patrol helps certify pilots for both scenarios.
“The first mission is just for a lost airplane that's approaching a temporary-flight-restriction area,” Giddings says. “A jet will come by and try to get our attention.”
A lost pilot might be distracted by maps and navigation systems and won’t even realize they are violating airspace. So fighter jets are scrambled to get their attention.
“They're going to try to call us on the radio, and fly by us,” Giddings says. “Obviously it's going to make some noise.”
The second mission is called a headbutt. In this mission, the F-16 pulls a more daring maneuver, cutting off the aircraft in front, simulating a threat response.
Command gives the go-ahead for the first mission, and CAP279 sets on course.
The instructions are clear: fly in a straight line to enter the restricted airspace.
Giddings does not know where the F-16s are or when they will arrive.
“It will be a surprise,” Giddings says.
“Push on them about 50 miles away. East side of Tombstone, east,” one of the F-16 pilots says over the radio.
The F-16s spot CAP279 on radar 50 miles out, but its pilots don't see the F-16s.
“I don’t see him yet,” says mission observer Lt. James Fendley
“Don’t respond either,” Giddings says.
But before the F-16s reach the CAP279, it encounters a large barrier.
“I can’t go into Mexico,” Giddings says.
CAP279 was headed directly for the Mexican border, and had to turn around quickly before violating international airspace.
In a simulated mission to practice violating airspace, CAP279 nearly actually violated airspace.
“Simulated CAP Guard, this is CAP279. We're turning north to stay out of Mexico airspace, 279,” Giddings says.
After CAP279 nearly avoids the border, the jets are finally in sight.
“He's off my nose, about one mile,” says one of the F-16 pilots over the radio.
“Pass behind him and then pick up a pass on the left wing,” responds the second F-16 pilot.
The fighter jets make a big loop behind to fly in the same direction for the intercept. Faster than expected …
“All right, there he goes,” Fendley says. “All right, he's rocking his wings.”
About 500 feet off CAP279’s wing, the F-16 makes a pass close enough to see the pilot inside. The F-16 was traveling at least twice the speed, and its pilot waves his wings back and forth to get the CAP279 pilot’s attention.
“This is the U.S. Air Force on guard aircraft on the east side of Tombstone airspace westbound at nine thousand five hundred,” says one of the F-16 pilots over the radio. “You have entered a restricted area. Contact FAA ATC and exit the restricted area immediately. Nearest exit point is heading at two-seven-zero.”
At this point, CAP279 had not contacted the F-16 pilots, as part of the exercise, but after the second pass, the pilot responds.
“Exercise. Exercise. Exercise. ATC. We have a fighter jet alongside. Our radio volume is set low. Please advise. Exercise. Exercise. Exercise,” Fendley says.
“Tail number eight-seven-niner Charlie Papa, continue on a heading of two-seven-zero. Maintain nine thousand five hundred,” says one of the F-16 pilots over the radio.
The CAP pilots made sure they played their role. Capt. Giddings reminded Fendley to act lost.
“You're a lost guy. Just say, ‘OK’,” Giddings says.
“CAP279, maintain two seven zero, nine thousand five hundred. CAP279, out,” Fendley says.
Giddings says the first mission was a success. The F-16s successfully intercepted their position and directed CAP279 out of the restricted airspace.
But, just as they were preparing to reset for a second exercise …
“CAP279. Sorry, you can disregard,” the F-16 pilot said. “We've got too many issues over here to do another intercept, so we're … we'll just do some training between the F-16s. You guys are cleared to do whatever else you were planning to do today.”
One of the F-16s was having issues with its radar, so they decided to terminate the remaining exercise and instead practice dogfighting.
Intercept training is one of several missions the Civil Air Patrol flies, including search and rescue, locating downed aircraft and providing aerial photography in disaster areas.
Founded in 1941 just six days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the volunteer civilian pilots of Civil Air Patrol patrolled the coast during the War.
Today, nearly all of the 70,000 members are volunteers.
“It's obviously evolved to providing disaster relief operations, cadet programs, aerospace education,” said Russo, the incident commander.
As the civilian branch of the Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol looks for niches to fill in support of the Air Force.
And when duty calls, the Civil Air Patrol’s volunteers are ready to provide assistance on short notice.
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