OTUS THE HEAD CAT: City readies unmanned plane to patrol Burns Park airspace
Saturday, April 18, 2009
LITTLE ROCK — Dear Otus,
As a retired Navy flier, I was fascinated by the story in the paper last week about North Little Rock Police Department’s new $78,000 remote-controlled helicopter. I know I’ll sleep better at night knowing that bird is patrolling the skies.
But I thought I read where Mayor Hays had plans to purchase a surplus unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to patrol city parks. Whatever became of that?
- Cmdr. Pete Mitchell USN (Ret.), North Little RockDear Pete,
You remember correctly. North Little Rock bought the surplus Predator in January from the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. It was a steal at only $9.52 million since the cost per unit (CPU) for a new Predator system runs about $30 million.
But wait, there’s more.
The Air Force includes a computer-packed Ground Control Station Vehicle (GCSV), which is a nicely tricked-out T-series GMC van with desert camo, four state-of-the-art Saitek X52 flight control system joysticks and around the clock tech support from the manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.
The city is saved big bucks by using the C-band line-ofsight data link and not having to fund the PPSL (Predator Primary Satellite Link). Also, the city won’t require the two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles that usually come with the aircraft. They cost $68,000 apiece.
Mayor Hays thought the missiles would be overkill for Burns Park patrol, even with unruly soccer mobs.
For those who may believe such an aircraft is a frivolous expense in these tough economic times, the mayor has asked them to consider that had the Predator been patrolling high above Riverfront Park during the dark early hours of March 26 when the Salty Parrot was sunk by unknown miscreants (he suspects saboteurs from Little Rock’s River Market District), the city would not be out the $2,487 it’s costing to refloat and repair the historic party bargeand karaoke bar.
But wait, there’s more.
As an added economic bonus, North Little Rock’s Predator system will employ local youth as Parks & Recreation personnel. It was determined that the only qualified civilian operators of the aircraft were members of the North Little Rock High School West Campus Video Gamer Club, the Charging Wildcat Avatars.
Each club member is proficient in Microsoft FlightSim X or FS2004, with merit badges in the FSX UAV Predator Add-on ($34.95).
Initially, the 17 juniors, 11 seniors and nine sophomores will be hired by the city to man the Predator from a “command bunker” (a small unused hangar) at North Little Rock Airport. They are currently in training, flying the Predator over Camp Robinson after school and on weekends and hoping to be ready for the big unveiling May 22 during Riverfest 2009.
The plan is for the Predator to fly low upriver during the Willie Nelson concert. Willie will coordinate by singing his hit song “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground” from 1980’s Honeysuckle Rose. Bring your camera.
The Predator, which has been christened the Savannah Lou II, is not yet on public display, but was seen by hundreds of thousands when it appeared at Little Rock Air Force Base during the open house last October. Mayor Hays noticed the small “For Sale” sign on the craft and at first thought it was a joke.
Not so. It turns out that this veteran UAV (serial No. 94-555) entered service in 1995 and saw action in Operation Nomad Vigil in Bosnia and Serbia.
The Predator comes with a Multi-spectral Targeting System, a color nose camera, a variableaperture TV camera for daytime, and a variable aperture infrared camera for low light/night.
There is also a digitally enhanced catadioptric telephoto lens that can read the Titleist name on a golf ball at 1,500 feet and a 600 million candlepower spotlight that could light up Dickey-Stephens Park enough to allow them to play ball.
For those concerned about privacy, the cameras will only be looking for scofflaws. Otherwise, the Predator, which can loiter for 11 hours on five gallons of ethanol, will cruise at 2,500 feet. At that height, you won’t even be able to hear the engine.
Until next time, Kalaka reminds you that the mayor plans to use the plane to ensure the fun remains in Funland.
Our mayor is so smart. It amazes me that people think he isn't. Just in this article alone his brilliance is clearly laid out for all of us to see. I am so proud we have someone with so much insight and forethought and that he always keeps his eyes open for bargains for us here on the wonderful north shore. I am looking into re-naming NLR after Hays. I don't want to wait until he is gone though, I want to do it now.
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