WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Defense Facility Washington, D.C. flies by the Lincoln Memorial during a training flight Jan. 31. The unit's mission is to keep small general aviaiton aircraft from entering the area of downtown Washington, D.C. The helicopters and crews come from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., and rotate in and out of the air defense mission on a regular basis. The Coast Guard has performed this mission since it first stood up in 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)
ARLINGTON, Va. - Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Vogt, MH-65 flight mechanic from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., inspects an MH-65 engine following a training flight Jan. 31st. Members of CGAS Atlantic City have performed the air defense mission around Washington, D.C., since the mission first began in 2006. While assigned to the air defense mission, the Coast Guardsmen are responsible for keeping small general aviation aircraft away from downtown Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)
ARLINGTON, Va. - Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Alex Kickham, MH-65 flight mechanic from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., checks the rotors of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter following a training flight Jan. 31st. Members of CGAS Atlantic City have performed the air defense mission around Washington, D.C., since the mission first began in 2006. While assigned to the air defense mission, the Coast Guardsmen are responsible for keeping small general aviation aircraft away from downtown Washington, D.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher)
By Tech. Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - It’s not the kind of mission the Coast Guard is generally known for, but given their core mission of saving lives, perhaps the rotary wing air intercept mission in Washington, D.C., should be. Since 2006, Coast Guard aviators and enlisted personnel from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., have been rotating into Washington, D.C., with the task of preventing small, general aviation aircraft from violating the 30 nautical mile ring around the capital known as the “Special Flight Rules Area.”