US Coast Guard Crews Migrate East From RNC To DNC
Cleve Bryan has the exclusive
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (CBS) - Several helicopter crews from the US Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City will soon migrate West to provide air security to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
The Coast Guard will work with the Air Force and Secret Service to enforce flight restrictions for the DNC as they have been doing for the RNC in Cleveland.
"We've been requested to assign rotary wing intercept capabilities for RNC and DNC which have been designated as national special security events," says LCDR Michael Darrah assistant operations officer.
The Coast Guard's ability to quickly launch and maneuver close to a variety of aircraft will allow them to assess threats and re-direct rogue aircraft.
Crews gave CBS 3 an exclusive opportunity to take part in a training mission where helicopters teams practiced approach methods for interception.
"The biggest challenge is that this isn't a traditional mission for the Coast Guard. Most of our pilots here have lots of search and rescue experience here from different units, but Atlantic City is the primary place where we do air intercept," says Darrah.
He says the most likely incidents will be pilots who inadvertently enter the restricted air space above the Wells Fargo Center.
Should crews feel there is a terroristic threat or some kind of "bad actor" they will notify the Air Force which would determine whether or not to shoot down the aircraft or take other enforcement action.
