Two F-15s scrambled from Portland, escort jet into Seattle

The real questions remains why wasn't this done on a certain date in 2001?

The flight took a sharp detour west early in the flight perhaps to avoid thunderstorm turbulence?

flightaware.com...

Flight aware seems to have trouble tracking some of the earlier flights?

Originally posted by Cauliflower
The flight took a sharp detour west early in the flight perhaps to avoid thunderstorm turbulence?

flightaware.com...

Flight aware seems to have trouble tracking some of the earlier flights?

What "sharp" detour? Considering other flgihts between those two airports follow similar flight paths?!

reply to post by Zaphod58


Ok Zaphod,

Maybe you can explain to me why you even give a half-# about correcting these idiots' minds? Let's assume that you have any real experience related to recent ANG scramble procedures.... Wouldn't you have a less retarded group of people to inform?

However, I dig the authoritative tone.

:-)

reply to post by ownbestenemy

What "sharp" detour?

I'm assuming that little "fin" shaped jog west the track made is just to avoid turbulence.

Nothing to see here right?

Fighter escorts are standard operating procedure for a suprisingly large number of cases, and are budgetted for, so cost nothing extra. In fact whenever a flight doesnt need a fighter escort, its a saving, as one was budgetted for.

A typical scenario is when a planes long-range radio has failed, and therefore fails to identify itself upon entering a countries airspace. Fighters are always scrambled to investigate who it is, why they failed to make contact, and if its a threat.

Once the status of a failed radio has been established (usually short range radios still work), the fighters will follow it down acting as a relay between control and the flight.

While I know this was not the case in this instance, it was still perfectly normal, and budgetted for. The only difference is, it got reported. Cases like this usually don't.

Its no conspiracy, its just standard procedure, and has been since the birth of passenger flights.

reply to post by voiceoreason


Because for some reason I like to beat my head against a brick wall repeatedly. I just can't seem to help myself.

Originally posted by Cauliflower
reply to post by ownbestenemy

 

What "sharp" detour?

I'm assuming that little "fin" shaped jog west the track made is just to avoid turbulence.

Nothing to see here right?

That's a standard Kona departure heading back to the mainland. The runway is mostly North/South so they continue North to clear the island and then turn east heading to their destination.

reply to post by Zaphod58

Because for some reason I like to beat my head against a brick wall repeatedly. I just can't seem to help myself.

Welcome to ATS my new friend, wear the bandages on your forehead with pride like the rest of us, they match the tinfoil hats and complete the ensemble.

Anyways, I appreciate the information you've provided, clear and concise. No one save a handful will listen or retain it, but it is appreciated none the less.

I do have a question for you though, you mentioned that post 911 any threats to a aircraft or a passenger on the no fly list means they get a fighter escort. Is it correct to assume that pre-911 only flights with threats made against them, as well as flights going off course, or having the wrong id, or no transponder at all, would be getting escorts?

I know fighters were scrambled plenty of times for things a simple as a plane going off course pre-911, which made the questionable scrambling of jets on 911 even more questionable.

So pre-911, what type of event would need to take place for fighters to be scrambled to escort the plane?

anyone think that guy on the no fly list who has been stranded in HI for a month is to blame...maybe he's the one who they wanted to see?

reply to post by phishyblankwaters


Pre-9/11 there had to be a very specific threat made against the plane, entering restricted airspace, or entering the ADIZ zone without communications or the wrong transponder code set. The ADIZ and restricted airspace were the most common intercepts. We used to launch them out of Hickam an average of twice a month for planes coming into the ADIZ not talking.

Originally posted by Thorneblood
Or, he was infected with something and his being asleep was just a by-product of the disease's affect on his body.

Good conspiracy point! Human package being transported...

Originally posted by voiceoreason
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

Ok Zaphod,

Maybe you can explain to me why you even give a half-# about correcting these idiots' minds? Let's assume that you have any real experience related to recent ANG scramble procedures.... Wouldn't you have a less retarded group of people to inform?

However, I dig the authoritative tone.

:-)

Zaphod is the real item, he is ex-USAF and one of the better sources for aviation related contributions that post on these forums.

I have only known him to be incorrect a handful of times in regards to minor details and then he hasn't had a problem admitting he was incorrect.

Considering 99% of what gets passed off as fact on these boards is rooted in lunacy, speculation or lack of education, Zaphod is a metaphorical ATS 1%er.

My two cents.

Originally posted by TheEnlightenedOne
Based thus far on the source provided and the "High threat individual" actions while on flight, I say this is a prank on someone. If you were to hijack a plane, would you be sleeping through most of the flight?

Don't push my conspiracy buttons.

The guy could have had explosives sewn in under his skin, or up an orifice, been escorted on the plane by a clandestine handler, drugged into sleepiness with something like datura, and the weapon detonated remotely or on a timer. The weapon could be a virus. He could have run off with a postage stamp of a computer, or paper about a secret technology.

He could have been framed and not know it because the luggage got onto the plane before he did.

The last question is very personal. Um... I've never actually thought about hijacking a plane before. Hypothetically, the act of sleeping could be a way to make someone appear less threatening than they are, playing possum. It also depends on if a hijacker needs his energy after being on the run from the people looking for him. He might be sleeping off his hypnosis, or multiple personality disorder.

Whoever made that phone call...is in big legal trouble; and they will most likely go to prison.

The phone call was a hoax; what a waste of our tax dollars.

reply to post by Tardacus


That was my first thought as well. That's a felony plus a huge amount in fines - ouch!

reply to post by Zaphod58


ALERT MISSIONS ARE "BUILT INTO THE BUDGETS..."

So it does not cost the taxpayer any extra money.

Zaphod58 where does the budget come from ? Thin air?

Or your wallet?

reply to post by caladonea


in a dream world it will
happen.

Originally posted by slugger9787
reply to post by Zaphod58

 

ALERT MISSIONS ARE "BUILT INTO THE BUDGETS..."

So it does not cost the taxpayer any extra money.

Zaphod58 where does the budget come from ? Thin air?

Or your wallet?

The cost to the taxpayer is the same whether the aircraft were scrambled or had stayed on the ground.

Part of the success behind U.S. aerial hedgeonomy is due to the fact that even active reserve pilots spend a lot more time actually flying an aircraft than many of their contemporaries.

There is little sense in developing an arsenal of the size and capability currently funded by the U.S. taxpayer without putting an emphasis on proficiency, combat skills are perishable and need to be constantly maintained.

Trying to argue that this is some sort of flagrant government waste is short sighted and erroneous.

The cost of operating an F15C costs the Air Force approximately $17k USD/hour. How much does the ANG spend daily on routine operations and scheduled exercises?

Originally posted by Cauliflower
reply to post by ownbestenemy

 

What "sharp" detour?

I'm assuming that little "fin" shaped jog west the track made is just to avoid turbulence.

Nothing to see here right?

As pointed out by Zaph and if you want, go check FlightAware for all flights between those two airports and you will see that there is nothing to actually see here....so yes, right. ATC will have several configurations depending on weather, traffic, flow, and traffic management. I would bet that nearly all flights between those two airports on that same day all follow a very similar plan and if you are hoping to find some anomaly of their actual flight path via FlightAware you are adding a capability to that service in which they do not have.

Example: Flying out of Logan Int' to Los Angeles our flight was delayed. Checking flight aware about an hour and half later had us over the mid-west on the way to California; problem was, we were sitting in the terminal.