Goffs UAV NOTAM

NOTAM:

ZLA LOS ANGELES (ARTCC)PALMDALE, CA. !HHR 04/003 ZLA AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 5 NMR GFS300003 400/BLW VFR DALGT AVOIDANCE ADZD WEF 1304021400-1304040200

GFS300003 is N35.16623 W115.21902. So we have a zone 5 nautical miles around that point with flight 400ft AGL and below.

There are two dirt strips nearby.
35° 5'47.77"N 115°13'15.63"W
35°11'55.61"N 115°11'46.48"W

Effective from 4/2/2013 7AM local until 4/3/2013 7PM local.

There isn't much on the internet about this location other than Goffs is an abandoned Army air field.

The GFS VOR is quite visible on Google Earth at N35.13115 W115.17644.

I can tell you from being out there in a truck that it's sage brush and bunny trails. A whole bunch of nothing. It's the back way around Needles Mountain for a trucker who doesn't want to go over the hills for whatever reason. I went that way once for a specific route up into Nevada from south east California and once to see just what was out there for the back way around the hills.

I'm guessing they just want a spot with paved road and as little traffic as possible to play with something. Who knows what for sure on UAV...but given the spot, must be something interesting. Looks like they want a lot of airspace for distances to run around before overflying anything like the general public.

Nice Catch! I know we have truckers out here... maybe one going through that area?

*Double checked times... Maybe one that WAS through there? lol....

I can also say the CHP uses aircraft for speed enforcement out there. One prop plane above and chase cars on On-ramps. That's usually out the other side of Essex though and not that close to Needles. That could be what they tested though. That would give them paved road to run their cars on speed testing for accurate readings?

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I've been in the general area, but never ventured down that particular road. I've been down Kelbaker Road looking for "hot rocks."

It is a two day test, so in theory somebody could hop on over there. ;-)