Saw an interception yesterday!

[Dana M. Hague]

With the President in New London yesterday for the USCGA graduation,
I'm sure there were TFR's... I didn't check since I didn't go flying
yesterday. Apparently somebody else didn't, either... I was driving
east down Rt. 95 when I saw something odd in the sky... as it came
around I could see it was an F-22, at around 3000'.

Then I saw the Cessna. The F-22 circled it once more, then hit the
burners (I could hear it even over the traffic noise on the highway)
and screamed off back towards New London. At this point I lost sight
of the Cessna who continued heading west (had to watch the road, after
all!)

Later, a non pilot friend said he saw it, too... the jet chased the
Cessna (which from his description must have been a Skymaster) from
the east, S-turning to avoid overrunning it, circled it passing REAL
close a few times (about when I saw it), then headed back.

I'll bet the Cessna pilot need a change of shorts! I'm sure he's in
for an unpleasant conversation with the authorities, too.

Nothing in the news, though.

-Dana
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[Jim Logajan]

Dana M. Hague <d(dash)m(dash)hague(at)comcast(dot)net> wrote:
> Later, a non pilot friend said he saw it, too... the jet chased the
> Cessna (which from his description must have been a Skymaster) from
> the east, S-turning to avoid overrunning it, circled it passing REAL
> close a few times (about when I saw it), then headed back.

The "circling" and "REAL close" aspects don't appear to conform to what
the AIM describes as typical and safe intercept:

"5-6-2. Interception Procedures
[...]
In all situations, the interceptor aircrew will use caution to avoid
startling the intercepted aircrew and/or passengers.
[...]
The flight leader will then initiate a gentle closure toward the
intercepted aircraft, stopping at a distance no closer than absolutely
necessary to obtain the information needed. The interceptor aircraft
will use every possible precaution to avoid startling intercepted
aircrew or passengers."

From:

http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/Chap5/aim0506.html

[Mutts]

I keep the intercept info in my flight bag, an Aviation Safety
magazine handout.

Circling is called out as an alternate identification method for a
very slow aircraft.

and abrupt breakaway from target means "you may proceed"

So the Raptor driver sounds about right, other then possibly coming
too close. But if they are trying to see inside, I can see doing it.

I think it would be impossible to not startle someone with an F-22.






On Fri, 25 May 2007 02:57:11 -0000, Jim Logajan >
wrote:

>Dana M. Hague <d(dash)m(dash)hague(at)comcast(dot)net> wrote:
>> Later, a non pilot friend said he saw it, too... the jet chased the
>> Cessna (which from his description must have been a Skymaster) from
>> the east, S-turning to avoid overrunning it, circled it passing REAL
>> close a few times (about when I saw it), then headed back.
>
>The "circling" and "REAL close" aspects don't appear to conform to what
>the AIM describes as typical and safe intercept:
>
>"5-6-2. Interception Procedures
>[...]
>In all situations, the interceptor aircrew will use caution to avoid
>startling the intercepted aircrew and/or passengers.
>[...]
>The flight leader will then initiate a gentle closure toward the
>intercepted aircraft, stopping at a distance no closer than absolutely
>necessary to obtain the information needed. The interceptor aircraft
>will use every possible precaution to avoid startling intercepted
>aircrew or passengers."
>
>From:
>
>http://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim/Chap5/aim0506.html