Is NW Calgary being attacked by fighter jets?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

If they were going to be logging flight hours/training anyway, that's fine. I just don't want to see taxpayers money wasted on pay for jets to fly over a football game.

The flight hours count - all time in the aircraft is valuable to the pilots. It's not like they can just hop in a CF-18 any time they feel like it.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Why do they waste money on this? How expensive is it to fly a CF-18 over a football game? Can't that money be better spent on other things that don't just last a split second?

I assume that flight training and hours have to be put in anyway? Might as well let some people enjoy witnessing it.

But you're right there could be some cost that probably comes at the expense of keeping other air traffic out of the way?

[PsnaP]

Saw one fly over my house as well... and I live south of Calgary. Thats one long ass U turn.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I assume that flight training and hours have to be put in anyway? Might as well let some people enjoy witnessing it.

But you're right there could be some cost that probably comes at the expense of keeping other air traffic out of the way?

No, business as usual for ATC (remember they are on the job to keep the blips from touching each other on the radar screen).

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

No, business as usual for ATC (remember they are on the job to keep the blips from touching each other on the radar screen).

Probably similar preventing crashes between the traffic helicopter/C172s that are hovering around town every morning and afternoon. Though I imagine an F-18 moves a bit faster than the traffic choppers.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Probably similar preventing crashes between the traffic helicopter/C172s that are hovering around town every morning and afternoon. Though I imagine an F-18 moves a bit faster than the traffic choppers.

Well it does move faster, but must still remain below the "speed limits" set up below 10,000' (250 knots) unless ATC allows them to go faster.

There really isn't a lot of traffic just hanging around over Calgary, most is arriving and departing traffic on set routes, and the traffic aircraft plus HAWC's and STAR's maybe. ATC could always just give local traffic an altitude restriction to keep them above the CF-18 while it's around.

[speede5]

The military does it for free, anyone can put in a request at the beginning of the year, and DND approves as they deem the flypasts valuable, as recruitment tools or general good will.

The pilots are sometimes getting training value but for the most part its a perk, get to fly to Calgary and hang out. Sometimes techs will get to join on the trip in the back seat (if duals are used) so there is some morale boost there.

Cost is just eaten up in the operations budget for whatever squadron flys it. Just like airshows, none of the military acts are paid for by the event. DND pays all the gas/maintenance. If you factor in cost per hour maintenance included the flypast was well over 100K, but it's not that simple.

I've been in the cockpit for a few of these, fwiw.

Besides, when else do the taxpayers get to see their $$$'s in action.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by cral12

It flew right over my deck - pretty sure the pilot saluted me as he went by!

I think he was keeping up foreign relations.

[Locke]

So, NW Calgary isnt being attacked by fighter jets then?

Thats unfortunate.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Locke

So, NW Calgary isnt being attacked by fighter jets then?

Thats unfortunate.

This thread was still very good for entertainment. I always love it when someone hears about something minor and decides to get morally outraged at it. It's even better when they end up being wrong. In this case, hack&Lube was outraged at the extravegant, unneccessary flyover, at the exspense of us poor taxpayers. Of course, as it turns out, the taxpayers were on the hook for a total of $0.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by flameswin

This thread was still very good for entertainment. I always love it when someone hears about something minor and decides to get morally outraged at it. It's even better when they end up being wrong. In this case, hack&Lube was outraged at the extravegant, unneccessary flyover, at the exspense of us poor taxpayers. Of course, as it turns out, the taxpayers were on the hook for a total of $0.

Well, not exactly true. Taxpayers ARE paying for it, but it costs no more to taxpayers than not having it.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Locke

So, NW Calgary isnt being attacked by fighter jets then?

Well duh, everybody knows that NE Calgary is where the terrorists are.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by jammies

Well duh, everybody knows that NE Calgary is where the terrorists are.

In before the 'that's racist!' kid.