Surveillance Blimp Near Marfa Could Soon Be History
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: January 24, 2013
VALENTINE -- A tethered surveillance blimp near Marfa could soon be history.
The Big Bend Sentinel reports that the Tethered Aerostat Radar System -- which is located near Valentine -- could soon be shutting down.
Such a closure could cost upwards of 20 people in the Marfa area their jobs.
The radar balloon -- which sits tethered to the ground about 12,000 feet above the earth -- has been monitoring low flying aircraft in the Big Bend region for more than 16 years.
The Aerostat balloon nosedived to the ground during a windstorm on February 14th.
No one was injured in the crash, which happened after an operator misread a high wind warning.
However, the crash caused more than $8.8 million in damages.
Officials at Langley Air Force base in Virginia haven't commented on the possible closure of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System.
The Big Bend Sentinel reports that the Tethered Aerostat Radar System -- which is located near Valentine -- could soon be shutting down.
Such a closure could cost upwards of 20 people in the Marfa area their jobs.
The radar balloon -- which sits tethered to the ground about 12,000 feet above the earth -- has been monitoring low flying aircraft in the Big Bend region for more than 16 years.
The Aerostat balloon nosedived to the ground during a windstorm on February 14th.
No one was injured in the crash, which happened after an operator misread a high wind warning.
However, the crash caused more than $8.8 million in damages.
Officials at Langley Air Force base in Virginia haven't commented on the possible closure of the Tethered Aerostat Radar System.
