ABP’s Border Hawk provides live video feed from the Mexican border to MSNBC

15 May 2003 | Me

[JackelopeBreeder]

American Border Patrol’s Border Hawk UAV got four minutes of fame tonight courtesy of a live broadcast on MSNBC. The live version was at 6:15 PDT and it may air again later tonight.

I was not aware this would be a live broadcast until the last minute; I had “assumed” that it would be another interview&tape exercise to be tossed in at some later date as filler material on a slow news day. Nope, they sent one of those big monster network trucks with a satellite antenna big enough to bounce signals off other planets.

You would not believe the choreography that goes into a live feed. We had to plan out exactly how we were going to launch the bird, orbit the major crossing point on the San Pedro River, and have the bird pinpoint a couple of volunteer targets – all in four minutes – while Glenn Spencer and the network anchor did the chit-chat thing. There were two network cameras to catch Glenn and Border Hawk, and we piped the UAV’s live downlinked video directly to MSNBC.

What did not show up on the broadcast was the fact that flying conditions were far from ideal – a really nasty wind that really tested the UAV operator’s talents. Takeoff was easy, maneuvering was tough, and landing was very high pucker factor. He still greased it in on all three tires. The film crew was well aware of the difficulties and sweating with the rest of us and doing the body-english dance.

For those of you who saw the broadcast, the downlinked video from the UAV looked really good – I saw it on tape about twenty minutes later inside the network truck. However, they had to shrink it in size for their format. The real deal is much better.

Glenn Spencer got in a few good points on air. For example, a helicopter costs $1200 to $1500 per hour to operate; Border Hawk only costs about $10.

So Border Hawk sent good quality live video out over MSNBC. Any bets on how loud the screams of outrage will be in the next couple of days? (Paging Raul Grijalva, Isabel Garcia, Jennifer Allen -- please pick up a white courtesy phone...)

As usual, Uncle JackelopeBreeder kept his mug well out of camera range.

[JackelopeBreeder]

So much for the press release. Now let's add a human touch to the technology.

Two illegal aliens died here in Cochise County in the last 24 hours. One was a female, no ID but probably Central American, in her mid-30s -- dehydration. A Mexican illegal alien found her and gave himself up trying to save her life.

The other was a 22-year old Mexican male; he died four miles southwest of my front door -- the authorities still haven't released a cause of death. His wife went for help, but it was too late.

A week ago, a group of 20 illegals tried to make it over the Crest Trail in the Huachuca Mountains. They were assaulted and robbed of all food, water, and money by armed drug smuggler scouts. Tough break. Then the smugglers announced their intention of raping a female in the group. There was one hell of a eye-gouging brawl at that point and we still don't know all the details. Seems chivalry is not dead after all -- at least among Mexicans.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Ping!

[Fred Mertz]

Thanks for the informative and eye-opening post.

[DLfromthedesert]

It's amazing to me that our President could demonstrate superb leadership in foreign affairs without regard to political consequences or worrying about what weasel countries are offended; yet, where is the leadership on this issue? People are dying and all they care about is the businesses that screw these people and the rest of us; and the "Hispanic vote". THIS IS POLITICAL COWARDICE!!!!

[Travis McGee]

bttt!

[Carry_Okie]

THIS IS POLITICAL COWARDICE!!!!

About which Carl Rove has no shame.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

When can we start getting some video caps of some of the Border Hawks' work?

[JackelopeBreeder]

The last two days have been rough. I swear to God I'm about ready to lead the next great Mexican Revolution.

[Tancredo Fan]

I saw it.... it was choice. Perfectamente. You could tell it was very windy just by looking at the wings of the UAV just before takeoff. That technology should be sending Vicente Fox out to the local farmacia looking for either some Immodium AD or a great big cork. This threatens the very core of the incompetent, traitorous beauraucracy also known as the U.S. goobermint... the one that is so busy doing their 'we are the world' song-and-dance that they forgot about guarding our homeland. Idiots.

Good work, American Border Patrol.

[JackelopeBreeder]

You are one sick pup. We really should go out drinking together.

[DLfromthedesert]

The buck does NOT stop at Rove

[Travis McGee]

Whiskey para mis hombres, cervezas para mis caballos!

[Travis McGee]

Could you see illegals crossing the border?

[JackelopeBreeder]

My horse despises Coors Light -- and I have the scars to prove it.

[DLfromthedesert]

Good luck!!! My heart goes out to the good Mexican people.

[Travis McGee]

Don't walk up behind him when he's been drinking.

[Tancredo Fan]

No, it appeared to be a demonstration. The inexpensive UAV showed how invaders can be spotted easily without a big expense to taxpayers... that is if Halliburton or Carlyle aren't involved in building the devices. Just my 2 cents.

[JackelopeBreeder]

Only if we had stayed around another three hours -- the broadcast was scheduled around MSNBC and daylight lighting conditions. However, I did watch the Border Patrol pop about 15 illegals just three blocks from my house on the way home.

[Travis McGee]

Gotcha.

We need to put some criminal invader UAV vidvaps and mpeg links on FR for emailing far and wide.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

I just wanted to know if some video captures would be available of the Border Hawk flying around and catching drug smugglers and illegal border crossers, and maybe even a few of the Mexican Army fellas crossing the border for all the reasons they do that. How is that sick? Not claiming you're wrong but how did that give away my illness?