MARQUETTE, MI (AP)-- Helicopters have been flying over the Marquette area as a nearby airport serves as a winter icing test area for the U.S. Army.
Sawyer International Airport Manager Duane DuRay says the Army has sent a team to test a Korean Aerospace Industries helicopter's ability to operate in frigid temperatures and icing conditions.
The Mining Journal reports that the Army's CH-47D Chinook helicopter leads the operation as it covers the helicopter being tested with icing spray. An additional aircraft hangs by to monitor conditions throughout the flight.
This testing has occurred on and off for about three months. DuRay says unseasonably warm temperatures have caused difficulty.
The airport has most recently served as an icing test site with the Italy-based company AgustaWestland in 2015. This is Korean Aerospace's first time in the area.
