The flight test occurred just as Secretary Gates was visiting Beijing ironic timing since Gates had terminated the top-of-the-line F-22 only two years earlier, arguing China would not field a similar aircraft until 2025.
On November 16, 2012, Union Pacific agreed to allow the X Train to run on what has been exclusively a freight train rail line since 1997, when Amtrak terminated passenger service between L.A. and Las Vegas.
The FSA noted that if any relevant conversation (from voice, SMS to IM) be received or commenced on private communication equipment, they would expect the call to be terminated immediately and the conversation diverted to a recorded business line.