PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, will conduct calibration flights March 20-23, 2012 over the Washington D.C. area.
The calibration flights will take place from approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Four small radio controlled models and four Light Sport Aircraft—also known as ultra lights-- will fly patterns between 150 and 3000 feet above ground level. The radio controlled models will only fly in restricted airspace near Quantico. Additionally, a Beechcraft C-12 aircraft will fly patterns at approximately 1000 feet and 18,000 feet above ground level. These flights have been carefully planned and will be closely controlled. The flights are intended to assist in calibration of systems and equipment, and will serve to refine and improve our ability to respond to unknown and potentially threatening aircraft.
NORAD has conducted flights of this nature throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
NORAD is the binational Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.