PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. –
North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights today as they practice intercept and identification procedures. The flights will occur between Wynne, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. CST.
Although they are scheduled to begin in the morning, the flights could be delayed for 24 hours or cancelled due to weather.
People between Wynne, Arkansas and Memphis, Tennessee may hear and/or see low-flying NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to civilian aircraft, which will be taking on the role of an aircraft of interest.
In order to test response procedures, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.
NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout Canada and 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 bi-national 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 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.