NORAD to conduct exercise flights over Southeastern Virginia, Northeastern North Carolina to test response capability

Oct. 26, 2011

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights today as they practice intercept and identification procedures. Exercise flights will take place over Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. Although they are scheduled for early morning, the exercise flights could be delayed due to weather concerns.

Those in the areas of Hampton, Newport News and the Eastern Shore of Virginia as well as the city/towns between Roanoke Rapids North Carolina and Wakefield Virginia may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a military or military contracted aircraft, which will be taking on the role of Tracks of Interest (TOI).

In order to test responses, 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 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, Fla.

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For more information about NORAD intercept procedures, refer to the FAA website at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs/AIM/Chap5/aim0506.html.