TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. –
The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its
geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region
(CONR), will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 14-03
Monday night and into Tuesday morning in the National Capital Region,
Washington, D.C. Flights are scheduled to take place between midnight and
2 a.m. (EST).
The exercise is comprised of a series of training
flights held in coordination with the Federal
Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region (NCR) Coordination Center,
the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC), Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast
Guard and CONR’s Eastern Air Defense Sector.
Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s
intercept and identification operations as well as operationally test the NCR
Visual Warning System and certify newly assigned Command and Control
personnel at the JADOC. Civil Air Patrol aircraft and
a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the
exercise.
These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure CONR’s
rapid response capability. NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this
nature throughout the U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle,
the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
In the event of inclement weather, the exercise will take place the following
evening. If bad weather continues, officials will then make a decision to
postpone or cancel the exercise.
As the Continental United States geographical component of the bi-national
command NORAD, CONR provides airspace surveillance and control, and directs air
sovereignty activities for the CONUS region. CONR and its assigned Air
Force and Army assets throughout the country ensure air safety and security
against potential air threats.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR fighters have responded to
more than 5,000 possible air threats in the United States and have flown more
than 62,500 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and
air-to-air-refueling aircraft.