TYNDALL
AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its
geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region, will
conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 14-10 Monday night, July 14, 2014, through Wednesday morning, in
the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. Flights are scheduled to take
place between midnight and 5:30 a.m. (EDT) each day.
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 and Western Air Defense Sectors.
Exercise
Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification
operations as well as operationally test the NCR Visual Warning System and
training personnel at the JADOC. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16s 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.