PETERSON
AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct
exercise flights over Phoenix Aug. 12 between 10 a.m. and Noon MDT, with
fighter jets practicing the command’s intercept and identification procedures.
People
in the area may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity
to other military or military-contracted aircraft, which will simulate the role
of an aircraft of interest.
Although
flights are scheduled for the morning hours, the flights could be delayed or
cancelled due to weather.
In
order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts
exercises using a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction
violations, hijackings and unresponsive aircraft. All NORAD exercises are
carefully planned and closely controlled.
NORAD
has conducted a number of exercise flights throughout Canada and the U.S. since
the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist
attacks 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 U.S. 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.