Calibration Flights in Washington D.C. area to enhance NORAD response capability

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –   The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, will conduct calibration and training flights from May 4-5 over the southeastern Washington D.C. area.

The calibration flights, which will take place from approximately 11:30 p.m. – 5:30 a.m. EDT, will be performed by a civilian Beechcraft King Air aircraft flying patterns at approximately 3,000 feet above ground level. These flights have been carefully planned and will be closely controlled. The flights are intended to assist in calibration of systems and equipment, and training, and will serve to refine and improve our ability to respond to unknown and potentially threatening aircraft. No ordnance of any kind will be employed during this exercise.

If the flights have to be cancelled for any reason, they will be attempted again on May. 6-7 at the same time.
NORAD has conducted 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, Florida.

For more information about NORAD, refer to http://www.norad.mil/Home.html.

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