An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Press Releases
Press Release | Nov. 1, 2016

NORAD to conduct exercise over Southern California

North American Aerospace Defense Command Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –  

North American Aerospace Defense Command aircraft will conduct exercise flights today between Julian and Irvine, California, as the fighter aircraft practice intercept and identification procedures. The exercise will occur Nov. 1 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. PDT.

California residents between Julian and Irvine may hear and/or see low-flying NORADcontrolled fighter jets in close proximity to civilian aircraft, which will be taking on the role of an aircraft of interest.

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.

Although they are scheduled to begin in the afternoon, the flights could be delayed for 24 hours or cancelled due to weather.

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 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 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.