Flock of aircraft to test security over D.C. (xpost from Veterans)

[unhappycamper]

Flock of aircraft to test security over D.C.
Staff report
Posted : Monday Dec 10, 2007 18:03:01 EST

The skies over Washington, D.C., will be abuzz Tuesday night with a training exercise to test response times and procedures for intercepting aircraft that have illegally flown into the high-security airspace over the nation’s capital.

Exercise Falcon Virgo 08-03 is designed to test the North American Aerospace Defense Command’s aircraft intercept and identification operations, a command statement said. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons and C-38 executive jets and Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopters are set to participate.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, NORAD fighters have responded to more than 2,729 possible air threats in the U.S. and Canada, flying more than 47,638 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.

NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.


Article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/12/airforce_norad_exercise_071210w/

[displacedtexan]

1. Thanks for the heads up!

I live in the no-fly zone (Eastern Market neighborhood), and I would've been
freaked out.

[RavensChick]

2. Glad I missed it!

I used to live in the 16th Street Heights area in NW and I heard planes flying over almost every night. Now that I'm in Hyattsville I rarely notice they're even up there (as long as they don't swoop down near I-495).