Civil Air Patrol to Provide Simulated 'Threat' in DC Skies

What’s that sound? The skies may be humming overhead while you’re trying to sleep the next few nights.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), will conduct an exercise dubbed “Falcon Virgo 15-05” Monday night through Wednesday morning, across the metro DC area. Flights are scheduled to take place between midnight Monday and 5:30 a.m. (EST) each day, according to a news release from NORAD.

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 and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise.

The visual warning system consists of highly focused red and green colored lights in an alternating red/ red/green signal pattern, according to a description on the NCR Visual Warning System Web site. This signal may be directed at specific aircraft suspected of making unauthorized entry into restricted flight zones and are on a heading or flight path that may be interpreted as a threat or that operate contrary to the operating rules, the site notes.

NORAD notes that these exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure their rapid response capability. NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the United States 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 (CONUS) 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.

PHOTO: U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 dolphin helicopter; photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard