F-16s to Fly Over Area Wednesday Morning in Security Exercise

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, will conduct training flights Wednesday over the southeastern Washington D.C. area, according to a news release from NORAD.

The flights will take place from approximately 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., will be performed by a civilian Beechcraft King Air aircraft flying patterns at approximately 4,500 feet above ground level and two F-16 aircraft flying patterns at 5,500 feet.

These flights have been carefully planned and will be closely controlled, according to NORAD. The flights are intended to assist in calibration of systems and equipment, and training, and will serve to refine and improve U.S. ability to respond to unknown and potentially threatening aircraft, according to the news release. No ordnance of any kind will be employed during this exercise.

If the Wednesday flights have to be cancelled for any reason, they will be attempted again on Thursday at the same time, NORAD says. The forecast Wednesday is for partly sunny skies.

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.