[Scan-DC] NORAD Exercise Planned for the National Capital Region

[Larry Van Horn]

            The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its 
geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), 
will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 12-11 between 11:30 p.m. (EDT) tonight 
and 5:30 a.m. (EDT) tomorrow, in the National Capital Region (NCR), 
Washington, D.C.
            The exercise is comprised of a series of training flights held 
in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the NCR 
Coordination Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC), Civil 
Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and CONR's Eastern Air Defense Sector.
            Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD's intercept and 
identification operations as well as operationally test the NCR Visual 
Warning System and certify newly assigned command and control personnel at 
JADOC.  Civil Air Patrol aircraft and a U.S. Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin 
helicopter will participate in the exercise.
            These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to 
ensure CONR's 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.

Larry Van Horn, N5FPW @ Brasstown, NC USA
MT Magazine Assistant/Review/Technical Editor
Milcom Monitoring Post http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @MilcomMP