PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights on Thursday from mid to late morning Pacific Daylight Time as they practice intercept and identification procedures, as well as coordinate a response to a multiple threat scenario. Exercise flights will take place over northern California, northern Alberta and southwestern Alaska.

With the exception of those living in the vicinity of Sacramento, Calif., most people will not see or hear the exercises, which have been carefully planned and will be closely controlled. Those living in the vicinity of Sacramento may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a U.S. Air Force C-21, which will be taking on the role of a Track 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.

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 on Sept. 11, 2001.

NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace defense for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.