CONR to fly air defense exercise in preparation for NATO Summit

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command Region fighters will be active prior to the NATO Summit preparing to protect the skies around Chicago.

Exercise Amalgam Virgo 12-NATO, a NORAD air defense exercise, will be held Friday in the greater Chicago area to allow interagency partners an opportunity to work collaboratively in this environment.

The Amalgam Virgo exercise comprises a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard, the NATO Summit Joint Operations Center and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region's Eastern Air Defense Sector.

Residents in the Chicago area can expect flights to begin around 9 a.m. (CST), Friday, and continue for approximately two hours. Exercise Amalgam Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air National Guard C-21 aircraft, Air Force KC-135 tanker, Air Force F-16s, and a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise.

"Providing the air defense for special security events like this year’s NATO Summit is a part of our day-to-day mission," said Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, Continental U.S. NORAD Region commander. "Our interagency partnerships are a key component to the air defense shield for events like this and the Amalgam Virgo exercise is an excellent opportunity for us to hone our air defense skills with all our interagency partners.”

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure the Continental U.S. NORAD Region's rapid response capability. The Continental U.S. NORAD Region has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

During the NATO Summit, Air Force fighter jets will be on alert to enforce the Federal Aviation Administration's Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone during the summit. Officials advise all aviators to check the Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) as required with a special focus on TFRs.

Amalgam Virgo exercise prepares units for Super Bowl

F-16 Fighting Falcons, like the one shown here, sit ready to deploy at a moment's notice to respond to possible or real air threats over the United States. Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region officials will be conducting Exercise Amalgam Virgo 10-Miami on Jan. 28, 2010, to test command and control and execution procedures for air defense for Super Bowl XLIV. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. David Neve)

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Fighter aircraft, at the direction of officials from Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, or CONR, will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect Sun Life Stadium in Miami during game day.

Exercise Amalgam Virgo 10-Miami will be held Jan. 28 in the Greater Miami area to allow interagency partners the chance to practice temporary flight restriction violation procedures.

Amalgam Virgo 10-Miami comprises a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Civil Air Patrol, and CONR's Eastern Air Defense Sector.

Residents in the area can expect flights to begin around midnight Jan. 28 and continue for about two hours into the early morning Jan. 29.

"This exercise in Miami is an effective way to ensure all interagency partners are prepared for game day," said Maj. Gen. Garry Dean, CONR commander. "The exercise will test command and control and execution procedures for air defense for the Super Bowl and other like venues throughout the United States."

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure CONR's rapid response capability. CONR officials have conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"Defending America's skies is our number one priority," General Dean said. "Whether it's Super Bowl Sunday or any other Sunday, the men and women of CONR are always on alert."

Since Sept. 11, 2001, CONR fighters have responded to more than 2,300 possible air threats in the United States and have flown more than 54,000 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.