Exercise Facon Virgo to be conducted this week in Washington DC

From Greg Danes and the Scan-DC newsgroup:

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region, will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 17-04 Tuesday night into Wednesday morning in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C., with flights scheduled to take
place between approximately midnight and 2:30 a.m. (EST).

In the event of inclement weather, the exercise will take place the following morning. If bad weather continues, officials will then make a decision to postpone or cancel the exercise.

The exercise is comprised of a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Coordination Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, and the 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 training personnel at the JADOC. U.S. Air Force F-16 and C-21 aircraft, Civil Air Patrol C-182 aircraft, and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-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 U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,
2001.

As the continental United States 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 approximately 68,000 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.

Gyrocopter Exposes Weaknesses In D.C.'s Elaborate Air Defense System

Tyler Rogoway has written another interesting article on the Air Defense System that surrounds Washington, DC in the aftermath of 9/11.

Washington DC and the region around it sits under highly monitored restricted airspace, known as the Washington DC Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). As you fly closer to the center of this zone, the restrictions become increasingly intense, with the areas over the National Mall and the National Observatory being totally restricted to civilian and commercial aircraft.

A 61 year old mailman from Florida flew a USPS adorned gyrocopter onto the Capitol lawn yesterday. He came in low over northeast D.C. around 1:20pm and then turned by the Washington Monument and flew right up the Mall. According to NORAD, the aircraft was never detected, which is not a good thing.

The rest of this interesting article is posted online at http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/gyrocopter-exposes-weaknesses-in-d-c-s-elaborate-air-de-1698170601

These Elite Military Helicopter Units Fly Washington's Power Players

Washington D.C. is a fast moving place, and for those in the very top echelons of power, both time and security trump cost efficiency when it comes to transportation. The Department Of Defense has trio of helicopter squadrons ready to fly these VIPs around the region, and to safety should something catastrophic ever occur.

The three squadrons covered are the US Army 12th Aviation Battalion, the US Air Force 1st Helicopter Squadron, and the US Marine Corps HMX-1 VIP Transport Squadron.

Excellent article written by Tyler Rogoway at http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/these-elite-military-helicopter-units-fly-washingtons-p-1704260996

NORAD Falcon Virgo Exercise to be Conducted in Washington DC

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region, will conduct exercise Falcon Virgo 15-04 Wednesday night through Friday morning, in the National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. Flights are scheduled to take place between midnight and 5:30 a.m. (EST) each day.

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.

The exercise is comprised of a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Coordination Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, 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.

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 U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

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.

Unmanned Navy craft flies into restricted airspace

The AP and Atlanta Journal Constitution are reporting that a US Navy unmanned MQ-8B Fire Scout went off course during testing and entered restricted airspace near the nation's capital earlier this month.

The aircraft was supposed to fly a preprogrammed route over the Webster Field Annex at the naval air station at Patuxent River, Md. During the test on August 2, controllers lost the link to the aircraft and it flew off route into the restricted area. According to a Navy spokesman, Lt. Myers Vasquez the craft was about 40 miles away from Washington. The Federal Aviation Administration was notified that it was a Navy craft so they were aware and monitoring it, Vasquez said.

The complete story can be found online at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/unmanned-navy-craft-flies-599699.html

NORAD To Conduct Flight Exercise Over DC Area

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Continental U.S. NORAD Region plans a training flight exercise over Washington.

The exercise, called Falcon Virgo 10-01, will take place late Wednesday and early Thursday. It will include air force F-16s and Coast Guard helicopters.

The exercise is made up of a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Command Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR), Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and CONR's Eastern Air Defense Sector.

NORAD Flight Exercises Planned for Washington Area

WASHINGTON - The Defense Department will conduct two training exercises involving aircraft here tomorrow.

The first exercise by the North American Aerospace Defense Command and its regional component will occur between midnight and 6 a.m. EDT, followed by another exercise between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The exercises comprise a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Command Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard and CONR's Northeast Air Defense Sector.

Both the early morning exercise Falcon Virgo and the daytime Amalgam Arrow are designed to hone NORAD's intercept and identification operations, as well as procedural tests of the NCR Visual Warning System, officials said.

Exercise Falcon Virgo will include two Civil Air Patrol Cessna aircraft, two Air Force F-16s and a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter. Residents may see these aircraft approaching and flying in the vicinity during the late-night and early morning hours.

Aircraft participating in Exercise Amalgam Arrow include a C-21 Lear 35, a C-172 Cessna and an Air Force F-16. Residents may also see these aircraft approaching and flying in the vicinity of the nation's capital.

Coast Guard has large role in Papal security

U.S. Coast Guardsmen are playing a large security role in this week's Papal visit to Washington D.C.

If you want a pop up media player click here Papal Security

New DC Area EDACS Trunk System Uncovered

One of the radio hobby's most knowledgeable scanner monitors, Alan Henney reported overnight (2/21) on the Scan-DC newsgroup that he has found a new three channel EDACS trunk system in the Washington DC area. Alan theorizes that his new discovery is a US Navy trunk system and it has been on the air for the past year or so. He noted in his Sacn-DC post that unlike the Naval District Washington (NDW) EDACS system that operates in the 138-150.8 MHz frequency range, this new system is all digital.

Frequencies:
138.2375 LCN01
138.6125 LCN02
138.7125 LCN03

All three frequencies are dedicated trunk system frequencies under the new narrow band 138-150.8 MHz band plan that DoD is transitioning to. If you have any additional information on this system, please drop me some email at larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.

Late breaking - NORAD exercise planned for Washington D.C. Today

Information courtesy of Alan Henney and the SCAN-DC newsgroup.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command and its geographical component, the Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR), will conduct Exercise Falcon Virgo 07-05 Thursday in the National Capital Region (Washington, D.C.).

This exercise comprises a series of training flights held in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Command Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and NORAD's Northeastern Air Defense Sector.

Exercise Falcon Virgo 07-05 is designed to test NORAD's intercept and identification operations. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Cessna's, US Air Force, F-16's and C-38, and the US Coast Guard, HH-65 helicopter will participate in the exercise. Residents in the area can expect flights to occur during the late night and early morning hours.

In the event of inclement weather the exercise will push to the next day, until all exercise requirements are met.

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

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 assets throughout the country ensure air safety and security against potential air threats.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, NORAD fighters have responded to more than 2,100 possible air threats in the United States, Canada and Alaska, and have flown more than 42,000 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.

Guard Dog Washington Area NORAD CAP Profile

Washington D.C. Combat Air Patrol - GUARD DOG (DC and Camp David Airspace)
Since there will be a lot of VIPs in the Washongton, D.C. area over the next few days, here is a small profile on NORAD CAP frequencies and callsign that will surely be up 24/7.

121.500 International Civilian Calling/Emergency
135.525/350.250 Washington ARTCC Guard Dog Coordination Frequencies (UHF new ex-288.350 MHz)
134.150/327.000 Washington ARTCC
228.900 NORAD Discrete "Huntress"
243.000 International Military Calling/Emergency
255.400 FAA Flight Service Station Leesburg, Virginia
260.900 NORAD Discrete "Huntress"
320.600 CAP Aerial refueling Boom Freq
324.000 CAP Aerial refueling Boom Freq
364.200 NORAD AICC369.150 Occasional CAP unit air-air

Callsigns:
Arrow ## 33FW/60FS (Eglin AFB) 338.750/369.150 MHz
Brave ## 113 Wing/121FS (DC ANG) 139.700 MHz A-A
Cosmic ## 177FW/119FS (NJ ANG) 138.200 MHz A-A
Harass ## 1FW/27FS (Langley AFB)
Pittman ## 20FW/79FS (Shaw AFB) 142.125 143.800 MHz A-A
Spider ## 119FW (ND ANG) 138.000 MHz A-A
Tanker ## Aerial refueling aircraft

Huntress NEADS/SEADS NORAD Air Defense Control Center

Military TRS Freqs to Monitor During Prez Ford Funeral Events

The following military trunk systems should be monitored for support of the President Ford funeral events in the Washington, DC area. Reports, updates, additions and corrections would be most appreciated. Send your stuff to larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.

380-400 MHz Trunk Radio Systems

MCB/MCAS Quantico, VA
Site 1 385.6750/395.6750c
Site 2 385.6250/395.6250c 386.4375/396.4375 386.9125/396.9125 387.9500/397.9500
Site 3 380.4875/390.4875c 381.2000/391.2000 381.3375/391.3375 381.6875/391.6875 381.83750/391.8375

Washington, D.C. – Joint National Capitol Region System
Site 1 386.1875/396.1875 386.9875/396.9875 387.0625/397.0625 388.1125/398.1125 388.1375/398.1375 388.1625/398.1625 388.1875/398.1875 388.2125/398.2125 388.2625/398.2625 388.3125/398.3125 388.3375/398.3375

Ft. Detrick, Maryland
Site 1 385.7000/395.7000c 385.8000/395.8000c 385.9500/395.9500 387.2375/397.2375 387.5375/397.5375 387.6375/397.6375

Ft. A. P. Hill, Virginia System 00a
System ID: 00a P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 385.7875/395.7875c 387.2250/397.2250c 387.5250/397.5250 387.8250/397.8250 389.1250/399.1250 389.3000/399.3000

Washington, D.C. System 00c
System ID: 00c P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 385.7125/395.7125c

Tyson's Corner, Virginia System 00d
System ID: 000d P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.1250/390.1250c 380.4250/390.4250c 380.4875/390.4875

Ft. Belvoir, Virginia System 1
System ID: 001 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 381.6750/391.6750c 381.8250/391.8250c 381.9750/391.9750 385.0125/395.0125 385.2125/395.2125 385.8875/395.8875 386.3375/396.3375

Ft. Meyer, Virginia System 2
System ID: 002 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.0625/390.0625 380.3250/390.3250 380.3750/390.3750 380.6250/390.625 380.6750/390.6750 380.8250/390.8250 380.9750/390.9750 381.0875/391.0875 381.2375/391.2375c 381.2875/391.2875 381.6250/391.6250 381.7750/391.7750 381.9250/391.9250Site 2 380.5250/390.5250c

Fort Meade, Maryland System 7
System ID: 007 P25 WACN: 580a0
Site 1 380.3875/390.3875c 380.5500/390.5500c 380.8375/390.8375c 380.9875/390.9875c 381.3250/391.3250 381.7875/391.7875Site 2 380.5750/390.5750 386.5625/396.5625

Washington, D.C. System 8
System ID: 008 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.0750/390.0750c 380.4250/390.4250c 380.7250/390.7250

Washington, D.C. System 9
System ID: 009 P25 WACN: 580A0
Site 1 380.2750/390.2750c 380.5750/390.5750c 380.8750/390.5750

Washington, D.C. – Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC)
System ID: 032 P25 WACN: BEE0A
Site 1 385.7125/395.7125c 385.9125/395.9125c 386.2125/396.2125c 386.5625/395.5625c

Andrews AFB, Maryland
System ID: 017a P25 WACN: BEE00
Site 1 385.2125/395.2125c 385.3125/395.3125c 385.9000/395.9000 385.9125/395.9125 386.0375/396.0375 386.2000/396.2000 386.3375/396.3375 386.5000/396.5000 386.6375/396.6375 386.8000/396.8000

US Department of Defense System
Fort Meade, Maryland and other areas
System ID: 001 P25 WACN: 1b5c8
Site 202 380.1750/390.1750 380.4125/390.4125 380.6875/390.6875 380.7375/390.7375 381.1125/391.1125 381.1625/391.1625c 381.4250/391.4250 381.5625/391.5625 381.7500/391.7500c 381.8750/391.8750c

Site 303 385.0625/395.0625 385.9250/395.9250 386.9625/396.9625c 388.2625/398.2625 388.8875/398.8875 389.1625/399.1625 389.2375/399.2375 389.4875/399.4875 389.8375/399.8375

Site 404 380.4375/390.4375 380.8625/390.8625Site 505 380.4625/390.4625 380.9125/390.9125

Site 707 380.6625/390.6625 385.7125/395.7125c

Site 808 380.7125/390.7125

Site 909 385.7750/395.7750 386.3125/396.3125c 387.3375/397.3375c 387.6750/397.6750c

Site 1010 380.8875/390.8875

Site-1616 380.8875/390.8875c

VHF Trunk Systems

Washington Naval District, D.C.
System: EDACS Regular
Site 1 Washington Naval Shipyard: 138.775 (LCN1) 140.125 (LCN2) 140.625 (LCN3) 138.650 (LCN4) 140.275 (LCN5) 140.225 (LCN6) 140.550 (LCN7) 139.525 (LCN8) 139.475 (LCN9) 140.300 (LCN10) 150.150 (LCN11) According to reports only the first four channels are being used. Not sure the status of LCN 5-11.
Site 2: Bethesda Naval Hospital: No frequencies available, need reports from the area.
Site 3 Annapolis Naval Academy: 138.125 (LCN1) 142.100 (LCN2) 142.600 (LCN3) 143.700 (LCN4)
System wide frequencies: 138.575 (Security talk around) 138.550 (Fire talk around) 143.550 (Non-public safety talk around). Unconfirmed reports indicate that 138.775 could have replaced 138.175 in this system.

Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
System: Motorola Type II SmartNet (Analog)
141.2000c 142.4750c 142.9250c 143.3250c 143.4000

UHF Trunk Systems

Andrews AFB, Maryland
System: Motorola Type II Smartzone 3600 baud (Mixed Mode)
406.3500c 406.9500c 407.1500c 407.4250c 408.0250 408.2000 408.7500 408.9500 409.3500 409.7250

Fort Detrick, Maryland
System: Motorola Type II Smartnet
406.3500 407.0750 408.5500 409.1500 409.7500

Fort Meade, Maryland
System: Motorola Type II Smartnet
406.3250 407.4000 407.5750 409.4500

Fairfax County, Virginia – Department of Defense FED-SMR
System: Motorola Type II SmartNet
406.2000 406.3000 406.5250 406.7750 407.0250 407.9500 408.8500 409.2500 410.2750 411.2000

Fort Belvoir Area, Virginia – Unknown Federal System
System: Motorola
System 1 406.1125 406.3625 406.5250 406.7750 406.9250 407.0875 407.2375 407.4125 407.5625 407.7125 407.8875 408.0875 408.2625 408.4250 408.5750 408.7375 408.9125 409.1125 409.2750 409.4750 409.6375 409.9125 410.7625

System 2 409.9125 410.5625 410.7625

Will have additional information on area government systems and frequencies on my Btown Monitoring Post Blog.