In a very similar announcement as the one relating to the Republican National Convention, the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command have just announced that U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters “will protect the skies during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.”
Not only will Air Force fighter jets be on alert during the convention — which begins Tuesday, Sept. 4 — enforcing the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restriction zone, but also Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters will be active prior to the Democratic National Convention preparing to protect the skies around Charlotte.
This is part of Exercise “Amalgam Virgo,” designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification skills. Civil Air Patrol aircraft, Air Force F-16s, and a Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter will participate in the exercise.
According to the news release, “Amlagam Virgo” is part of carefully planned and closely controlled exercises that have been conducted throughout the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
As I mentioned before, “sign of the times?”
At least, safe skies overhead may be one of those rare things these days equally shared by the two bitterly divided Parties.
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.